Narcissists and dictators have one play--more power, more me. They will not stop until they are stopped. And I agree, Jen, it's our daily job to use EVERY peaceful means under the sun to say no to DJT. We have a lot of talented, gutsy, committed people in this country. Let's keep at the good fight, Friends. The whole world needs us to do this.
It has often been commented here and elsewhere on Substack and Bluesky that tRump is the archetypal mad king... but he has progressed to barking mad. Never a bright man, he was at the outset unable to understand that government does useful things for the public good. Now he is trying to destroy what he cannot understand and cannot control.
"Narcissists and dictators have one play--more power, more me."
The "more power" theme also applies to both political parties.
"They will not stop until they are stopped."
At least here, this "dictator" is term-limited and will leave office in January 2029.
"And I agree, Jen, it's our daily job to use EVERY peaceful means under the sun to say no to DJT."
As has been the pattern during Trump's term, he wants to "legislate" through executive orders, while the Dems want to "legislate" through the courts. Seems both sides have forgotten what Congress is for.
The MAGA-controlled congress will not act to limit the madman's excesses. As Rubin calls them seals, they are ineffective, and as the Democrats are in the minority, the duty to limit the insanity falls to the courts, and thank goodness.
"As Rubin calls them seals, they are ineffective..."
Members of Congress always act like a bunch of trained seals for their party. Dems are no more immune to that than the Repubs.
On occasion, one person within the party bucks the trend. Do you remember Dean Phillips? He was a Democrat who refused to be such a seal during the Democratic Party's 2024 primary season, arguing that Joe Biden's age might be a handicap - how was he treated by fellow Dems and the media? Turns out his fears were not unfounded or irrational after all.
"...and as the Democrats are in the minority, the duty to limit the insanity falls to the courts..."
The duty of all three branches of government is to do things according to the Constitution, whether it's Congress writing the laws, the President reviewing the laws before signing them, or the federal courts if said laws are challenged.
I’ll never forgive the imbeciles in Congress who are so afraid for either their lives or their jobs that they let this clownish, ignorant, decaying grifter drive our country off a cliff. My hope is that the GOP has at last convinced its supporters that the lot of them are just hypocritical hucksters and that they have ensured a good half century of Democratic rule.
Hope you're right, Chris. Remember that it takes a lot to convince a cult that they took a wrong turn in supporting/enabling an out of control narcissist.
I was sad to see that Google Maps (but not Apple Maps?) has already complied with the EO about Lake Ontario, so it now is named Lake America. I have seen one comment suggesting that the Canadians should rename their part of the Lake, for now, as Lake Obama just to retaliate against that poor decision!
This renaming foolishness is yet another distraction, and a really poor and cheap one at that. To expect any better from Trump as his mind deteriorates is too high a bar.
Thank you to Jen and to all. Let’s not overlook the atrocities carried out by ICE every day. Please check out today’s NY Times front page and read “Deportees Flown to Africa Tell of Shackles snd Agony.” While Trump and his wealthy buddies are expanding their fortunes, the US is inching towards a degradation most of us could never imagine.
What about Epstein? tRump is a firehose of distraction. Epstein is a critical weakness. While you're at it, look at the tax cheating by the uberwealthy. Per Paul Krugman that accounts for over $600B/year, about 40% of the federal budget! Why did DOGE gut IRS and kill its audit capability? Does he have something to hide?
“Ping pong ball in a wind tunnel” If I weren’t petrified that his main goal is to “bollix” our right to vote (mid terms) I would rejoice even more in your writing and opinions.
He and his minions are evil —defunding hospice care because too few are dying—his satan health Secretary.
There's an answer to all this. It's called the 25th Amendment. The problem isn't Trump's dementia any longer, it's the cowardice of the cabinet and Congress to do the job they were elected to do.
Never have so many done so little in so great a time of need.
For the first time in months, we drove through DC today on an errand and had to cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge. We were abhorred by the sight of the newly gilded statues on the end of the bridge. They screamed out “Horrible, Cheap, Awful, and Grotesque.”
If we prove he is incompetent will his pardons be legal? Can we appoint a conservator to regain the money he and his friends and family have illegally taken? If they insist he is competent can we send him to Iran to negotiate a deal?
We are quickly learning what Trump's ideas of 'deals' are. We already had one with Iran about nuclear proliferation. It took years to craft, and he dumped it for an inferior article that that he pieced together. It won't stand the test of time or be effective. His 'deal' without input from the Afghan government was a dud. Let's not permit him to make another that would weaken and shortchange us.
Democrats need to share HOW they will reduce pricing - specifically. This is easy but no one is doing it. Without a visible plan or even a preliminary one, all you have are promises which is what we got from Trump and Harris in 2024 and Trump had the better promises.
Not doubt about that, but Trump's message was more appealing. All Harris had to do was to demand a plan for reducing prices. Do it often and loudly. That would have reduced his promises to just that, political promises. The other side of that coin would have been Harris publishing her specific plans to accomplish what she was proposing.
The Dem messages need to be razor sharp and focused. Cannot be lax about this. In the past communicating well has not often been a strength of the Democrats. This is an opportunity to change that. Be bold, precise and keep repeating key messages.
It is rather amusing to read that "Republicans are privately wondering if this strikes the right tone..." I can enlighten them if they are so obtuse to not realize the situation. It is a total disaster for them as we get bombarded with advertisements touting all of the orange moron's "accomplishments". They only have themselves to blame for the orange toddler and his hissy fits until he gets his own way. Even in their alternate universe the constant reminder of the pathetic loser's blunders, failures and constant con job to enrich himself at our expenses is not going to play well. Those fools jump on the orange moron's clown car and have spent years applauding every stupid utterance he has made and turning a blind eye to every illegal act. They are headed for a colossal ass kicking in November and they are going to kick it off with a several days celebration of the fool the vast majority of Americans loath and want to depart the stage. So, yes, it is going to set the wrong tone but please indulge the orange fool!
I'm so looking forward to the moment whatever monstrosities he's managed to build on the East Wing, the helipad, the Arc de Dumpf, get taken down as TV cameras roll for primetime viewing later on.
Perhaps The Contrarian can have a contest to name the event. May I submit "Operation Sledgehammer" in advance?
Trump destroys everything he touches; it was only a matter of time before he destroyed himself. We are seeing that now in real time, though if it proceeded a little faster than real time, I wouldn't complain.
Narcissists and dictators have one play--more power, more me. They will not stop until they are stopped. And I agree, Jen, it's our daily job to use EVERY peaceful means under the sun to say no to DJT. We have a lot of talented, gutsy, committed people in this country. Let's keep at the good fight, Friends. The whole world needs us to do this.
It has often been commented here and elsewhere on Substack and Bluesky that tRump is the archetypal mad king... but he has progressed to barking mad. Never a bright man, he was at the outset unable to understand that government does useful things for the public good. Now he is trying to destroy what he cannot understand and cannot control.
Some investors make a living by shorting.
Most Trump investors have lost bigly.
"Narcissists and dictators have one play--more power, more me."
The "more power" theme also applies to both political parties.
"They will not stop until they are stopped."
At least here, this "dictator" is term-limited and will leave office in January 2029.
"And I agree, Jen, it's our daily job to use EVERY peaceful means under the sun to say no to DJT."
As has been the pattern during Trump's term, he wants to "legislate" through executive orders, while the Dems want to "legislate" through the courts. Seems both sides have forgotten what Congress is for.
The MAGA-controlled congress will not act to limit the madman's excesses. As Rubin calls them seals, they are ineffective, and as the Democrats are in the minority, the duty to limit the insanity falls to the courts, and thank goodness.
"As Rubin calls them seals, they are ineffective..."
Members of Congress always act like a bunch of trained seals for their party. Dems are no more immune to that than the Repubs.
On occasion, one person within the party bucks the trend. Do you remember Dean Phillips? He was a Democrat who refused to be such a seal during the Democratic Party's 2024 primary season, arguing that Joe Biden's age might be a handicap - how was he treated by fellow Dems and the media? Turns out his fears were not unfounded or irrational after all.
"...and as the Democrats are in the minority, the duty to limit the insanity falls to the courts..."
The duty of all three branches of government is to do things according to the Constitution, whether it's Congress writing the laws, the President reviewing the laws before signing them, or the federal courts if said laws are challenged.
Thank you again for always hitting the proverbial nail on the head.
I’ll never forgive the imbeciles in Congress who are so afraid for either their lives or their jobs that they let this clownish, ignorant, decaying grifter drive our country off a cliff. My hope is that the GOP has at last convinced its supporters that the lot of them are just hypocritical hucksters and that they have ensured a good half century of Democratic rule.
Hope you're right, Chris. Remember that it takes a lot to convince a cult that they took a wrong turn in supporting/enabling an out of control narcissist.
First they have to become reattached to reality.
I was sad to see that Google Maps (but not Apple Maps?) has already complied with the EO about Lake Ontario, so it now is named Lake America. I have seen one comment suggesting that the Canadians should rename their part of the Lake, for now, as Lake Obama just to retaliate against that poor decision!
This renaming foolishness is yet another distraction, and a really poor and cheap one at that. To expect any better from Trump as his mind deteriorates is too high a bar.
Thank you to Jen and to all. Let’s not overlook the atrocities carried out by ICE every day. Please check out today’s NY Times front page and read “Deportees Flown to Africa Tell of Shackles snd Agony.” While Trump and his wealthy buddies are expanding their fortunes, the US is inching towards a degradation most of us could never imagine.
What about Epstein? tRump is a firehose of distraction. Epstein is a critical weakness. While you're at it, look at the tax cheating by the uberwealthy. Per Paul Krugman that accounts for over $600B/year, about 40% of the federal budget! Why did DOGE gut IRS and kill its audit capability? Does he have something to hide?
“Ping pong ball in a wind tunnel” If I weren’t petrified that his main goal is to “bollix” our right to vote (mid terms) I would rejoice even more in your writing and opinions.
He and his minions are evil —defunding hospice care because too few are dying—his satan health Secretary.
Not the first time I have muttered to myself—
“they are trying to kill us”
Please keep writing!
There's an answer to all this. It's called the 25th Amendment. The problem isn't Trump's dementia any longer, it's the cowardice of the cabinet and Congress to do the job they were elected to do.
Never have so many done so little in so great a time of need.
For the first time in months, we drove through DC today on an errand and had to cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge. We were abhorred by the sight of the newly gilded statues on the end of the bridge. They screamed out “Horrible, Cheap, Awful, and Grotesque.”
If we prove he is incompetent will his pardons be legal? Can we appoint a conservator to regain the money he and his friends and family have illegally taken? If they insist he is competent can we send him to Iran to negotiate a deal?
We are quickly learning what Trump's ideas of 'deals' are. We already had one with Iran about nuclear proliferation. It took years to craft, and he dumped it for an inferior article that that he pieced together. It won't stand the test of time or be effective. His 'deal' without input from the Afghan government was a dud. Let's not permit him to make another that would weaken and shortchange us.
Democrats need to share HOW they will reduce pricing - specifically. This is easy but no one is doing it. Without a visible plan or even a preliminary one, all you have are promises which is what we got from Trump and Harris in 2024 and Trump had the better promises.
Promises from a known con man and pathological liar. Harris was always the better choice.
Not doubt about that, but Trump's message was more appealing. All Harris had to do was to demand a plan for reducing prices. Do it often and loudly. That would have reduced his promises to just that, political promises. The other side of that coin would have been Harris publishing her specific plans to accomplish what she was proposing.
The Dem messages need to be razor sharp and focused. Cannot be lax about this. In the past communicating well has not often been a strength of the Democrats. This is an opportunity to change that. Be bold, precise and keep repeating key messages.
Bingo!
repeal all tariffs to start
It is rather amusing to read that "Republicans are privately wondering if this strikes the right tone..." I can enlighten them if they are so obtuse to not realize the situation. It is a total disaster for them as we get bombarded with advertisements touting all of the orange moron's "accomplishments". They only have themselves to blame for the orange toddler and his hissy fits until he gets his own way. Even in their alternate universe the constant reminder of the pathetic loser's blunders, failures and constant con job to enrich himself at our expenses is not going to play well. Those fools jump on the orange moron's clown car and have spent years applauding every stupid utterance he has made and turning a blind eye to every illegal act. They are headed for a colossal ass kicking in November and they are going to kick it off with a several days celebration of the fool the vast majority of Americans loath and want to depart the stage. So, yes, it is going to set the wrong tone but please indulge the orange fool!
I'm so looking forward to the moment whatever monstrosities he's managed to build on the East Wing, the helipad, the Arc de Dumpf, get taken down as TV cameras roll for primetime viewing later on.
Perhaps The Contrarian can have a contest to name the event. May I submit "Operation Sledgehammer" in advance?
Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😜
What a great summary. Love "ping-pong ball in a wind tunnel." Great descriptions of the awful self promotions. Thanks, Jen.
Now that Trump has ordained that Lake Ontario be called Lake America, we should change the acronym for the Great Lakes from HOMES to SHAME.
Trump destroys everything he touches; it was only a matter of time before he destroyed himself. We are seeing that now in real time, though if it proceeded a little faster than real time, I wouldn't complain.
Hear hear!!