Trump descends into ideological psychosis

[HonestJohn]

MICHAEL GERSON
17 OCT 2016

http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/columnists/commentary-trump-descends-into-ideological-psychosis/article_d6963644-9482-11e6-956c-776d080a5c0d.html

WASHINGTON — Given even the lowest expectations, Donald Trump still has the capacity to surprise.

In recent days, Trump has sneered at the looks of a woman who accuses him of sexual assault, denigrated the appearance of Hillary Clinton, proposed to drug test his opponent, used his campaign to promote what appears to be a Russian covert operation, asserted that Clinton has held secret meetings with international bankers "to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty," attacked "Saturday Night Live," promised to jail his opponent and contended that "the whole election is being rigged."

Which means that Trump is sickeningly cruel, boorish, bonkers, subversive, conspiratorial, obsessive, authoritarian and reckless with the reputation of American democracy.

This is quite a closing argument for a presidential candidate. I imagine it did not emerge from focus groups. So what does all of this mean?

(1) It means that the Republican nominee for president is frighteningly unstable under pressure. He is easily baited, highly sensitive to slights, prone to using faulty information from off the internet, hyperbolic and vengeful. Now imagine those characteristics during a confrontation with China in the South China Sea.

(2) It is an indication of the quality of his closest, non-family advisers. Stephen Bannon and Rudy Giuliani are not attempting to keep Trump in check. They are feeding his manias. Trump is completely unmoored from restraining influences, and would be as president.

(3) Trump's closing case is a version, not of movement conservatism or tea party conservatism, but of crackpot conservatism -- an alt-right rage against a vast, scheming establishment that includes the liberal media, global financiers and a growing list of women making accusations of sexual assault. All this was previewed during Trump's political rise, which included birtherism, vaccine denialism and insinuations of foul play in the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. GOP leaders can hardly pretend to be surprised by this bent given that Trump accused Clinton in May of possible complicity in the death of Vince Foster.

(4) It is a further indication (as if we needed it) that Trump has no commitment to the American political system. He is perfectly willing to de-legitimize democratic institutions as a campaign tactic, squandering a civic inheritance he does not value. Even before his current troubles, he said that an electoral loss would be prima facie evidence of fraud and encouraged supporters to monitor majority-black polling stations in Pennsylvania. Now he is entering uncharted territory. By pre-emptively questioning the legitimacy of his forthcoming shellacking, Trump is stepping outside the four corners of the constitutional order, on the model of autocratic strongmen he has publicly admired.

(more at link)

[sinkspur]

Trump must be defeated so soundly that his supporters never put forward anybody as crazy as him ever again.

[montanajoe]

Trump must be defeated so soundly that his supporters never put forward anybody as crazy as him ever again.

I have no doubt that Trump is going to lose Yuge. But I think it will only motivate his supporters to put up someone even crazier next time. I hope Conservatives can be just as motivated and get behind an actual conservative early in the cycle...

[TomSea]

Michael Gerson, Bush Camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gerson

Gerson, a neo-conservative, has repeatedly criticized other conservatives in his column and conservatives have returned the favor. One of Gerson's first columns was entitled "Letting Fear Rule", in which he compared skeptics of President Bush's immigration reform bill to nativist bigots of the 1880s.[22]

At a conference at the Atlantic Ideas Fest, Gerson said that Saddam Hussein was "comparable to Pol Pot", which brought jeers from the audience.[23]

In February 2009, Gerson published an editorial criticizing Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of the Holocaust-denying conservative bishop Richard Williamson.[24]

[Oceander]

I have no doubt that Trump is going to lose Yuge. But I think it will only motivate his supporters to put up someone even crazier next time. I hope Conservatives can be just as motivated and get behind an actual conservative early in the cycle...

Then we have 4 years to sideline them.

[HonestJohn]

Michael Gerson, Bush Camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gerson

Gerson, a neo-conservative, has repeatedly criticized other conservatives in his column and conservatives have returned the favor. One of Gerson's first columns was entitled "Letting Fear Rule", in which he compared skeptics of President Bush's immigration reform bill to nativist bigots of the 1880s.[22]

At a conference at the Atlantic Ideas Fest, Gerson said that Saddam Hussein was "comparable to Pol Pot", which brought jeers from the audience.[23]

In February 2009, Gerson published an editorial criticizing Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of the Holocaust-denying conservative bishop Richard Williamson.[24]

Yes, you've made it very clear that you hate "neo-cons".

[sinkspur]

Michael Gerson, Bush Camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gerson

Gerson, a neo-conservative, has repeatedly criticized other conservatives in his column and conservatives have returned the favor. One of Gerson's first columns was entitled "Letting Fear Rule", in which he compared skeptics of President Bush's immigration reform bill to nativist bigots of the 1880s.[22]

At a conference at the Atlantic Ideas Fest, Gerson said that Saddam Hussein was "comparable to Pol Pot", which brought jeers from the audience.[23]

In February 2009, Gerson published an editorial criticizing Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of the Holocaust-denying conservative bishop Richard Williamson.[24]

Lifting Williamson's excommunication was OK, but the SSPX, of which Willaimson is a part, kicked him out shortly after his last insistence that the Holocaust was overblown.  Williamson is now a bishop without a church.

[jpsb]

Trump must be defeated so soundly that his supporters never put forward anybody as crazy as him ever again.

Enjoy Madame President, you earned her.

[sinkspur]

Enjoy Madame President, you earned her.

Hillary is awful within normal parameters.

Trump is an 'effing fruitcake.  Nuts.

[Wingnut]

Enjoy Madame President, you earned her.

You made her Madame Pres.  We have to clean up your mess.

[Hoodat]

Trump's crackup complicates American political life in a variety of ways but simplifies one point: This man is temperamentally, ideologically and morally unfit to be president of the United States.

This was obvious fifteen months ago.

[Hoodat]

Enjoy Madame President, you earned her.

It was Trump supporters who earned her because it was Trump supporters who gave us the only Republican candidate on the planet who she could beat.

[Hoodat]

At a conference at the Atlantic Ideas Fest, Gerson said that Saddam Hussein was "comparable to Pol Pot", which brought jeers from the audience.[23]

Gee, I wonder what could possibly have made him think that?

[Silver Pines]

Enjoy Madame President, you earned her.

@jpsb

You had one job---to nominate a decent candidate who could beat Clinton.  Instead you had to go fall under the spell of a breathtakingly stupid, incredibly unfit con-man and reality show host with a history of sexual assault.

Read that a second time and let it sink it.  A breathtakingly stupid, incredibly unfit con-man and reality show host with a history of sexual assault. That is what you decided would be the best choice to go up against Hillary.

And after that act of monumental foolishness, after being warned over and over---"The guy's a shyster and an idiot, don't do it"---you're STILL falling for his act.  Even as he laughs at you and bellows conspiracy theories at his final rallies so that he'll have enough marks to subscribe to his upcoming news channel.  And you're going to insult the intelligence of people who knew better, who told you, by trying to shove the blame for this mess off on us?

Lol, hell no.  You OWN this.  Every time Clinton tries to pull some act to take away our liberties, it will be on YOU. 

And Trump will call her and they'll laugh about the yahoos who bought his act, and he'll have her and Bill over for a dinner party hosted by his fourth wife. 

[LadyLiberty]

I have no doubt that Trump is going to lose Yuge. But I think it will only motivate his supporters to put up someone even crazier next time. I hope Conservatives can be just as motivated and get behind an actual conservative early in the cycle...

I want the perfect conservative as well, but barring that, give me an actual adult.  I can't even hold my nose to vote for a childish thin-skinned con man groper with an unethical business record.  He is so thin-skinned that he's got to be the oldest snowflake in the entire country.

[Hoodat]

I want the perfect conservative as well, but barring that, give me an actual adult.

You got that right.

[Emjay]

Then we have 4 years to sideline them.

We will be warned.  The sane among us will not make the same mistake again.

[jpsb]

@jpsb

You had one job---to nominate a decent candidate who could beat Clinton.  Instead you had to go fall under the spell of a breathtakingly stupid, incredibly unfit con-man and reality show host with a history of sexual assault.

Read that a second time and let it sink it.  A breathtakingly stupid, incredibly unfit con-man and reality show host with a history of sexual assault. That is what you decided would be the best choice to go up against Hillary.

And after that act of monumental foolishness, after being warned over and over---"The guy's a shyster and an idiot, don't do it"---you're STILL falling for his act.  Even as he laughs at you and bellows conspiracy theories at his final rallies so that he'll have enough marks to subscribe to his upcoming news channel.  And you're going to insult the intelligence of people who knew better, who told you, by trying to shove the blame for this mess off on us?

Lol, hell no.  You OWN this.  Every time Clinton tries to pull some act to take away our liberties, it will be on YOU. 

And Trump will call her and they'll laugh about the yahoos who bought his act, and he'll have her and Bill over for a dinner party hosted by his fourth wife.

@CatherineofAragon

You just don't get it. The Marxist fascist globalists have been trying to destroy the USA since HW Bush announced a New World Order (NWO). Our ruling classes, the political elites, big media, big corporations and big banking are all fine on with creating a  NWO since it is they that will benefit from creating a new society that locks them into a position of wealth and power.  Mexico is a good example of the type of society the NWO fascists wish to build.

Those of us that have clue refer to the politicians, lobbyists, media and consultants helping the elites to achieve a NWO as the uniparty. Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever lost it's meaning in the mid 90's. Every president since Reagan has been a member of the uniparty and has advanced the goal subverting the USA it's constitution and it's people to the will of a global ruling oligarchy. We are one election away from being absorbed. Hillary will finish the job of defeating the USA, nullifying our constitution and dooming ordinary Americans to subservience to a ruling elite that hates uppity middle/working class Americans.

Now when you take a close look at each and every serious GOP candidate for president there were only two that stood firmly with the middle/working class Americans and against the ruling elites and their uniparty servants. Donald Trump and Ben Carson. Jeb Bush was uniparty, John Kasick was uniparty, Scot Walker was uniparty, Carly was uniparty, etc, etc, etc. It was hard to get a read on Ted Cruz since his actions rarely matched his words. His resume was uniparty and he was acceptable to the uniparty so I and most other GOP primary voters concluded he was uniparty.  That left only one candidate that might be able save the USA from the fascist globalist elites. Donald Trump.

If your goal is to preserve the American Republic why in the hell would you elect a president that is down with the uniparty? That wants to integrate the USA into a global political system that nullifies our constitution. That makes absolutely no sense what so ever.

Your statement "You had one job---to nominate a decent candidate who could beat Clinton." is flat out wrong.

We have one job and that is to keep America a constitutional republic and only chance we have of doing that is to elect Trump, elect anyone else running this cycle, GOP or Democrat and you lose the republic.

The key issues that tells you who is a globalist and who is not are immigration, trade  and border security. Only one candidate got all three right from the get go. Trump (well Carson too). So no the job was not to put another R in the White House like W Bush or HW Bush the job was to halt the progressive agenda and the only R that would even attempt to do that is Trump.  Try reading Pat Bucanen, he's been right on the issue of globalism for a long time.

[jpsb]

I want the perfect conservative as well, but barring that, give me an actual adult.  I can't even hold my nose to vote for a childish thin-skinned con man groper with an unethical business record.  He is so thin-skinned that he's got to be the oldest snowflake in the entire country.

Enjoy Madame President.

More people voted for Trump than any other GOP primary candidate ever. Trump got more votes than Romney, McCain, or Bush. Why because Trump is the only candidate that was right on the issues important to Americas' right leaning voters. All the other major candidates were owned lock, stock and barrel by the globalist uniparty.

The border is on the ballet this election.
The Supreme Court is on the ballet this election.
The amnesty is on the ballet this election.
A war with Russia is on the ballet this election.
American Jobs are on the ballet this election.

Amnesty for tens of millions of illegals, million of Islamic refugees, courts including the Supreme Court packed with Marxists, open borders, more job killing, sovereignty killing trade deals. No the USA can not survive that as a constitutional republic. Elect Hillary and you kill the country.

[DB]

Enjoy Madame President.

More people voted for Trump than any other GOP primary candidate ever. Trump got more votes than Romney, McCain, or Bush. Why because Trump is the only candidate that was right on the issues important to Americas' right leaning voters. All the other major candidates were owned lock, stock and barrel by the globalist uniparty.

The border is on the ballet this election.
The Supreme Court is on the ballet this election.
The amnesty is on the ballet this election.
A war with Russia is on the ballet this election.
American Jobs are on the ballet this election.

Amnesty for tens of millions of illegals, million of Islamic refugees, courts including the Supreme Court packed with Marxists, open borders, more job killing, sovereignty killing trade deals. No the USA can not survive that as a constitutional republic. Elect Hillary and you kill the country.

You failed to mention that he also holds the record for the most votes against in a primary... Nice... Cheerleading with happy talk ignoring the elephant in the room won't fix that.

[aligncare]

Enjoy Madame President.

More people voted for Trump than any other GOP primary candidate ever. Trump got more votes than Romney, McCain, or Bush. Why because Trump is the only candidate that was right on the issues important to Americas' right leaning voters. All the other major candidates were owned lock, stock and barrel by the globalist uniparty.

The border is on the ballet this election.
The Supreme Court is on the ballet this election.
The amnesty is on the ballet this election.
A war with Russia is on the ballet this election.
American Jobs are on the ballet this election.

Amnesty for tens of millions of illegals, million of Islamic refugees, courts including the Supreme Court packed with Marxists, open borders, more job killing, sovereignty killing trade deals. No the USA can not survive that as a constitutional republic. Elect Hillary and you kill the country.

 

[Silver Pines]

@CatherineofAragon

You just don't get it. The Marxist fascist globalists have been trying to destroy the USA since HW Bush announced a New World Order (NWO). Our ruling classes, the political elites, big media, big corporations and big banking are all fine on with creating a  NWO since it is they that will benefit from creating a new society that locks them into a position of wealth and power.  Mexico is a good example of the type of society the NWO fascists wish to build.

Those of us that have clue refer to the politicians, lobbyists, media and consultants helping the elites to achieve a NWO as the uniparty. Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever lost it's meaning in the mid 90's. Every president since Reagan has been a member of the uniparty and has advanced the goal subverting the USA it's constitution and it's people to the will of a global ruling oligarchy. We are one election away from being absorbed. Hillary will finish the job of defeating the USA, nullifying our constitution and dooming ordinary Americans to subservience to a ruling elite that hates uppity middle/working class Americans.

Now when you take a close look at each and every serious GOP candidate for president there were only two that stood firmly with the middle/working class Americans and against the ruling elites and their uniparty servants. Donald Trump and Ben Carson. Jeb Bush was uniparty, John Kasick was uniparty, Scot Walker was uniparty, Carly was uniparty, etc, etc, etc. It was hard to get a read on Ted Cruz since his actions rarely matched his words. His resume was uniparty and he was acceptable to the uniparty so I and most other GOP primary voters concluded he was uniparty.  That left only one candidate that might be able save the USA from the fascist globalist elites. Donald Trump.

If your goal is to preserve the American Republic why in the hell would you elect a president that is down with the uniparty? That wants to integrate the USA into a global political system that nullifies our constitution. That makes absolutely no sense what so ever.

Your statement "You had one job---to nominate a decent candidate who could beat Clinton." is flat out wrong.

We have one job and that is to keep America a constitutional republic and only chance we have of doing that is to elect Trump, elect anyone else running this cycle, GOP or Democrat and you lose the republic.

The key issues that tells you who is a globalist and who is not are immigration, trade  and border security. Only one candidate got all three right from the get go. Trump (well Carson too). So no the job was not to put another R in the White House like W Bush or HW Bush the job was to halt the progressive agenda and the only R that would even attempt to do that is Trump.  Try reading Pat Bucanen, he's been right on the issue of globalism for a long time.

@jpsb

This is just more nonsense ranting about the evil globalists that Trump exploits and feeds.  He knows precisely what you want to hear and he knows that you'll lap up whatever he feeds you.  He might be an oaf in a general sense, but he's an expert at the con game and at manipulating people.  He IS a "globalist."  More than once I've provided you the link to the editorial he wrote in which he called for a global economy and a borderless society---only three years ago.  But you studiously ignore it because it doesn't fit into the qualities you want to project onto Trump. 

So go ahead and swat away the facts about your fraud nominee and indulge yourself with conspiracy theories.  Meanwhile out here in reality, we're facing the almost certain prospect of a Clinton presidency when it was totally avoidable.

Thanks a lot.  You own it 100%.

[LMAO]

At this point, there is no question that Donald Trump is going to lose to Hillary Clinton.  But I do think her win is going to be closer than what a lot of people expect.

 It seems to have been forgot in on this site, but Hillary Clinton does represent the status quo. She represents everything everybody hates about Washington DC. And a large majority of the public do not trust or like her.  The reason ,and the only reason she is winning, is Donald Trump is proven himself to be unstable for the job. Nothing more

[jpsb]

@jpsb

This is just more nonsense ranting about the evil globalists that Trump exploits and feeds.  He knows precisely what you want to hear and he knows that you'll lap up whatever he feeds you.  He might be an oaf in a general sense, but he's an expert at the con game and at manipulating people.  He IS a "globalist."  More than once I've provided you the link to the editorial he wrote in which he called for a global economy and a borderless society---only three years ago.  But you studiously ignore it because it doesn't fit into the qualities you want to project onto Trump. 

So go ahead and swat away the facts about your fraud nominee and indulge yourself with conspiracy theories.  Meanwhile out here in reality, we're facing the almost certain prospect of a Clinton presidency when it was totally avoidable.

Thanks a lot.  You own it 100%.

No you own it, go visit Paul Ryans' facebook page to see what everyone not for Hillary thinks of NeverTrumpers.
I'll note that you can not refute my argument all you've got is "Trump is bad", "Trump is a liar" perhaps but Trump is the only chance we have to save the republic so I'm with Trump.

[jpsb]

At this point, there is no question that Donald Trump is going to lose to Hillary Clinton.  But I do think her win is going to be closer than what a lot of people expect.

Donald Trump is proven himself to be unstable for the job. Nothing more

Having the empire uniparty apparadice attacking him 24/7 with baseless smears and out right lies had nothing to do with Trumps lagging poll numbers huh? Mean while not a peep about Hillary vastly greater crimes. Enjoy Madame president you earned.