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

[kpete]

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.

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

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

[liberal N proud]

1. I was afraid when bush wa elected, but that was nothing compared to my fear now

[lark]

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

Trump totally terrifies me. His statement that American can't compete until our wage earners are paid like those in China is one of the worst things I've ever heard a politician say. Him being sued 66 times for failure to pay vendors or workers terrifies me, he cheats and thinks that's the regular way to do things. He has no conscience, no morals, it's all for him and about him, he could care less about truth or doing the right thing. I truly will seek to move out of the country if he's elected president. We've started researching already, just in case, and I've subscribed to a living abroad magazine.

[newthinking]

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

[BobTheSubgenius]

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

Unfortunately, I'm not a concierge, and it isn't THAT easy. Nor quick.

[DRI]

56. Age makes a difference!

Since Ezra has not voted for anyone outside of the Bush II and Obama presidential years he has little perspective on true fear. He should have been around during the election of Nixon in 1972 to know what the people were facing! if Nixon had not faced Watergate I truly believe the world would be a much worse place today.

I have voted in every election since 1964 and only had nagging regrets about one of my votes.

[lark]

79. Blue dog here

I've been voting since Nixon ran and have never once voted anything other than D. R's are too scary, and have gotten lots crazier since the 60's. I have no regrets, just wish we'd had better D candidates at times.

[In_The_Wind]

2. If elected, Trump would set America back a hundred years.

[2naSalit]

6. Worse than that...

He'd be setting us back to colonial times as far as how we the little people would be allowed to live.

[In_The_Wind]

8. It's truly frightening.

[AlbertCat]

59. He'd be setting us back to colonial times....

Kinda...

But y'know, it's Congress that makes laws.

The real fear is what Trump would do abroad.

[2naSalit]

71. I do know that

but in his f'd up mind, that's where he wants to go.

And, yes, what he might do abroad is just as, if not more, atrocious.

[fuzzwald]

75. But:

My concern is that he would simply surround the Capitol with troops and have his way with Congress.

[yuiyoshida]

15. Some of us who look different would probably be deported

and those who lived in America for eons, will probably be sent to either Mexico or Canada. Trump wants to MAKE AMERICA WHITE AGAIN!

[In_The_Wind]

25. We cannot let that happen! We need to vote for Hillary to Stop Trump.

[img][/img]

[sarae]

51. yes! or harassed and otherwise made to feel unwelcome.

I'm so scared of what might happen.

My mom is so worried. My elderly parents live in the suburbs of Atlanta and they're talking about leaving the country if Trump wins...or at least leaving the South.

Why doesn't the news ever talk about the Americans who have been made to feel angry and fearful of the racist people in this country? They always talk about whites feeling threatened – what about how non-whites feel?

[bulloney]

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

[tallahasseedem]

3. I never thought it could get worse than W and Cheney.

I was wrong.

There are many on this board who say that we should not be using fear as a driving factor to convince others to vote for Hillary. I say that, at this point, no one should have to be convinced to vote for her. The differences are night and day.

[Hekate]

13. +1

[HughBeaumont]

32. Pence tossed that ticket to the whack-a-doo side of the fence.

Imagine the worst qualities of a ruthless wingnut CEO, a hypocritical hope-dope dealer, an anti-LGBTQI asshole and Sarah Palin, swish them in a Petri dish, gestate it, and you got Mike Pence. Trump is bad enough; this loathsome refrigerator scum cannot be anywhere NEAR a position of power.

[LuvNewcastle]

74. That's also how I feel about Pence.

He scares me just as much as Trump does.

[progressoid]

37. Yup.

[maryellen99]

4. People should be afraid especially after his comments about NATO nt

[northoftheborder]

5. I have a very queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach tonight.....

......I predicted that surely the GOP would not let this man become their nominee......

.......I even predicted that he would quit before the convention, or at the convention.....

[davidn3600]

7. Michael Moore says you are in denial if you feel Trump can't win

“I think Trump is going to win. I’m sorry,” the Oscar-winning filmmaker said on Wednesday’s live episode of Real Time With Bill Maher. As the crowd booed his comments, host Bill Maher said Moore was doing the right thing by speaking out.

“Boo if you want. The enemy is complacency,” Maher said.

According to Moore, Trump’s best chance at winning the general election lies in Middle America. “I live in Michigan. Let me tell you: it’s going to be the Brexit strategy,” Moore said, before comparing the middle of England to Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. “Mitt Romney lost by 64 electoral votes,” Moore said. “The total electoral votes of those four states in the Rust Belt: 64.”

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/21/michael-moore-i-think-trump-going-win

[HughBeaumont]

31. Uh . . . .

. . . Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney by 126 Electoral Votes.

[mnhtnbb]

33. 2012 Electoral College Vote totals

Obama 332
Romney 206.

Subtract 64 votes--Michigan (16), Ohio (18), Wisconsin (10), Pennsylvania (20)-- from Obama

Obama 268

Add those 64 votes to Romney
Romney 270

It takes 270 electoral college votes for a win.

Michael Moore is exactly correct.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/

[HughBeaumont]

54. That being said, Trump isn't taking all four states.

Trump couldn't even beat Kasich in the Ohio Primary. Kasich has the personality of a wet mop and is not a popular governor. He lost the Wisconsin primary handily to Ted Biblethumper CRUZ of all people.

This is before he made the classic boneheaded Republican VP choice . . . this makes it, what, four straight (Cheney, Palin, Ryan, Pence) . . . I think the bad VP curse got passed to the Republicans in 2008. Pence as VP is a serious anchor on his chances. You lose whatever female, LGBTQI and Labor votes you might have had instantly and now pretty much appeal to dominionist white males and their wives that tell them how to vote.

[mnhtnbb]

73. Three of those four states currently have Republican governors

and in the the fourth--Pennsylvania--voters ousted an unpopular Republican governor when they voted in Wolf.

It's not a stretch to be worried that those four states could flip red in the GE and go for Trump.
And that's Michael Moore's point.

Debating the probability of all four switching is another post, I'm just supporting Michael Moore's assessment that there is reasonable cause
to be concerned in those four states.

[bigwillq]

9. Far from the first for me (nt)

[nruthie]

10. I admit that I am terrified.

This creature will have the ability to destroy everything. And he will not hesitate to do it.

[tammywammy]

11. I just remarked to a friend tonight

That I didn't agree with or like Mitt Romney, but I wasn't afraid of him. I'm afraid of what Trump would do. That man does not need access to the nuke codes.

[world wide wally]

12. Now look at the GOP platform and you won't be able to sleep

[coco77]

14. Never under estimate

the power of melanin.

[trixie]

16. completely agree

I was watching CBC from Canada and I love their coverage of American politics. They played out the NATO thing quite well with interviewing world leaders. The entire world is afraid of him winning.

This can't happen!

[niyad]

17. "his basic decency"???????? are you ******* KIDDING?

[Skinner]

27. I read that to mean his lack of decency. (nt)

[niyad]

64. those two words should definitely have been there.

[PatrickforO]

77. Me too. The context was very clear.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

29. Is that all you read?

You seem very confused....

[niyad]

63. confused? really? thanks for the insult, but I read the whole thing, and

my question stands.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

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

It was an establishing sentence of premise of the essay. There was no bad editing, it's context is correct. Does Trump have any character, any rationality, any self-control and yes, ANY SHRED OF EVEN THE MOST SIMPLE FORM OF HUMAN DECENCY? Klein BRILLIANTLY answers that question (spoilers....it's NO) and THAT was what you came away with? You think he's hedging somehow?

My point stands.

[niyad]

69. and so does mine. but keep on trying.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

70. Nah, I'll stop trying

"I'm so upset right now!!! You're seriously posting this love letter to Drumpf???? Klein is a two bit M$M right-wing hack!"

Am I doing it right?

[malthaussen]

39. Bad editing.

Doubtless meant as "low level of decency" or "lack of decency," as Skinner says.

-- Mal

[niyad]

65. I would certainly hope so.

[Hekate]

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

...this monster are fools.

[Person 2713]

26. Their is a lot of denial that can push him to victory

[malthaussen]

40. No, not necessarily fools.

Why is it so difficult for people of more-or-less good will to believe that, for a sizeable number of Americans, Mr Trump is exactly what they want?

-- Mal

[Martin Eden]

45. Do they know Trump is lying and can't fulfill the promises he is making?

If they're aware of that and want him anyway, then they their hatred outweighs all other considerations.

But I think most of them believe most of what Trump says, which makes them fools.

[malthaussen]

46. And I think most of them know exactly what he is...

... and that yes, the hatred outweighs all other considerations. And my question is why that is so hard to believe.

-- Mal

[Martin Eden]

47. Difficult to know how many of Trump's ardent admirers really know he constantly lies to their face

Those who know are unlikely to admit it, even to themselves.

Personally, I think most of them have swallowed the snake oil he's selling and have bought into the "Make America Great Again" slogan.

[malthaussen]

49. Understood, but that is just as difficult to know as the other...

,,, neither of us is the Shadow. There is, however, a certain smug self-satisfaction that can be derived from concluding that Mr Trump's followers are all fools being deceived. That doesn't make it less probable that that is the case, though.

But whenever an election is in process, most voters are presented with a candidate who has some points with which they agree, some with which they do not, and a large middle ground to which they are largely indifferent. They vote for this or that candidate, not because they believe every bon mot to come out of his mouth, but because they do believe that he will act on those things that are important to them. So the question becomes, for an elector, what are the things that are most important. And I think it may very well be the case that, what is most important to a Democratic voter may be of neglegible importance to a Trump supporter. Which may make them fools in one sense, but not in the sense that they are being deceived.

-- Mal

[Martin Eden]

52. But whenever an election is in process ...

Mal, your thoughtful paragraph holds true for most elections and most candidates, but I think Trump is pushing the button on raw emotions. Careful consideration and rational thought are not how an authoritarian demagogue wins support. They have been manipulated into hating Hillary with a passion (a process ongoing for decades, taken advantage of by Trump) and their fear & anger have been stoked.

Of course, all campaigns to some extent play on emotions. But what I saw last night is different than what I've witnessed in 40 years of voting. It looked more like a fascist rally from the 1930's.

[malthaussen]

53. Sure, because that's what it was.

You're correct, IMO, in your assessment that Mr Trump is playing the emotions of the electorate masterfully. (So are the Democrats, for that matter) But consider that Mr Trump is the first politician of consequence (and he's the GOP's nominee, that makes him of consequence ipso facto) to openly advocate what many have yearned for in their deepest, blackest souls, for years. They aren't being fooled, there. (although it would be an interesting gedankenexperiment to ask how much probability Mr Trump has of pulling off any of his bigoted promises, from building a wall to gassing... er, I mean deporting... non-whites. Not that it is anything I'd like to put to the test) The thing is, rational voters see different problems and different important questions, and they seem so self-evident that there is an assumption that anyone must see them, or else they have drunk the proverbial kool-aid, bought the snake oil, have been deceived by the con man. But many of these people have no real expectation of any substantive change in their position vis-a-vis the ruling class, or that dollars will magically trickle down to them once taxes are cut enough for the wealthy. The only ones who buy that are ideologues. What I see is that they do hope for justification and validation of their superiority, a psychological reward, not a material one. And this, Mr Trump can provide, and America can be made "great" again just by saying it is great. It's a very different mind-set from those who apply rational analysis to facts in order to make a reasonable determination.

Again, this arguably makes them fools in one sense, but not in the sense that they are being deceived. If it were a simple matter of deception, then a plain exposure of the facts should serve as sufficient antidote. As it does not, I conclude something else must be going on.

-- Mal

[demfromWA03]

19. Trump is an absolute menace

He represents the worst traits of the GOP and its followers. Even GWB looks like a voice of reason compared to him.

And yet, he has a strong chance of winning the election in 4 months. What a terrifying prospect.

[uppityperson]

22. Absolutely terrifying, horrifying. +1, I agree he is alarming, dreadful.

He is fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, and fearful.

[billhicks76]

20. Internment Camps Will Come

So will disappearances like with any fascist government. Funny tweets by Hillary isn't cutting it. She needs to strike FEAR in people.

[Initech]

21. Reagan gutted the education system. 40 years of that gave us Trump.

[kairos12]

41. Raygun begat shrub, now Drumpt. Raygun was the worst President ever.

[hibbing]

23. I'm scared n/t

[GreenEyedLefty]

24. Don't be scared of Trump

Think about what led 14 million people to vote for him in the primaries. Many of the people who voted for him were making a statement about the Republican Party by voting *against* the other candidates... but now this is their candidate.

There is no reason to fear. It could be worse, it could be Cruz.

Hillary will win.

[Kimberly1990219]

28. Yep

All we can do is vote for Hillary. If we don't, America will be screwed

[napkinz]

30. K&R

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

34. What I keep thinking of as I read this thread

[bucolic_frolic]

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

He is the law. He will give orders. Immediately upon taking office.

It sounds like martial law. Shoot to kill. A bloodbath of death and
fear. Shoot first. Anyone steps out of line, or you think they do, shoot.

Be very afraid.

[bucolic_frolic]

43. It could even be like 1980

collusion with foreign groups to scare the American public

and create a need for themselves

[malthaussen]

50. Still wondering what the "October Surprise" will be.

It will have to be a real doozy to promote Mr Trump's chances among the still-unaligned.

-- Mal

[Still In Wisconsin]

55. Look at who he says he admires:

Kim Jong Un--- he's "unbelievable." He just went in there and took control!

Saddam Hussein--- "He killed terrorists. Unbelievable. Didn't read them their rights."


Vladimir Putin--- "He's running that country unbelievable..."


Trump admires authoritarian strongmen. He wants to be one. Donald Trump is not running for President, he is running for DICTATOR!

[progressoid]

38. Rec!

[Third Doctor]

42. I agree

[bullsnarfle]

57. I am going to say something first

that may hack some folks off, but here goes:

I do not like Hillary Clinton. Never have.

That being said, I will most definitely be voting for her. If I have to crawl through broken glass for 10 miles to the polling station, so be it.

I just hope to hell she doesn't screw the pooch and find some way to give the election to that crazy bastard. Please H.C., don't screw this one up!!!

[AlbertCat]

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

Super scary.

[calimary]

60. This was a really good read! A keeper.

Well worth bookmarking.

My husband and I were both struck by the statements of Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of Trump's "The Art of the Deal." Which Tony Schwartz asserts he himself wrote - that Donald didn't write it, and that his (Schwartz's) months of trying to work with Trump and tag along with him and come to understand him resulted in his own terrible frustration and, now, flat-out horror. Schwartz said he found Trump to have "no attention span" and the behavior of a nine-year-old with ADD, if I remember his comment correctly. Schwartz also declared that he's terrified about the idea of Donald Trump as President, fearing that if Trump has the nuclear codes, that could mean "the end of civilization." I heard him say that twice.

[sammcgee68]

61. View from the Midwest

I live in Ohio , and yes we should be very afraid. Once you get away from the core downtown urban areas the Trump support here is overwhelming. To top it off Roger Ailes has succeeded very well here and though many see Trump as a Total Dick they hate Hillary with a greater passion . They may sit out the election or even worse side with the Dick.
Its not just the working class whites. My work involves working and reacting with the people in the higher end neighborhoods of Cincinnati. They are avid Fox listeners so they consider Hillary as damaged goods. Through the years I have enjoyed sparring with my Republican customers in the past it was all good natured , now it is serious .
Many out there may not like this, but during these discussions in the past year , I was always able to make a very convincing case for Bernie, and many of these die hard Republicans were beginning to come around.
Don't get me wrong I know the math and will support Hillary , but my God this is scary. Many of us due to financial considerations do not have the option of leaving the country, but have to tough it out.

After a tough fight till November and fighting for the Democratic ticket if we loose and since I am closing in on retirement age I may need to follow up on the old 60's saying and get a RV and Turn on and Drop Out , LIVE completely off the Grid.

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID.

[YOHABLO]

62. I hate Hitler analogies but we have to learn from history the ramifications of being complacent and

arrogant. We can't allow this country to become an authoritarian state. You think Bush was a reason to flee the U.S.? Try Donald Trump.

[colsohlibgal]

66. The Bubble Led To This

Lewis Powell's wet dream of GOP TV came true once we made the stupid error of doing away with the Fairness Doctrine.

Eventually GOP TV (Fox "News&quot was on about every public TV you saw.

Powerful corporations eventually started switching from fairly high ratings liberal radio talk shows to conservative shows even as ratings often then tanked.

So we have reached critical mass, millions of people who believe in a lot of what they think are facts but aren't.

A burgeoning mass of dummies.

If somehow Drumpf wins the exodus from this country may rival the prescient folks who fled Nazi Germany 8 or so decades ago....who knew better than to buy Goebbels set of facts.

Scary times....hopefully this ends up like 1964 but there was no GOP TV back then.

[TeamPooka]

67. I am not alone. nt

[TNNurse]

72. Well, Ezra,

I am a lot older than you...66. I lived through some pretty scary childhood times. Practiced hiding under my desk with fellow students in case there was a nuclear attack. Was truly afraid that the Bay of Pigs would bring bombs to my GA home.

When I was in college....Kent State, MLK, RFK and Vietnam were terrifying.

I despised Reagan, was horrified by Bush/Cheney.

None of that was as terrifying as the idea of Trump in charge of all of us.

As my sister-in-law said.....Romney is looking pretty good now, isn't he???

I have never voted for a Republican for President and know that I never will.

[PatrickforO]

76. On another post you did, there was a brilliant quote from Maya Angelou:

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time!"

We can't let Trump get elected, period.

[Scurrilous]

80. K & R