Excellent analysis, Rob! You essentialize and tie it all together very well. You create cognitive order out of the Trumpian event chaos. Everything Trump is doing has an underlying modus operandi, and that is power, power for him to exercise over our lives.
It is very disturbing to think that it has happened here. But it has. And we must be realistic and knowledgeable about it so that we can fight back.
I feel better armed for that fight!
Incidentally, it seems that the next signpost of dictatorship will be for a complete defiance of the courts. It seems that we are there already. Trump just recently acknowledged that he can bring back Kilmar Garcia from El Salvador with a simple phone call, but he won’t.
It seems that the Supreme Court is choosing to evade/bury their head in the sand. They hope that if they are quiet the problem will just go away. But it seems very unlikely now that Trump will comply with their 9-0 decision to bring him back.
That means that increasingly Trump is just going to ignore the courts. If a lesser court holds him in contempt, he will just laugh and ignore it. Meanwhile, by choosing to stay silent and not denounce Trump for ignoring their orders, Supreme Court is sending a clear message to Trump: He can do what he wants, the judiciary be damned.
He will have become that “unitary executive” - i.e., dictator - across the entirety of government.
On a slightly different note, I think he has revoked some green cards. Next, he will revoke citizenship - first for naturalized citizens and maybe even for birth citizens. And he will throw American citizens into Bukele’s hell hole, and other to-be-announced hell holes around the world.
And eventually, it will be critics of Trump who will be sent to these hell-holes.
He already has co-opted huge financial and legal resources through his tariff and regulatory attacks on business, and his extortion of law firms and the media.
The path really seems clear. Only my inability to envision such things in America makes me feel this won’t happen. But logically and rationally, I know it will. It is where we are headed.
What I don't understand is why the police, the military or the state governments won't stand up for the rule of law. I always have held law enforcement in high regard. I would think some of them would not be willing to go along with this. In the end, this coup can only be stopped if someone wielding force refuses to follow his orders.
"what dictator has ever seized power only for one day and then immediately relinquished it?" Cincinnatus was dictator of Rome for a little over two weeks before giving up his power and going home. But he didn't really "seize" power
Excellent analysis, but there's one more area of Trump's activity you should mention: At the same time he's concentrating so much power in himself and his office, political, legal and economic, he has also established mechanisms by which people can give him unlimited amounts of money, more or less untraceably. I don't think we've yet gotten any credibly-sourced reports about how industrialists, foreign governments, indicted criminals, etc., have arranged his intercession and protection by buying a few million in $Trump coins, or DJT stock... but we certainly will.
"—including *children* who are citizens" -- As I understand it, the mother, who was being deported, elected to keep the child with her for lack of a feasible alternative.
"A Wisconsin judge was just arrested after she was accused of refusing to cooperate with an attempt by ICE to detain someone in her courtroom." My review of the gov't's complaint is that a charge of obstructing justice is plausible. If the complaint is factual, the judge did more than "refuse to cooperate."
"The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he must “facilitate” the return of at least one of these hapless victims" Unfortunately, the Court provided an "out": "The intended scope of the term “effectuate” in the District Court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the District Court’s authority. The District Court should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs." --Noem v. Abrega
I offer these observations in the spirit of strengthening this post, as I wholeheartedly agree with its crux.
Thank you for your commentary. Threads, the social media platform run by Meta/Facebook/Zuckerberg, needs to receive a copy. Threads is currently FULL of pro-Russian, Trump-o-philia commentary and desperately needs a correction. The posts are either from Russian bots or trolls. Or they are from Putinized Amero-Russians, who are figurative Russians rather than literal ones, and who reside in the United States. Send them the message and take back the website and our country.
There is a list of things Trump has done (and of which I agree and approve) and a list of things that do horrify me regarding, in particular, things that can certainly be deemed un-Constitutional.
2 points to make:
1. I do note that you state "The fact that someone can write and publish an article like this is a demonstration of that fact (that the dictatorship consolidated and entrenched)." I also note that you neglect to point out how SCOTUS is doing what SCOTUS is meant to do - ie examine actions taken by Trump to determine legality. And despite the fears and lamentations that SCOTUS (particularly the ones appointed under Trump) would be his lapdog, that is clearly NOT the case. So despite the despair, the system is working. (Well, the SCOTUS part is, Congress - the Legislative branch - is nowhere to be seen. Why complete silence on how pathetic the Ds have been in mounting resistance? It's there for them on a silver platter yet they are utterly incapable of doing anything other than doubling-down on their collectivist agendas.)
2. Would you be willing to compare and contrast FDR's actions along with Trump's? I don't condone many things he is doing but so many (including it seems, you) seem to be making a case that everything he does is unprecedented and the greatest threat to the US system ever. But is that fair to say or claim? FDR was and remains far more of a dictatorial force than Trump is or seems intent on being. There was complete outrage over many things FDR did / tried to do and, unfortunately for many generations after, we are still living with the ever growing bloated government that FDR put in place even with the acts that SCOTUS declared un-Constitutional. No, I don't mean to defend the actions of Trump that are legally (and in cases, morally) wrong - but get some context and stop blowing it all out of proportion relative to what other past actions by POTUS have been (including the horrors of Obama and Biden).
For f sakes Robert, as much as I hate Trump, and forgive me Jesus, I fing hate the wannabe Ill Duce, arresting Judge Judy, I mean Dugan, is not the act of a tyrant, or dick tator….anymore than a faces of death video gone viral George Floyd’s death was representative of white cops in America (for one millllion dollars name one of his comrades in the video…wait, wait don’t tell me they ain’t right, rhymes with!?). We the People have seen these bad actors before in the Bada Bing, I mean Oval Office…But leave it here for me go be the first to express and UnPopulist, I mean unpopular statement ( free speech for Berny, not for thee) Trump is a dictator over my….and unlike Charlatan Heston, I ain’t a gun totting Republican and confront evil doers to their rotten faces by aiming my big fing mouth. I look forward to you and your comrades doing the same. Gotta run on. Thanks for taking my UnPopulist, I mean unpopular rant Peace through superior mental firepower
Excellent analysis, Rob! You essentialize and tie it all together very well. You create cognitive order out of the Trumpian event chaos. Everything Trump is doing has an underlying modus operandi, and that is power, power for him to exercise over our lives.
It is very disturbing to think that it has happened here. But it has. And we must be realistic and knowledgeable about it so that we can fight back.
I feel better armed for that fight!
Incidentally, it seems that the next signpost of dictatorship will be for a complete defiance of the courts. It seems that we are there already. Trump just recently acknowledged that he can bring back Kilmar Garcia from El Salvador with a simple phone call, but he won’t.
It seems that the Supreme Court is choosing to evade/bury their head in the sand. They hope that if they are quiet the problem will just go away. But it seems very unlikely now that Trump will comply with their 9-0 decision to bring him back.
That means that increasingly Trump is just going to ignore the courts. If a lesser court holds him in contempt, he will just laugh and ignore it. Meanwhile, by choosing to stay silent and not denounce Trump for ignoring their orders, Supreme Court is sending a clear message to Trump: He can do what he wants, the judiciary be damned.
He will have become that “unitary executive” - i.e., dictator - across the entirety of government.
On a slightly different note, I think he has revoked some green cards. Next, he will revoke citizenship - first for naturalized citizens and maybe even for birth citizens. And he will throw American citizens into Bukele’s hell hole, and other to-be-announced hell holes around the world.
And eventually, it will be critics of Trump who will be sent to these hell-holes.
He already has co-opted huge financial and legal resources through his tariff and regulatory attacks on business, and his extortion of law firms and the media.
The path really seems clear. Only my inability to envision such things in America makes me feel this won’t happen. But logically and rationally, I know it will. It is where we are headed.
It is time to fight with all we have.
What I don't understand is why the police, the military or the state governments won't stand up for the rule of law. I always have held law enforcement in high regard. I would think some of them would not be willing to go along with this. In the end, this coup can only be stopped if someone wielding force refuses to follow his orders.
60% of military voted for Trump. But they're not thrilled.
"what dictator has ever seized power only for one day and then immediately relinquished it?" Cincinnatus was dictator of Rome for a little over two weeks before giving up his power and going home. But he didn't really "seize" power
Excellent analysis, but there's one more area of Trump's activity you should mention: At the same time he's concentrating so much power in himself and his office, political, legal and economic, he has also established mechanisms by which people can give him unlimited amounts of money, more or less untraceably. I don't think we've yet gotten any credibly-sourced reports about how industrialists, foreign governments, indicted criminals, etc., have arranged his intercession and protection by buying a few million in $Trump coins, or DJT stock... but we certainly will.
"—including *children* who are citizens" -- As I understand it, the mother, who was being deported, elected to keep the child with her for lack of a feasible alternative.
"A Wisconsin judge was just arrested after she was accused of refusing to cooperate with an attempt by ICE to detain someone in her courtroom." My review of the gov't's complaint is that a charge of obstructing justice is plausible. If the complaint is factual, the judge did more than "refuse to cooperate."
"The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he must “facilitate” the return of at least one of these hapless victims" Unfortunately, the Court provided an "out": "The intended scope of the term “effectuate” in the District Court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the District Court’s authority. The District Court should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs." --Noem v. Abrega
I offer these observations in the spirit of strengthening this post, as I wholeheartedly agree with its crux.
Thank you for your commentary. Threads, the social media platform run by Meta/Facebook/Zuckerberg, needs to receive a copy. Threads is currently FULL of pro-Russian, Trump-o-philia commentary and desperately needs a correction. The posts are either from Russian bots or trolls. Or they are from Putinized Amero-Russians, who are figurative Russians rather than literal ones, and who reside in the United States. Send them the message and take back the website and our country.
There is a list of things Trump has done (and of which I agree and approve) and a list of things that do horrify me regarding, in particular, things that can certainly be deemed un-Constitutional.
2 points to make:
1. I do note that you state "The fact that someone can write and publish an article like this is a demonstration of that fact (that the dictatorship consolidated and entrenched)." I also note that you neglect to point out how SCOTUS is doing what SCOTUS is meant to do - ie examine actions taken by Trump to determine legality. And despite the fears and lamentations that SCOTUS (particularly the ones appointed under Trump) would be his lapdog, that is clearly NOT the case. So despite the despair, the system is working. (Well, the SCOTUS part is, Congress - the Legislative branch - is nowhere to be seen. Why complete silence on how pathetic the Ds have been in mounting resistance? It's there for them on a silver platter yet they are utterly incapable of doing anything other than doubling-down on their collectivist agendas.)
2. Would you be willing to compare and contrast FDR's actions along with Trump's? I don't condone many things he is doing but so many (including it seems, you) seem to be making a case that everything he does is unprecedented and the greatest threat to the US system ever. But is that fair to say or claim? FDR was and remains far more of a dictatorial force than Trump is or seems intent on being. There was complete outrage over many things FDR did / tried to do and, unfortunately for many generations after, we are still living with the ever growing bloated government that FDR put in place even with the acts that SCOTUS declared un-Constitutional. No, I don't mean to defend the actions of Trump that are legally (and in cases, morally) wrong - but get some context and stop blowing it all out of proportion relative to what other past actions by POTUS have been (including the horrors of Obama and Biden).
Law Enforcement will have or already has database and surveillance technology tools.
For f sakes Robert, as much as I hate Trump, and forgive me Jesus, I fing hate the wannabe Ill Duce, arresting Judge Judy, I mean Dugan, is not the act of a tyrant, or dick tator….anymore than a faces of death video gone viral George Floyd’s death was representative of white cops in America (for one millllion dollars name one of his comrades in the video…wait, wait don’t tell me they ain’t right, rhymes with!?). We the People have seen these bad actors before in the Bada Bing, I mean Oval Office…But leave it here for me go be the first to express and UnPopulist, I mean unpopular statement ( free speech for Berny, not for thee) Trump is a dictator over my….and unlike Charlatan Heston, I ain’t a gun totting Republican and confront evil doers to their rotten faces by aiming my big fing mouth. I look forward to you and your comrades doing the same. Gotta run on. Thanks for taking my UnPopulist, I mean unpopular rant Peace through superior mental firepower