Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 85 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H1'ed 8/22/17

Why Trump is Doomed (It's Not the Nazi Thing)

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   5 comments
Message Ted Rall
Become a Fan
  (26 fans)

From Smirking Chimp

Trump Rather Be Golfing
Trump Rather Be Golfing
(Image by Secret in the Dirt)
  Details   DMCA

Unlike many of my colleagues, I knew Trump would probably win. Based on the president's congenital laziness and short attention span that I documented in my biography, I also predicted that his administration would be characterized by a lack of focus or follow-through. I did pretty well by my readers.

But there's one thing I never saw coming.

I didn't know he was a far-right extremist.

Who would have ever thought that a president would defend Nazis and Klansmen -- repeatedly, even after catching hell for doing so? That, to appease "very fine" Nazis and Klansmen, a president wouldn't bother to phone the family of a high-profile political murder victim? (Trump waited four days to call -- and first did so during her funeral.) That a president of the United States would elevate the leaders of the defeated, treasonous Confederacy to the level of America's Founding Fathers?

As CNN's Anderson Cooper observed after Trump's now-infamous news conference, "A few hours ago, the President of the United States revealed to us so clearly who he really is."

Who is he? At best, an enabler and apologist for fascists.

At worst, a fascist himself. Though, to be fair, comparing Trump to fascists is unfair to fascists. Fascists got things done. Infrastructure, for example.

There were plenty of signs of Trump's fascist tendencies. He promised to bring back torture; on August 17th he approvingly recounted an incredibly (i.e., literally untrue) racist story that U.S. occupation troops executed Muslim Filipino patriots with bullets dipped in pig's blood. He repeatedly encouraged violence against peaceful liberal protesters at his rallies; he was still at it last month, when he "joked" that cops ought to bash suspects' heads into the side of their squad cars. He wants to refill the infamous concentration camp at Guantanamo.

During the campaign there were also indications that Trump might be a reasonable man. Gay Republicans assured us his White House would respect pro-LGBTQA rights. During the campaign, Trump said Caitlyn Jenner should feel free to use the Trump Tower bathroom of her choice. Strange to think about now, but this is the same guy who endorsed single-payer healthcare, called for a tax increase on the wealthy, promised to lay off Planned Parenthood, and came out for amnesty for illegal immigrants (albeit after deporting them, then letting them back in...to help out the airlines, maybe?).

Candidate Trump was satisfyingly all over the place.

President Trump has been terrifyingly consistent.

Nixon, Reagan and George W. Bush hired Democrats to top posts. Not Trump. His cabinet and top staff is staffed by rabid right-wing lily white ideologues; it features more generals than an old-school junta. Trump's first major policy initiatives -- repealing Obamacare with no replacement and tax cuts for the rich -- have tilted so far right that he can't even secure the support of the usual sellout Vichy Democrats, or right-wing Republicans.

Even by the standards of a country whose citizens -- even the "liberal" ones -- believe they have the right to invade and bomb any country they feel like without justification, Trump's presser and ensuing tweets were truly special.

"Mainstream" Republicans like Mitch McConnell may have the soul of a Nazi. But actual Nazism -- the uniforms, the flags, the crazy rune shields -- Americans don't do that stuff. Actual Nazism is for a few thousand pasty tatt-covered muscleheads with little pig eyes. They are freaks. They are few.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 3   Well Said 3   Funny 2  
Rate It | View Ratings

Ted Rall Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Ted Rall, a political cartoonist, is the author of "The Anti-American Manifesto." He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, raised in Kettering, Ohio and graduated from Fairmont West High School in 1981. His first cartoons were published (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

If Trump Wins, Don't Blame Progressives. This Is on You, Centrists.

The Revolution Will Not Be Deactualized

Coverage of the anti-NSA Protest is an Example of a New Way to Disseminate Government BS

Why Trump is Doomed (It's Not the Nazi Thing)

The Difference Between Liberals and Leftists

Now, A Postmortem By Someone Who Actually Saw Trump's Win Coming

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend