You act like character is bad only on the right with Trump. That is part of what I and so many do not understand at all. Kamala is not any better. Neither is Biden or Walz. I think that is the major problem with the left and their self righteous attitudes because they know better than the rest of us.
I have said before and I will say it again. If people could back up and try to view things with as little a bias as possible they might see things in a totally different light. This goes for both sides.
There are major flaws on both sides. But the lack of acknowledgement of the left to truly see their own flaws and hypocrisy is what is turning a good number of voters towards Trump.
The embracing and spewing of outright lies is now not just falling on deaf ears but swaying some independent voters to back Trump. The left lives by the mantra of the ends justify the means. I think most people are now seeing that the left says whatever needs to be said to win and they do it in a more polite way. Their actions do not mirror the message they preach.
Trump says things in a crude and brash way but his actions reflect a better message than his words and this is resonating more with a broader voter base.
The left has become so bitter that even if they say the right thing it is not received well and it is getting worse each day as the election nears.
I am truly amazed that this is where we stand now as nation. Deeply divided and vitriol and bitterness abound.
Sorry to ramble.
Todd - you are a reasonable poster. It is noted and appreciated.
But "bothsides"ing Trump is, in my opinion, ignorant of history. Trump has been very effective at systematically lowering the perceived bar for what is considered politics as usual and what millions of people will now find acceptable when it would have been entirely disqualifying in the past with any other politician at any other point in our history. That lowering of standards, that intentional sowing of distrust and doubt in the foundations of our system of government, that idea that
everyone else is lying and only one man can fix it is directly out of the authoritarian's playbook.
The list of what would have previously been disqualifying words and actions by Trump is far too long to recount, and at this point is known to everyone anyway. But you can't find me another president in our history whose own team, handpicked direct reports chosen to help a president achieve his agenda, who then spoke of their prior boss the way so many of Trump's former people speak of him.
Again, it's not politics as usual, it's entirely unprecedented in our history. They aren't saying they now disagree with his policies. They are saying he is an authoritarian who has no understanding of or respect for the Constitution. And the most confounding thing to me is the fact that what they are saying is entirely believable based on what trump has stated, in public, over and over again. You have heard it yourself, but somehow it gets explained away as political noise, when it most assuredly is not.
1. John Kelly (Former Chief of Staff & Marine General)
Praised Hitler:
Kelly said that Trump repeatedly stated that Hitler did "some good things".
Contempt For our Democracy:
Kelly stated that Trump "has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution and rule of law. God help us”
Unfit for Office:
John Kelly reportedly said that Trump is “the most flawed person” he’s ever known and believed that Trump was unfit for office.
Lack of Discipline:
Kelly criticized Trump for his lack of discipline and failure to focus on important matters, claiming Trump often made decisions based on personal grievances rather than national interest.
Undermining the Rule of Law:
Kelly was disturbed by Trump’s attempts to undermine the rule of law and his repeated attacks on institutions like the FBI, intelligence agencies, and the military.
Disrespecting Veterans:
According to reports, Kelly was deeply upset by Trump’s disrespectful remarks about military service members. Trump allegedly referred to American war dead as “losers” and “suckers” during a 2018 trip to France, where Trump declined to visit a cemetery for U.S. soldiers. Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general whose son was killed in action, reportedly found this behavior deeply offensive.
2. Mark Esper (Former Trump Secretary of Defense)
Fascist:
Esper said that Trump has "inclinations" towards "fascism".
Dangerous Decisions:
In his memoir “A Sacred Oath,” Esper called Trump a danger to democracy and revealed that Trump frequently suggested dangerous or illegal actions, such as shooting protesters, launching missiles at Mexico to "destroy the drug labs," and more.
Military for Political Purposes:
Esper opposed Trump’s desire to use the military for political purposes, especially in 2020 during the protests following George Floyd’s murder. Esper publicly opposed Trump’s plan to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military against U.S. citizens protesting in American cities.
Leadership Failure:
Esper described Trump as erratic and unreliable when it came to critical defense decisions. He also noted that Trump did not take criticism well, even when it was meant to inform better decisions.
Ignoring Expert Advice:
Esper said that Trump often ignored the advice of top military and defense officials in favor of pursuing his instincts, which Esper believed were frequently reckless
3. Mark Milley (Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump)
Facist:
Milley stated that "Trump is a fascist to the core".
Danger:
Milley stated that Trump was a 'The most dangerous person to this country.'
Fears of a Coup:
Milley reportedly feared that Trump might attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and remain in power illegally. According to reports, Milley took steps to ensure that the military would not be used to support any unconstitutional efforts to keep Trump in office, and he reportedly compared Trump's behavior to that of Hitler in the lead-up to the rise of Nazi Germany.
Concerns about Trump's Mental Stability:
Milley, according to some reports, was concerned about Trump’s mental stability in the final days of his presidency, particularly after the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Politicizing the Military:
Milley strongly opposed Trump's efforts to politicize the military. He publicly apologized for participating in a photo op with Trump at Lafayette Square after peaceful protesters were cleared by law enforcement. Milley stated that his involvement in the event "created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics."
Undermining the Constitution:
Milley reportedly said Trump presented a real danger to the U.S. Constitution, and he worked with other officials to prevent any illegal or unconstitutional orders from being carried out in the final days of Trump’s presidency.
4. John Bolton (Former National Security Adviser)
Incompetence and Recklessness:
In his book “The Room Where It Happened,” Bolton portrayed Trump as incompetent, reckless, and unfit for office. He wrote that Trump often lacked a basic understanding of international issues and made decisions based on personal or political gain rather than national security."
Deals" with Dictators:
Bolton accused Trump of having authoritarian sympathies and trying to ingratiate himself with dictators, such as North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Bolton revealed that Trump asked China’s President Xi Jinping for help with his re-election by purchasing U.S. agricultural products.
National Security Concerns:
Bolton described how Trump would repeatedly put personal interests above national security, including his handling of relationships with adversaries like China, North Korea, and Russia.
Misuse of Power:
Bolton claimed Trump attempted to use foreign policy for personal gain, particularly with Ukraine. Bolton said Trump tied aid to Ukraine to investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter, which was a key issue in Trump’s first impeachment.
Dereliction of Duty:
Bolton detailed how Trump’s decision-making process often reflected a lack of preparation, and that he was disinterested in detailed briefings, preferring to make decisions impulsively.
Donald Trump:- Said that he could "Terminate" "our Constitution".
Said he would be a dictator on day one.
Labeled the press "the enemy of the people".
Said he may go after his political opponents with the military.
Called Joe Biden the 'Enemy of the state'.
Said he admires Dictators
Oh and J.D. Vance: Trump is "America's Hitler".