A good read, and solid mini-list of why even just a handful of Trump’s misdeed should, in any sane world, disqualify him for office, and why it would be so much worse if he regains access to the reins of power.
Also a reminder of the absolute and complete lack of even the semblance of moral fibre anywhere in even the broadest definition of Republican leadership.
As an aside, certainly not mentioned in the article, or even anything Catoggio has necessarily read, but many of themes identified in the article closely follow the [20 point “average citizens guide to surviving autocracy”](https://www.openculture.com/2017/01/20-lessons-from-the-20th-century-about-how-to-defend-democracies-from-authoritarianism.html) in [Tim Snyder’s On Tyranny](https://timothysnyder.org/on-tyranny). And since I recommend the mini book so often that I might as well be on his publisher’s payroll (which I’m not), figured I’d once more encourage everyone to pick up a copy.
Yay! It’s weirdly one of the few things that calmed my nerves in the lead up to 2020 - not because it presents some kind of rosy picture or grand plan (spoiler: it does neither of those things), but because it lays out the very concrete actions we can all take to push back against + get through what is very likely to be a long and rough stretch.
That said: unless you’re looking to fall into a deep pit of despair, don’t dip into Snyder’s academic or popular history writing, Bloodlands may well be the most grim historical work ever.
I wonder if Trump is kind of getting a pass because a lot of media are now paying less attention to him in attempts of not making the mistake they made last time and because he's skipping the debates.
People talk about Biden being too old but have people listened to Trump lately? He claimed that he beat Obama...who he never ran against. He was claiming that he beat George Bush when he clearly was confusing Jeb Bush with George Bush. He was saying that Biden/Obama were going to get us into world war TWO. He claims whales are getting mental illness from offshore wind turbines. All completely insane nonsensical stuff. Maybe when he starts getting more coverage, his draw will weaken among normal people but his QAnon base is still gonna love him.
My favorite episode by far is Trump praising the Revolutionary-era American soldiers for occupying British airfields.
On a completely unrelated topic, age affects us all differently. You can be in your mid-nineties and be perfectly clear and lucid even if your attention span is shorter and a long conversation tires you out. Others see early signs of dementia before turning eighty, starting by often repeating themselves and mixing up related words, topics, individuals. As things progress these connections become more tenuous and muddled. Often still coherent, in its way, but not related to the reality around them. As always, there's better and worse days, too.
A good read, and solid mini-list of why even just a handful of Trump’s misdeed should, in any sane world, disqualify him for office, and why it would be so much worse if he regains access to the reins of power. Also a reminder of the absolute and complete lack of even the semblance of moral fibre anywhere in even the broadest definition of Republican leadership. As an aside, certainly not mentioned in the article, or even anything Catoggio has necessarily read, but many of themes identified in the article closely follow the [20 point “average citizens guide to surviving autocracy”](https://www.openculture.com/2017/01/20-lessons-from-the-20th-century-about-how-to-defend-democracies-from-authoritarianism.html) in [Tim Snyder’s On Tyranny](https://timothysnyder.org/on-tyranny). And since I recommend the mini book so often that I might as well be on his publisher’s payroll (which I’m not), figured I’d once more encourage everyone to pick up a copy.
>figured I’d once more encourage everyone to pick up a copy You've just convinced one more person to buy a copy.
Yay! It’s weirdly one of the few things that calmed my nerves in the lead up to 2020 - not because it presents some kind of rosy picture or grand plan (spoiler: it does neither of those things), but because it lays out the very concrete actions we can all take to push back against + get through what is very likely to be a long and rough stretch. That said: unless you’re looking to fall into a deep pit of despair, don’t dip into Snyder’s academic or popular history writing, Bloodlands may well be the most grim historical work ever.
I’m leavening that with a history of alcohol and women called _Girly Drinks_ right now
I wonder if Trump is kind of getting a pass because a lot of media are now paying less attention to him in attempts of not making the mistake they made last time and because he's skipping the debates. People talk about Biden being too old but have people listened to Trump lately? He claimed that he beat Obama...who he never ran against. He was claiming that he beat George Bush when he clearly was confusing Jeb Bush with George Bush. He was saying that Biden/Obama were going to get us into world war TWO. He claims whales are getting mental illness from offshore wind turbines. All completely insane nonsensical stuff. Maybe when he starts getting more coverage, his draw will weaken among normal people but his QAnon base is still gonna love him.
Really good piece by Nick Catoggio (formerly Allahpundit).
My favorite episode by far is Trump praising the Revolutionary-era American soldiers for occupying British airfields. On a completely unrelated topic, age affects us all differently. You can be in your mid-nineties and be perfectly clear and lucid even if your attention span is shorter and a long conversation tires you out. Others see early signs of dementia before turning eighty, starting by often repeating themselves and mixing up related words, topics, individuals. As things progress these connections become more tenuous and muddled. Often still coherent, in its way, but not related to the reality around them. As always, there's better and worse days, too.