In July 2017, Stephen Walt wrote Top 10 Signs of Creeping Authoritarianism Revisited to examine the extent to which criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the Republican Reich were conforming to authoritarianism, the neo-Nazi model.  Here is what he found.

Shortly after Donald Trump was elected, I wrote a column listing possible “warning signs” of democratic breakdown under his leadership. A few other 狸猫加速器安卓版百度云 did, too. I wasn’t predicting Trump would become a dictator — although some of his statements and actions during the campaign were worrisome; the column was simply a checklist of warning signs that would tell us how well U.S. political institutions were holding up in unusual circumstances (and with a 狸猫加速器安卓版百度云).

We’re now a bit more than six months into Trump’s presidency, and it is high time to review the list and see how America is doing. Has Trump undermined America’s constitutional order? Is he consolidating executive power the way democratically elected leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan have? Or are U.S. institutions holding up reasonably well, either because they have proved to be surprisingly resilient or because Trump has been less adept at politics than he claimed to be?The record is mixed. Although some of the warning signs are flashing red, others are glowing yellow (at worst), and one or two don’t seem that worrisome at all. My worst fears of further democratic breakdown have not been confirmed — thus far — though in some cases it is not for want of trying.

Grab your No. 2 pencil and go down my original list. Feel free to keep score at home.

1. Systematic efforts to intimidate the media: Check 

There’s little doubt that Trump and his associates have repeatedly tried to intimidate mainstream media organizations, whether through tweets deriding the supposedly “failing” New York Times, the repeated references to the “Amazon Washington Post,” or White House chief strategist and former Breitbart head Stephen Bannon’s referring to media organizations as “蚂蚁ant加速器安卓下载.” Trump and Fox News also falsely accused the Times of thwarting efforts to kill or capture top Islamic State leaders, and the White House has arbitrarily excluded reporters of some organizations from press pools, press conferences, and other events. The obvious message: Play ball with us a bit more or expect to be marginalized. And that’s just a small sample of Trump’s 蚂蚁vp(永久免费).

But, on the other hand, these efforts don’t seem to be working very well. A few media organizations have made ritual acts of appeasement (e.g., CNN keeps hiring Trump apologists as on-air talent), but Trump’s presidency has given most media organizations a renewed sense of purpose and a growing audience. And the administration’s continued shenanigans, conflicts of interest, ever-changing rationalizations, and sheer buffoonery have created a target-rich environment: The same outrageous behavior that helped boost Trump’s 2016 campaign has given the media a mother lode of material to mine and an eager audience for everything they can dig up. So the good news is that while Trump clearly likes to browbeat media outlets that aren’t reliably in his corner and would undoubtedly like to discredit them, his efforts to date have mostly failed.

2. Building an official pro-Trump media network: 蚂蚁ant加速器安卓下载

Back in November, I speculated that Trump might “use the presidency to bolster media that offer him consistent support” or even try to create a government-funded media agency to disseminate pro-Trump propaganda. There’s little doubt Trump has tried to favor outlets that embrace him, which is why the White House gave press credentials to the right-wing blog Gateway Pundit and has given the reliably wacky and pro-Trump Breitbart privileged access. And as one might expect, the Trump administration has backed the expansion plans of the conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group. Apart from the White House press office itself (which has been a train wreck from Day One), there’s no sign that the president intends to build a publicly funded pro-Trump media organization. But with Fox News and Sinclair and the various alt-right websites in his corner, he may not need one.

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An obvious counterweight to executive overreach are career civil servants who remain sensitive to precedents, have lots of expertise, and tend to follow the rule of law. And as Samuel Huntington pointed out many years ago, an important barrier to excessive militarization is having a professional military whose direct political role is limited. My concern in 2016 was the possibility that Trump would try to politicize the civil service in various ways or turn the military and the intelligence and domestic security agencies into tools of the White House instead of independent defenders of the Constitution.

Once again, I’d score this one as mixed. Trump has tried to put his stamp on key government agencies by demanding that senior officials resign or by firing people who declined to do his bidding, such as (now former) Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and FBI Director James Comey. He has declined to make top appointments in a number of agencies, at one point 狸猫Ⅴpn安卓 Fox News, “A lot of those jobs, I don’t want to appoint, because they’re unnecessary.” And if Comey and others are to be believed (and, on this issue, I think they are), Trump seems to think civil servants and his own appointees should be more loyal to him than to the Constitution, even though it is the latter they swore an oath to defend. Trump has also questioned the integrity of the nonpartisan and highly respected Congressional Budget Office, and he crossed another line last weekend by 御龙之路单机版下载- 全方位下载:2021-6-14 · 御龙之路汉化版是伍东方玄幻为背景题材的热血激情仙侠角色扮演游戏，游戏拥有玄幻色彩的画风，精美华丽的画面，激情十足的热血战斗玩法，多人实时在线竞技对战模式，给你带来全新的战 to call Congress and lobby for his defense spending and health care proposals.

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I have shared the first three signs out of ten.  Please click through for the other seven.

Of the ten, Walt rated five as check, three as partial, and two as little or none.  Three years and a month later, I rate all ten as check or check plus.

Yesterday Brian Stetler reported the same theme.

Stelter: We are witnessing creeping authoritarianism

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It’s a routine day here in the CatBox.  The rest of the week will be busier.  Friday is a WWWendy day and a Hospital Oncology team day.  Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, so please expect no more than a Personal Update or an Open Thread.  Wednesday my palliative care nurse is coming.  Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:24 (average 7:34).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

US Cases: 4,815,776
US Deaths: 158,376

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From NPR: It’s hard to believe that the hole President Trump dug for himself could get deeper, but it has.

A record and widening majority of Americans disapprove of the job he’s doing when it comes to handling the coronavirus pandemic; he gets poor scores on race relations; he’s seen a suburban erosion despite efforts to win over suburban voters with fear; and all that has led to a worsened outlook for Trump against Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election.

As a result, in the past month and a half, the latest NPR analysis of the Electoral College has several states shifting in Biden’s favor, and he now has a 297-170 advantage over Trump with exactly three months to go until Election Day.

As long as we don’t get complacent or think we can afford to “vote our conscience”, the only way criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the Republican Reich can stay in power is through a Nazi coup.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Bernie Sanders: ‘The Next Three Months Are The Most Important In Modern U.S. History’

For months, all we heard from the Republican Reich was “Bernie is a socialist”. I’d rather have a socialist (social democrat) in any political office than a Republican Fascist. Kudos to Bernie for the degree to which he supports Joe Biden. Progressives, please do what Bernie says!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of protest): Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth 1967

The Republican Reich Nazi Gestapo are even more likely to kill us now than they were then. Kudos to left-wing protestors!  RESIST!!

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No doubt we’ve all hit our “funny bone” at one time or another.  So what is your “funny bone”?  Well, actually it’s not a bone – it’s a nerve.  Specifically the ulnar that runs from your neck to your hand.  And like most nerves it’s protected by bones, muscles & ligaments.

BUT when it passes through the elbow in the cubital canal at the end of the humerus (humerus – “humorous” … get it?) it’s only protected by skin.  So when you bump it you experience that trifecta of numbness, tingling and PAIN.

Always curious why they call it the “funny bone” – because there’s nothing “funny” about it.  I just like puns.

(If you’re wondering why it’s so late, it’s because my relatives unexpectedly stopped over this afternoon for a surprise visit to enjoy a break in the weather from the oppressive heat we’ve been suffering through.  Being the good host that I am, we all enjoyed a few libations.  “And a good time was had by all….”)

On to the hopefully “humorous” part.

I’ve curated a few Tweets the tickled my “funny bone” (humerus – “humorous” … get it?).

The first captures a question I’ve actually long wondered about:

How is it every picture of Jared looks like it’s from The Omen III? pic.twitter.com/Vm1Eec9ttr

— Schooley (@Rschooley) April 9, 2023

 Next are the McCloskeys – the Bonnie & Clyde couple of the uber-rich in St. Louis.  Not that threateningly waving around a AR-15 rifle and a semiautomatic handgun is particularly amusing – but I found this likely conversation pretty funny:

"I don't have my keys, do you?"
"No, you said 'get your gun, we're going to threaten some black people' I assumed that meant you had the keys!" pic.twitter.com/JN83YWcICp

— J. Elvis Weinstein (@JElvisWeinstein) June 29, 2023

It’s not all that often that a typo, especially from the prestigious BBC, is both accurate AND entertaining – but it perfectly pegs that UK right-wing Brexiter Nigel Farage perfectly:

Well done typo. pic.twitter.com/1iXlsjkDOb

— Facts Central (@StillDelvingH) July 11, 2023

And for all the Trumpkin idiots who refuse to wear a mask – but think actual TRUE Patriots wearing a mask will protect them … a lesson they might actually understand:

Passenger: why should I have to wear a mask if yours works?

Driver: damn good point *turns off headlights*

Passenger: what are you doing it’s dark

Driver: chill the other cars have them on

— clean slate (@PleaseBeGneiss) July 15, 2023

It’s NEVER a good idea to use ominous video clips from YOUR tenure to try and cast blame on your opponent:

When you use images from your own presidency to warn of what would happen if your opponent won pic.twitter.com/DFtOYu4WuO

— Taniel (@Taniel) July 20, 2023

Couldn’t pass up at least one “Pick the Elephant” Cognitive Test Tweet:

Jimmy Carter was a Naval Acad Grad, studied nuclear physics and served on ‘Seawolf.’ Bill Clinton was a Yale Law Grad & Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Barack Obama was President of Harvard Law Review. Trump can pick out an Elephant from a sketch on a good day, maybe. @realDonaldTrump

— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) July 23, 2023

Fucker Tucker Carlson has certainly had a rough past few weeks – and deservedly so!  But I echo the poster’s sentiment: “And the downside is …?”

Tucker Carlson: "If Democrats take both the Senate and the White House, and they could, you will not recognize America a year from now" 狸猫加速器安卓版

— Media Matters (@mmfa) July 24, 2023

We’ve all read that Melania, realizing her time in the White House is limited, has decided to undertake a Rose Garden renovation.  But you’ve probably not seen a preview of her plans … yet:

Melania demonstrates her plan for the flowers in the Rose Garden. pic.twitter.com/4xSzDmnFH3

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) July 27, 2023

Even those who might not be medically oriented, you’ll still have to wonder about this:

JUST IN: Scientist have confirmed a new development in COVID-19; with the announcement of Rep. Louis Gohmert of Texas contracting the virus; the CDC can now confirm that “…the virus can jump species from human to whatever Rep. Louis Gohmert is.”

Developing.

— YS (@NYinLA2121) July 29, 2023

And staying on that medical theme – another “Is That Even Anatomically Possible?” head-scratcher.

Republican politician Louie Gohmert, who claims to have caught COVID-19 from wearing a mask, is now claiming he got pregnant after several people told him to go fuck himself.

— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) July 30, 2023

Here are the results of our “Trump Let Russia Murder Our Troops” Poll.  Politics Plus Polls are not scientific, because those who respond are not balanced according to demographic categories.   Therefore, we do not accurately reflect the makeup of the US population.  Nevertheless, our polls are usually factually accurate, and more often than not, they reflect the thinking of the majority of those who actually do think.

And here are your comments.

Showing comments 1–8 of 8.

Posted by Lynn Squance  July 30, 2023 at 7:55 am. From:  (CA)    

 

This morning (30/07/20), Trump “floated” the idea of delaying the November election which he has no authority to do according to Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution, such authority belonging to the Congress. If he actually tries this, I would hope that even his supporters (I won’t hold my breath!) would see this as a desperate attempt to subvert the rule of law (the Constitution) and the will of the people. This is clearly a move for his own interests since other credible options for the election have been floated but met with resistance by Trump and some Republicans. In my non legal opinion, if Trump carried out his “suggestion”, the word treason comes to mind. After all, does not his oath of office include the words “all enemies, foreign and domestic” (or words to that effect)! Trump needs to go and the sooner, the better!

 

Posted by jl  July 3, 2023 at 3:20 am. From: (US)    

 

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I think now that the postponing election idea has been floated, with condemnation by so many GOP voices, including co-founder of The Federalist Society, that this one is now the impeachable issue that will garner sufficient GOP support to actually convict.

 

Posted by P Bowen  July 2, 2023 at 3:56 am. From: (US)    

 

As the President of the United States, this man has done everything and acts for the good of Russia. As President he has lied, deflected, and acted as a foreign agent (for Putin), and has hobnobbed with the dictators. He needs to be impeached.

 

Posted by Lynn Squance  July 1, 2023 at 4:39 pm. From:  (CA)    

 

I voted “treason and impeach” however I doubt that this meets the legal definition of treason. Having said that, his actions are completely against the US common good and I would think against his oath of office. I believe he should be impeached by the House but the Republican Senate will never convict, just like the last time. But WOW — a president impeached twice during his first and hopefully only term. That is another high point, or low point if you like, to Trump’s BS residency! I hope that the law can come after him once he is out of office in 01/2021. Benedict Arnold will come up a bit only to be replaced by Donald J Trump at the bottom of the American ash heap.

 

Posted by Lona Goudswaard  July 1, 2023 at 4:03 pm. From:  (AU)    

 

I understand that strictly legally speaking this isn’t treason. Hardly anything is. But as a President, he should be impeached for it. But then he should have been impeached for so many other things too but never was, right?

 

Posted by Colleen L  July 1, 2023 at 11:34 am. From:  (US)    

 

It has come down to where tRump has gotten away with so many criminal acts, that it surprises me that he’s still capable of sitting in the Oval Office.

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He has shown more respect for Russia than he has for the U.S. We’ve seen it when he was belittling the CIA when there checking the Russia involvement with his election.

I hope they actually something about this and that it’s not just something that gets ignored or forgotten.

 

Posted by 蚂蚁ant加速器安卓下载  July 1, 2023 at 7:50 am狸猫加速器安卓版百度云   

 

I have to draw a distinction between what is actually in the Constitution and what our principles and beliefs, as well as the use of a word in the language, overwhelmingly tell us. With that distinction, it is not treason. I could put it differently and say, sure it’s treason – butit doesn’t fit the legal definition of treason, which is so narrow that no one could ever be convicted on it. But that doesn’t mean he cannot be impeached on it. While it is not as cut and dried legally as extortion, it carries a heck of a lot more emotion, and more people in both parties are more disturbed by it than they were by extortion – especially by extortion of foreign nation – “are those even people?”

I voted with the vast majority that it is treason, and Congress should impeach Trump*.  I called it treason, because, although undeclared, Afghanistan is a shooting war, and for Russia to finance killing our troops is an act of war against the US.  Trump* is aiding and abetting Russia in that act of war, and that’s treason.  Although the Republican bastards in the Senate will not do their job and convict Trump*, he should be impeached because we have a duty to do so, and because it’s the right thing to do.  Trump* should be Trump**. or even Trump********************.

The new poll is up.  Please vote.

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