Trump Is About to Find Out What Every Bully in History Has Found Out

[erronis]

https://newrepublic.com/article/205416/trump-canada-europe-tariffs-isolation
Michael Tomasky

Last year, Trump had a lot of people scared. But there are good -- and encouraging -- reasons to think that this year will be different.

In 2025, Donald Trump scared people. And institutions. Go back in your mind to the way he came out of the gate, gunning the accelerator on every front. Pardoning the insurrectionists. Dismantling the executive branch. Firing inspectors general and heads and members of independent commissions. Arresting people for writing op-eds. Threatening universities and law firms. Shipping people off to El Salvador.

That was Round One in the Trump boxing match against reality, and for a time, Trump was winning. The shock felt from his attacks on political opponents and institutions left them flat-footed. Some prominent law firms caved to Trump's threats and agreed to do pro bono work for his pet causes. Universities cut deals to stay out of his gunsights. Media companies capitulated. Amazon decided to make a movie about Melania (it debuts at the end of the month at--you guessed it--the "Trump-Kennedy Center" ). Trump's power reached from the normal political realm down into the culture itself. A number of firms and universities and others fought him, but the general cultural vibe was very much in the direction of trying to stay in line--the better to avoid the tyrant's attention--or actively trying to win it with embarrassing acts of sycophancy.

Now we're at the start of Round Two of the boxing match, and I smell something changing. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have been impressively uncompromising--and uncompromised, which is more important--in their public statements since ICE hit town and executed a blameless U.S. citizen. Trump and the cowardly Pam Bondi (does she understand how the history books will treat her?) launched investigations into the two men. Walz and Frey responded by saying, in essence, Bring it on. Said Walz: "Two days ago, it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week, it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her." (Hey, good idea, governor: How about the state of Minnesota or the city of Minneapolis arrest Jonathan Ross?)

Over the weekend, three high-ranking American Catholic cardinals denounced Trump (not by name) and his imperial bullying in what was, for cardinals, a strongly worded statement. "Our country's moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination," they wrote. That followed statements by Pope Leo criticizing Trump for his treatment of immigrants.

. . .

[gulliver]

1. If we don't change, nothing will be different.

The article in the OP is wishful thinking by someone who is invested in strategies that sidelined our party in the 2024 election. It's "stay the course."

Health care and the economy are sitting right there... political gold nuggets strewn on the Democratic lawn. And the article author wants to "fight" the "tyrant" and "evil." SMH

[dalton99a]

2. Democrats will win in November and beyond if they focus on pocketbook issues.

Everyone already knows Trump is a dictator.

[Scrivener7]

3. I'm sorry, but we also need to absolutely pound the fact that republicans want to bring down American Democracy

and have gone a long way toward their goal.

We can't just act like this is about the price of groceries.

We have to do both.

[bronxiteforever]

7. Agree. His foreign policy directly impacts the American economy

Orange jerk (and the GOP and it’s Supreme Court) have given us the inevitable worse of both worlds under fascism; the loss of the freedom of Americans in their own country and the destruction of the US economy.

[GB_RN]

4. Damn...

It’s going to take decades to pull us out from the shit pile which Cantaloupe Caligula the Corpulent has buried the US within. International relations and trade wars? Throwing allies under the bus? Illegal invasions, etc., etc. It will take forever to recover both economically and our reputation…assuming we can restore our reputation as a reliable partner in anything.

It took quite a while for major empires of the past to collapse. The American empire*, such as it was, has been killed in record time, I think.

* I don’t mean conquer and colonize-type empires. I mean our economic might, military capabilities, technological advancement and superiority, and a reputation for, in general, being a rock solid ally.

Goddamn him.

[BaronChocula]

5. Yes, with a clarification

Sleepy Don has had his ass handed to him continually over his life. And he's never learned or (found out) anything about just desserts for bullies. He just keeps at it. He's a persistent (fill in the blank)-opath. Let's just take the serial failed vindictive prosecutions of Letitia James and James Comey. He will never have any kind of reckoning. He's not like us. Whatever evil he fails at, he will only ever keep trying, setting himself up for more failure.

[erronis]

6. Sounds like a perfect fit for an eternity in hell with satan.

Wish it would be televised.

[BaronChocula]

8. His down elevator is waiting

[Wednesdays]

9. "How about the state of Minnesota or the city of Minneapolis arrest Jonathan Ross?"

For the ninth time: because Ross is nowhere within reach of Minnesota authorities, or any blue state authorities for that matter.

He's likely sipping margaritas on a lounge chair at Mar-a-lago as you read this.

[ultralite001]

10. My Bodyguard (1980) -- Bullies get

sprayed w/ condiments...

Who is America's bodyguard???
The American people... Each + every soul standing against injustice wherever it occurs..
Y'all be careful out there...