Trump's Wild Ride

By Popper's Ghost

So it looks like Trump is trying to speedrun turning the US into a Banana Republic. His picks are making the old-guard GOP and Democrats look on in horror, like watching a car wreck happening in real time. That said, in some ways, I am personally relieved, as the people he is choosing are so lacking in acumen, political capital, and skill that its possible their incompetence may blunt Trump’s efforts.

There is no Goebbels or Rommel supporting this tin-pot wannabe dictator. No power behind the throne. Trump lacks the clarity of thought or purpose of a true authoritarian. As Ret. General Mark A. Milley pointed out, Trump desperately seeks affirmation. There is a chance the worse can be avoided if Trump’s worst character flaw can be used against him.

Weaponized Sycophantry.

Someone has to take one for the team. Somehow get into Trump’s orbit, and kiss the ring, and by ring, I mean the ol’ brown barking spider, a proverbial psychological rimjob of patting his head and telling him he is a good boy. Something by all accounts his parents never did. A Grima Wormtongue for good. But I don’t think anyone ( who isn’t already a MAGAt ) is capable of pinching their nose hard enough to do so.

If Zelenskyy welcomed Trump to Ukraine and gave him a parade, he’d probably be awash in American weapons before Trump’s first diaper change.

Still there is a chance for a lot of damage to be done. My only hope is it mostly to the states that supportedd him. The ones most reliant on federal aid and programs.

"I had suspicions when I talked to you about his mental decline and so forth, but now I realize he's a total fascist,"
— Ret. General Mark Milley
[1]

One concerning development is Trump apparently planning for “Loyalty Commissions” to examine the ‘loyalty’ of American Military Officers. He has expressed the desire to recall Milley from retirement for the purposes of court martial. If he manages to drive out all of the officers who remember their oauth is to the nation not the office, then very dark times may be ahead.

UPDATE: Trump had appointed Matt Gaetz to the Attorney General position, but he withdrew, for good reason ( Allegedly paying minors for sex ). He also apparently is NOT returning to his House seat. So Trump ironically did one good thing already.

  1. Bob Woodward & Robert Costa, “Peril”, 2021 ↩