Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
The weird cult of Trump is obviously a big part of the problem. The bigger problem is his administration has shown that the checks, balances, and institutional norms that are supposed to restrain a president are cobwebs that can swept away by anyone who has contempt for them. Which means the path is clear for any other wannabe demagogues.
On the global front, Trump has proven that the American system can now throw up strongman leaders who see international affairs in strictly transactional terms. Going forward, other states can no longer assume they’ll be dealing with an America restrained (even imperfectly) by the rule of law, multilateralism, and liberal traditions.
There’s no putting the genie back in the bottle.
|
I always found it a bit odd that so many people (especially Democrats) fell back on institutional norms, etc., as bulwarks against Republican power grabs. It's always been clear as day that Republicans were going to try to push those boundaries until they broke.
It's always been a real scorpion and frog relationship.