Trump’s Revenge. It is impossible to imagine another headline that could be so perfectly written. It wraps the absurdity of the Queens hustler holding the United States hostage with the most prolonged and unbecoming temper tantrum in world history.
Could this be any better written or more cogently presented. No, it could not. Thanks, Steve for starting this up. How do we save America for all of us?
Thank you Steve for writing what is effectively a Democratic Societies call to arms, but in this case not Assault rifle toting second amendment wing nuts, but, a screaming GET OUT THE VOTE plea.
Best sentence in todays piece :
"Citizenship imposes obligation and responsibility. It imposes the duty of participation and understanding around how the society organizes itself. Free societies are infinitely more complex than autocratic societies. Submission to the leader requires an easy choice" I worry ( as anyone paying attention does) that too many young people think their vote doesn't count. And of course the irony is how determined this America First group is in making them right. Massive turnout can usurp the intent of the 33 new laws in the 19 states designed to silence the majority!
One election away from authoritarian rule is the way I see us. If republicans take the house and senate in the upcoming midterms our democracy will be lost. We have little time to turn the outcome toward saving our Democracy. We must support candidates who favor keeping our freedoms,our right to vote and have our vote count. We must fight against minority rule. Thank you Steve Schmidt for your clear eyed understanding of what is happening and what our future will be under trumpism rule. The Axios, Jonathan Swan piece is the scariest thing I have ever read. I had no idea how detailed the right’s plan for complete takeover of our government was. The Biden Administration must remove all holdover appointments made by Trump immediately.
Greetings from The Last Frontier & the 49th state. Been enjoying the smart -albeit, frightening- insights on your site. Glad to learn I'm not the only former Republican dismayed with the cult like transformation of the party. Difficult to understand the collapse of common sense writ large? Don't even get me started on many of my fellow Veterans subservience to the Maga insanity. Keep writing and I'll keep reading and passing the message along.
In reading some of the replies I get the impression that some think if trump was out of the picture our country would be in less trouble. That’s not the case. Trumpism has taken on a life without trump and will continue to disrupt and destroy our democracy. Greed and power to control others is what motivates these fascists.
It is my opinion, the only way this country can move away from Trump and Fascism is through prosecution of The Donald. However without some changes to the election laws the big money behind Trump will resurrect his truth denying movement. The dark money donations from the Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch will always be a threat to Democracy. These billionaires hide behind our free speech laws and there is little law enforcement can do to curtail their greed for power.
Thank you Steve, if that isn’t a wake up call I don’t know what is. TCinLA had a good Substack piece entitled “HAPPY NIGHTMARE” also incorporating Jonathan Swan’s Axios article, there is no way either can be read without an overwhelming sense of dread, I can’t wrap my mind around the concept that we would be better off with less freedom, our fore-bearers fought and died for more freedom not less. The whole idea of the American experiment is predicated on equality for all, and that equality has always been a work in progress, needing to be honed like a knife needs to be honed in order to be sharp. The former clown in chief and his maga hordes have no interest in refining our democracy, all they care about is being in control of others to make them march to the same twisted drumbeat that they are so enamored with. I for one have zero interest in being part of their march to oblivion, I find it astounding that so many are willing to march off that cliff, much like lemmings. The lack of a fundamental understanding of what is true, must be what has confused so many, and that goes to the heart of the problem. Lies are lies and when they are received as having the weight of truth nothing good can come of it. So here we are with multiple outlets of information all spewing outrageous lies, to a gullible uninformed public that take them as the truth, no wonder we are in such a mess, if we can figure a way to fix that, the rest should sort itself out, at least it would be a good start.
Thank you for this detailed warning. Yes, Madison Square Garden in 1938. That’s where we are now except social media plus Fox “News” and it’s allies give the movement more power than ever. The political commentator Fintan O’Toole saw all this quite clear when he wrote in (I think) 2016 that Trump’s plan was to “break democracy”. People like him and you have had their eyes open to the truth of the threat we face for some time. What will wake up the population at large, causing them to throw this movement in the “ash heap of history” where it belongs? I suggest the 1983 ABC made for TV movie “The Day After” (which starred Jason Robards and showed what nuclear war would be like is the answer. Forget “Don’t Look Up”. We need a realistic portrayal of the death of democracy… a film that shows what could happen in 2024 and the years after. I’d be willing to help someone write the screenplay. I’m kinda like David Sirota … know a lot about the forces the could help defeat Trumpism too if they got the attention they deserve. We can fight Trump’s fear-based “story” with one of our own… a story of the rebirth of the optimistic spirit of America!
As someone mentioned trump out of the picture does not mean the GOP will wake up the next morning and go back to a sane party. That ended with the tea party.
I heard someplace that a lot of “trumps” are in the horizon they just will be smarter.(that wouldn’t be to hard).
As for AmericaFirst I was disturbed by that from the beginning. You can’t be first all the time, made us sound like we were better than the rest of the world, no one nation should be first we all need to work together. What comes to mind is the first photo shoot taken overseas where trump pushed a smaller head of state out of the way so he could be in front.kind of summed up his 4 years.
For those who missed the Jonathan Swan/Axios link that Steve provided, it is well worth reading. A sinister blueprint for what our government will look like if Trump wins a second term.
Your essays of the last couple of days have been alarming, but prescient. Not only do these Republicans wish us harm but their work to restrict the vote is making it hard for the rest of us to resist them. I am hopeful that the select committee will hold more prime time public hearings in the fall to continue to hammer home the corrupt and authoritarian nature of tfg. These hearings have been very persuasive. The hard-core trumpists will never acknowledge tfg’s grift but I think the people in the middle (are there many of them?) have to admit the public is being played by him. Such hearings might prove very persuasive to voters.
Btw, I think a lot of the allure of the presidency for tfg has been the grift, how much money he personally makes in office. Has anyone analyzed how much he has made through merchandise, his hotel and golf businesses, and campaign contributions funneled back to him during his presidency?
“Trump will be supported by reactionary and radical billionaires who are as angry for some unknown reason…” why is it so hard to see the WHY??? Is it because they are afraid to compete? Or looking inferior to a person of color? Did they always think they would rule? Or are they afraid people of color may treat them the way they’ve treated them for the past 200+ years? I work in construction and when there is an incident on the job we investigate the 5WHYS in order it get to the root cause.
These white (mostly men) would rather burn our democracy to the ground rather than live under minority rule. And the irony of course is that this country was stolen from people of color in the first place.
If this was a novel it would be unbelievable. Since it is not a novel, we are in a state of National Emergency. It should be so declared by President Biden and actions taken until the crisis is resolved.
The upcoming November election should be delayed. The Filibuster should be eliminated. The members of Congress who supported the Jan 6 insurrection must be brought to Justice. The FCC licenses of Fox News (and their ilk) must be suspended. President Biden ran to save the soul of America. He alone has the power to take these actions. Tell him so.
If you want perfect examples, check Republican party in Transylvania County NC. Repub. Candidates for school board are a 3 % member & Moms for Liberty member ( founded a chapter here). Oh & R. Candidate for NC General Assembly is member of Oathkeepers. The 2 sane Republicans who ran as independents in 2018 were defeated. R. Exec. Committee meets in a Nazarene church.
Could this be any better written or more cogently presented. No, it could not. Thanks, Steve for starting this up. How do we save America for all of us?
Thank you Steve for writing what is effectively a Democratic Societies call to arms, but in this case not Assault rifle toting second amendment wing nuts, but, a screaming GET OUT THE VOTE plea.
Best sentence in todays piece :
"Citizenship imposes obligation and responsibility. It imposes the duty of participation and understanding around how the society organizes itself. Free societies are infinitely more complex than autocratic societies. Submission to the leader requires an easy choice" I worry ( as anyone paying attention does) that too many young people think their vote doesn't count. And of course the irony is how determined this America First group is in making them right. Massive turnout can usurp the intent of the 33 new laws in the 19 states designed to silence the majority!
One election away from authoritarian rule is the way I see us. If republicans take the house and senate in the upcoming midterms our democracy will be lost. We have little time to turn the outcome toward saving our Democracy. We must support candidates who favor keeping our freedoms,our right to vote and have our vote count. We must fight against minority rule. Thank you Steve Schmidt for your clear eyed understanding of what is happening and what our future will be under trumpism rule. The Axios, Jonathan Swan piece is the scariest thing I have ever read. I had no idea how detailed the right’s plan for complete takeover of our government was. The Biden Administration must remove all holdover appointments made by Trump immediately.
Greetings from The Last Frontier & the 49th state. Been enjoying the smart -albeit, frightening- insights on your site. Glad to learn I'm not the only former Republican dismayed with the cult like transformation of the party. Difficult to understand the collapse of common sense writ large? Don't even get me started on many of my fellow Veterans subservience to the Maga insanity. Keep writing and I'll keep reading and passing the message along.
In reading some of the replies I get the impression that some think if trump was out of the picture our country would be in less trouble. That’s not the case. Trumpism has taken on a life without trump and will continue to disrupt and destroy our democracy. Greed and power to control others is what motivates these fascists.
It is my opinion, the only way this country can move away from Trump and Fascism is through prosecution of The Donald. However without some changes to the election laws the big money behind Trump will resurrect his truth denying movement. The dark money donations from the Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch will always be a threat to Democracy. These billionaires hide behind our free speech laws and there is little law enforcement can do to curtail their greed for power.
Thank you Steve, if that isn’t a wake up call I don’t know what is. TCinLA had a good Substack piece entitled “HAPPY NIGHTMARE” also incorporating Jonathan Swan’s Axios article, there is no way either can be read without an overwhelming sense of dread, I can’t wrap my mind around the concept that we would be better off with less freedom, our fore-bearers fought and died for more freedom not less. The whole idea of the American experiment is predicated on equality for all, and that equality has always been a work in progress, needing to be honed like a knife needs to be honed in order to be sharp. The former clown in chief and his maga hordes have no interest in refining our democracy, all they care about is being in control of others to make them march to the same twisted drumbeat that they are so enamored with. I for one have zero interest in being part of their march to oblivion, I find it astounding that so many are willing to march off that cliff, much like lemmings. The lack of a fundamental understanding of what is true, must be what has confused so many, and that goes to the heart of the problem. Lies are lies and when they are received as having the weight of truth nothing good can come of it. So here we are with multiple outlets of information all spewing outrageous lies, to a gullible uninformed public that take them as the truth, no wonder we are in such a mess, if we can figure a way to fix that, the rest should sort itself out, at least it would be a good start.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm 81, so frightened and feel so powerless and am depending on you to be my voice.
Thank you for this detailed warning. Yes, Madison Square Garden in 1938. That’s where we are now except social media plus Fox “News” and it’s allies give the movement more power than ever. The political commentator Fintan O’Toole saw all this quite clear when he wrote in (I think) 2016 that Trump’s plan was to “break democracy”. People like him and you have had their eyes open to the truth of the threat we face for some time. What will wake up the population at large, causing them to throw this movement in the “ash heap of history” where it belongs? I suggest the 1983 ABC made for TV movie “The Day After” (which starred Jason Robards and showed what nuclear war would be like is the answer. Forget “Don’t Look Up”. We need a realistic portrayal of the death of democracy… a film that shows what could happen in 2024 and the years after. I’d be willing to help someone write the screenplay. I’m kinda like David Sirota … know a lot about the forces the could help defeat Trumpism too if they got the attention they deserve. We can fight Trump’s fear-based “story” with one of our own… a story of the rebirth of the optimistic spirit of America!
As someone mentioned trump out of the picture does not mean the GOP will wake up the next morning and go back to a sane party. That ended with the tea party.
I heard someplace that a lot of “trumps” are in the horizon they just will be smarter.(that wouldn’t be to hard).
As for AmericaFirst I was disturbed by that from the beginning. You can’t be first all the time, made us sound like we were better than the rest of the world, no one nation should be first we all need to work together. What comes to mind is the first photo shoot taken overseas where trump pushed a smaller head of state out of the way so he could be in front.kind of summed up his 4 years.
Steve, you see largely what I see but more clearly, and you pull it together and articulate it far better than I could. This is a wonderful resource.
For those who missed the Jonathan Swan/Axios link that Steve provided, it is well worth reading. A sinister blueprint for what our government will look like if Trump wins a second term.
Your essays of the last couple of days have been alarming, but prescient. Not only do these Republicans wish us harm but their work to restrict the vote is making it hard for the rest of us to resist them. I am hopeful that the select committee will hold more prime time public hearings in the fall to continue to hammer home the corrupt and authoritarian nature of tfg. These hearings have been very persuasive. The hard-core trumpists will never acknowledge tfg’s grift but I think the people in the middle (are there many of them?) have to admit the public is being played by him. Such hearings might prove very persuasive to voters.
Btw, I think a lot of the allure of the presidency for tfg has been the grift, how much money he personally makes in office. Has anyone analyzed how much he has made through merchandise, his hotel and golf businesses, and campaign contributions funneled back to him during his presidency?
“Trump will be supported by reactionary and radical billionaires who are as angry for some unknown reason…” why is it so hard to see the WHY??? Is it because they are afraid to compete? Or looking inferior to a person of color? Did they always think they would rule? Or are they afraid people of color may treat them the way they’ve treated them for the past 200+ years? I work in construction and when there is an incident on the job we investigate the 5WHYS in order it get to the root cause.
These white (mostly men) would rather burn our democracy to the ground rather than live under minority rule. And the irony of course is that this country was stolen from people of color in the first place.
It’s time we SAY the WHY.
If this was a novel it would be unbelievable. Since it is not a novel, we are in a state of National Emergency. It should be so declared by President Biden and actions taken until the crisis is resolved.
The upcoming November election should be delayed. The Filibuster should be eliminated. The members of Congress who supported the Jan 6 insurrection must be brought to Justice. The FCC licenses of Fox News (and their ilk) must be suspended. President Biden ran to save the soul of America. He alone has the power to take these actions. Tell him so.
If you want perfect examples, check Republican party in Transylvania County NC. Repub. Candidates for school board are a 3 % member & Moms for Liberty member ( founded a chapter here). Oh & R. Candidate for NC General Assembly is member of Oathkeepers. The 2 sane Republicans who ran as independents in 2018 were defeated. R. Exec. Committee meets in a Nazarene church.