Trump's Totalitarian Tendencies

[Kathryn Ball]

I’ve long resisted the urge to compare Trump to Hitler because of the Internet axiom that if you bring the Nazis into an argument, you’ve lost. But the comparisons are mounting up way too high for reasonable people to ignore. It’s not just the cult of personality. It’s not just the fact that he courts white supremacists with a wink and a nod. It’s not that he intentionally fosters an atmosphere at his rallies where his supporters gleefully cheer the physical abuse of protesters and anyone who is different.

It’s also not just the shocking level of power that he thinks he should have as President, complete with the right to unilaterally dictate United States trade policy. Even his signature campaign promise – to make Mexico pay for the wall that will never be built – is premised around the authority he believes he should have to unilaterally dictate that American companies cannot conduct business with Mexican ones.

But, fine, let’s not compare Trump to Hitler. Let’s compare him instead to Putin. Because that’s exactly how Trump perceives the appropriate scope of Presidential authority. Observe what he said in Fort Worth earlier this week:

“One of the things I’m going to do, and I’ve never said this before,” Trump said at a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, “but one of the things I’m going to do is — if I win — is I’m going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposefully negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money.”

 

Part of this, to be sure, is rank ignorance of United States law. There’s no such thing as Federal libel law – libel law exists as a creature of all 50 states, but each state’s libel law is constrained by the First Amendment of the United States constitution. As President of the United States, Trump does not have the authority to either rewrite the Federal constitution or change the libel law of any of the 50 states. But the fact that he believes he should be able to beyond troubling, it’s downright terrifying.

And once Trump gets to office, if he discovers that he isn’t able to do this specific thing, he will doubtless be advised that there are all sorts of other nasty things he can do to any member of the media who disagrees with him. Under President Trump, we will doubtless learn that the harassment of Sharyl Attkisson was just a charming blip on the radar compared to the various ways that Trump will use to intimidate members of the press from criticizing him. Audits, harassment, open intimidation – these will become the order of the day.

Trump has no interest in facing an American press – he wants a subservient, Russian style press instead.

Make no mistake, Trump is priming his own supporters to actually cheer him if he does this. I saw first hand when I sat in the media section at Trump rally in Cedar Rapids on the day of the Iowa caucuses, how his supporters walked by and jeered at the assembled media, treating them as some species of particularly loathsome insect.

In fact, Trump has lathered his mindless minions into such a lather over the press that it likely backfired on him yesterday during his Christie announcement, as it is strongly suspected that members of his own crowd sabotaged the video feed of both CNN and M..., thus meaning that those two networks could only carry audio of the Christie endorsement.

Look, I’m no friend of the media, as I’ve made clear over the decade-plus that I’ve been on the front page of RedState. But neither do I want some goon like Donald Trump to have all the awesome power of the Federal government at his fingertips to actually intimidate members of the media who are critical to him. That’s not the way Reagan got past the media and that’s not the way and no American should feel comfortable with the way Trump talks openly and threateningly about the press. Call them liberal, fine. Point out their bias, fine. Openly intimidate them, not fine.

Barack Obama has come under a lot of well-justified abuse here at RedState for his actions that have disregarded both the role of Congress and the limits of his own power under the Constitution. Trump, in his speeches, clearly indicates his belief that his own totalitarian instincts are worse – far worse, in fact. This man must not be allowed 

[Jim Delaney]

The current "grassroots revolution" is visceral, real and a very long time in coming. But, now it's here, and the elites are pulling all stops to extinguish the anger, quell the unwashed masses, protect their privilege. But it won't work this time. The genie is out of the bottle and this justifiable revolution will not be extinguished, dampened, demoralized. Only time will tell if the rise of Trumpism will be the answer, the panacea, to our woes. But, right now, and unless Hillary, the felonious Alinskyite on the Left, manages to squeak out a victory in November, it appears that Trumpism as a solution will have to play itself out, for better or for worse. There appears to be no other viable electoral recourse. Intensely interesting, unsettling times. Let's hope what precious little remains of our republic survives it all.

[Wolfy Ghalkhani]

OK, so Trump isn't perfect but what choices do we have? its either Trump or Clinton. 

and why is everyone so concerned about the KKK? are you serious? how many klansmen exist in America? two? three? come on, people. You are allowing yourselves to be distracted. We have bigger game to shoot down- namely the black panthers who put the KKK to shame with their crimes (read David Horowitz's black book of the left. he'll tell you some things) and the muslims who are ruining this country sanctioned and supported by the elitist incredibly wealthy/powerful judeoleft who's ultimate goal is to destroy the Goyim. 

If Hillary is elected, you can kiss this country goodbye. All of you need to refocus and research on who the real enemy is. Hint- they're not white supremacist groups. 

[Patty]

Jeff Sessions Conservative Soul of the Senate, Guiliani, Sheriff Apraio, Pastor Jefress - mindless minions - I know that I am standing on the correct side. This is Trump - nationalism vs Cruz and Rubio - globalism. And it has actually been the Tea Party Patriots who banned my friend for sending out messages on Trump. Tea Party Patriots have endorsed Cruz the Constitutionalist - the irony. 

[I.M. Patriot]

Mr. Delaney I rather see a Kasich-Rubino (VP) ticket. In my mind Cruz was developed by having someone throw rocks at his head in order to field questions presented to him: I have been around to have witnessed many personalities but he wins by committing nothing.

[Jim Delaney]

I.M.

Actually, I've been contemplating the efficacy of a Cruz-Kasich ticket: a demonstrably tough constitutionalist coupled with a successful right-of-center governor. Both are flawed, but not nearly as flawed as are the others. Perhaps that coupling would be our salvation. IF ONLY I ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT TRUMP ACTUALLY STOOD FOR I'D FEEL A LOT LESS INSECURE. Just read that the venerable conservative Sen. Sessions of Alabama endorsed Trump. Trying to divine what it is the good Senator sees in Trump that he doesn't see in Cruz. I'm baffled.

[I.M. Patriot]

The only option is to go with a laid back individual such as Kasich. Both Cruz and Rubio have demonstrated Rino ties, pro amnesty and little experience all round. I too am wary of Trump but I rather not find that I have nominated the same wasters again.

[Raya @ REAL CONSERVATIVES]

.

.

.

.

[Jim Delaney]

I honestly believe your concerns, so thoughtfully expressed, are justifiable, Kathryn.

Trump's an empty vessel, an unknown entity, whose swagger and bombast have effectively masqueraded a frightening level of  Benito-like demagoguery.

I can only pray that grassroots patriots will soon see through the fog of their anger and disillusionment with the establishment before their wild-eyed support for Trump results in his nomination. At this point, I can only hope for  a brokered convention to save us from this awful fate.

The prospect of a treasonous felon and ardent Alinskyite (Hillary) pitted against a crude, inarticulate, loose canon with obviously tenuous ties to the Constitution is more than disturbing. It's revolutionary in every sense of the word. And if Trump is nominated, I foresee millions of patriots simply staying home on election day, thus surrendering the White House to the Progressives/neo-Marxists yet again. And if either is elected, I also foresee a much more  aggressive grassroots effort to form a new party. If Hillary is elected, the reaction would be even more extreme. In the case of a Hillary Presidency, it is not difficult to imagine  massive civil  tumult, more seething anger, foundational political instability and, yes, secessionist movements on steroids.  A Hillary presidency would ensure national oblivion, suicide, disunion--it would be a nation of Felons, not of Laws.

For clear-eyed patriots, we've a tough road ahead of  us fraught with uncertainties and perils not yet fully contemplated. Be prepared for the worst and never, ever surrender to the forces which would destroy us.