I was looking through Robert Draper’s piece in the New York Times Magazine on the Senate races, hoping I’d find something I didn’t already know. I didn’t find much, unfortunately, but I did notice this:
The friction between the [Donald Trump] and his party became jarringly apparent during a closed-door meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on July 7 between Trump and 41 Republican senators. A few of them accused Trump of jeopardizing the party’s prospects in November; Trump fired back with insults, labeling [Sen. Mark] Kirk [of Illinois]— who was not present but has publicly criticized Trump — a “loser.”
This is some incredible shit on so many levels. For starters, Trump came to this meeting to mend some fences and make some friends, but he didn’t act like an honored guest and it doesn’t sound like he was treated like one either.
Then there’s the fact that he went after a senator who wasn’t even present and called him a ‘loser.’
Then there’s the fact that the ‘loser’ is restricted to a wheelchair much of the time because he had a massive stroke four years ago. Not to mention, Senator Kirk is a veteran naval intelligence officer who might be afforded just a little respect on those grounds alone.
Trump is obviously pissed off that Senator Kirk rescinded his endorsement of his candidacy, but any normal human being would find a more delicate way to express his displeasure. And it’s clear that Trump does not care even a little bit about Senate Republicans.
None of this seems to overly concern Trump. When I asked him recently whether the party’s maintaining its majority in the Senate meant anything to him, he replied: “Well, I’d like them to do that. But I don’t mind being a free agent, either.”
The guy will say anything, but unlike Hillary Clinton he seems to have no appreciation of how things get done in Washington DC and the importance of a president’s party having some control of Congress. He may want to be a free agent as president, but he won’t find any Democrats willing to work with him. And the way he’s treating Republican senators, he won’t exactly have them lining up to stick their necks out for him.
A growing part of me thinks it’s quaint to imagine that the composition and disposition of Congress will matter if Trump takes office. He has no intention letting the Constitution or anything else get in his way.
Bingo.
You write:
You are absolutely right, Booman. He doesn’t. Only thing is…neither do a large number of potential voters. Having no “appreciation” of how DC works is his platform, man!!! Don’t you get it yet? And further, he thinks he can win with that platform.
So far; so good. For him…
What happens if he wins?
I think he’s going to try to go around the Senate, any which way he can. Obama’s many “executive orders?” The precedents have been set. Foment some societal emergencies by outrageous actions? Seeing as how the societal emergency scene is getting worse and worse by the day even with Obama in office…a moderate at the very least in terms of aggressive domestic actions…how long would it take him to stoke the societal fires to the point where the inner cities burst into flames and a martial law “executive action” is put in place? Where does that put Congress?
Out of the picture, that’s where.
Our own Kristallnacht is easily in reach now.
How DC works?
It doesn’t work. Not really. You have said this in many ways here, as have many others. He’s no dummy; he wants to be the real boss.
Watch.
AG
P.S. Would the military cooperate?
Which “military?”
Maybe…
Another Obama precedent that the hypothetical President Trump will find useful is the execution of American citizens without trial as threats to national security. After all, isn’t a journalist undermining confidence in the President in a time of war threatening national security?
And if that day comes, what will Obama’s apologists among the NPR set say then? That he never intended this ultimate power to be wielded so irresponsibly?
(Actually, they will probably say that it’s Bernie Sanders’ fault for having not conceded the nomination to Hillary sooner. She would never have abused power like that.)
As an Official Obama Apologist of America member and card-carrying neoliberal neocon, I think I’d say that while I disagree with the drone terrorism program in general and Obama’s extrajudicial killing of human beings specifically, it sure as fuck wasn’t particularly wise to give those already existing powers to a social dominator like Strongman Trump, who also happily wields millions of right wing authoritarians who are itching to murder in the street anyone they don’t identify as a tribe member.
Yep, that’s how I’d apologize for it, while secretly wishing it was Hitlery Clinton murdering babies wholesale on a pay-per-view channel ran by by David Brock, Victoria Nuland, and Huma Abedin’s ISIS contacts.
Also: Benghazi.
Not to mention, Senator Kirk is a veteran naval intelligence officer who might be afforded just a little respect on those grounds alone.
Trump is right. Stopped clock and all that. Kirk is a clown. You’ve seen/heard/read what he’s called Obama most of his time in the Senate? So no, I don’t have any sympathy for Kirk.
…. but unlike Hillary Clinton he seems to have no appreciation of how things get done in Washington DC and the importance of a president’s party having some control of Congress.
She does? What is she doing to get DWS, Pelosi and the DCCC to take back the House? She’ll be lucky for the Democrats to have control of the Senate for the first 2 years of her presidential term.
Yes, Booman.
Another example of how he has very little support within the ones who he needs. He has very few credible surrogates. Like you said, nobody respects him, nobody likes him.
He will treat Pence like his pet poodle, and by October not even he will be a reliable defender.
.
See Trump is right about something!
In fact he’s a combat veteran1 Oh, wait. that claim was found to be a LIE!
So you prefer the fake combat veteran, kirk, to the real combat veteran Duckworth?
In what way, exactly, does a candidate’s time in the military–in combat, as an intelligence officer, or otherwise–make him/her a better candidate for public office than someone who has not been in the military?
Ask Cegelis. Every healthy democracy venerates its military, doesn’t it? Right? I mean, that’s what all the Serious People tell me.
It matters if they lie about it, trying to boost their reputation.
Trump, of course, didn’t go there to build any bridges, he went to intimidate and bully. It is the singular way he does business when the initial con stage of entreaty has melted.