Donald Trump (August 14): “It is not ‘freedom of the press’ when newspapers and others are allowed to say and write whatever they want even if it is completely false!”
Trump’s message is clear: Lies are in the eyes of the beholder and First Amendment freedoms will be at risk. As candidate, Trump has spun falsehoods with impunity, bullied reporters, and threatened to prosecute and prosecute anyone opposing him.
In campaign statements since last year, Trump wants to:
This is why a good many Republicans, as well as Democrats, are alarmed. Trump represents an existential threat to democracy as we have known it.
In campaign statements since last year, Trump wants to:
- Make it easier to stifle media criticism;
- ‘Open up libel laws’ and sue journalists;
- Abuse his regulatory authority for political purposes;
- Damage the interests of investors in media companies that criticize him;
- Maintain a blacklist of reporters and media outlets;
- Subject the press to a censorship regime.
This is why a good many Republicans, as well as Democrats, are alarmed. Trump represents an existential threat to democracy as we have known it.
Not a normal candidate for the US, and perhaps such men are more customary in Central and South America. Americans do seem fond of such personalities and identify with them. Hitler impressed us before he declared war and the Fox Traitors are promoting Putin as the kind of leader we need.Trump is an unacceptable risk.
ReplyDeleteSupport for Trump was born of distrust and contempt for Washington DC and the elitist group perceived to control the puppet strings. Trump with his big mouth and bravado, as well as his "outsider" persona, is just what the malcontents desired and ultimately ordered.
ReplyDeleteTrump, if elected, will do everything he can to govern in opposition to everything the lovers of liberty profess to stand for.
It it indeed a strange era in American politics AND government.
Sigh...
Strange era is an understatement. Here's Trump in flooded Louisiana telling Black people that their lives are already hell, "so what do you hvae to lose?
ReplyDeleteWords fail me.