Given the conspicuous incompetence he’s already displayed on issues of national security, I almost wonder if a major terrorist attack would play out less like the burning of the Reichstag than the response to hurricane Katrina. While he’d almost definitely use the opportunity to seize additional power, it might also invite some pretty intense scrutiny of his handling of intelligence and fitness as commander-in-chief—especially if his response is to get in front of cameras and wave his baby rattle at judges and the media. Maybe a terrorist attack is what drives home the fact that this reality TV sideshow needs to end.
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And Oz.
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Actually, the US doesn’t really have a broad definition of treason either (which stops no one from using hyperbole). It has a vague definition of what the president can be impeached for: “high crimes and misdemeanors”.
But that’s not the point, though. I’m not talking about going to war with Russia, or executing Americans for doing business with Russians. It just seems that we have a president, an administration, and maybe even many members of Congress that are maybe a little more interested in advancing Russian interests at the expense of American interests in return for personal gain. And maybe they should lose their jobs over that.
…Not that they will, of course. I’m not sure any of them have enough shame to fill a thimble, so the IC’s efforts to shame someone into action are likely futile, especially when voters are trained to disbelieve everything.
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As has been pointed out, the USA has a very specific definition of treason. It isn’t broad, let alone overly broad. You might want to read up on it.
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It certainly shouldn’t be a primary criterion, but politics does involve a lot of interpersonal relationships — building coalitions, negotiating compromises, diplomacy — and those are a lot harder to develop and maintain if you’re a cold fish or a raging asshole. A politician who doesn’t recognize that and at least learn to fake it is less than fully competent.
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to nit-pick: “I am scared” != “you are scary”
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I am having terrible flashbacks to Harrison Bergeron at this point. A random selection of the most statistically average/mean person in the country would probably do a better job.
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We could have chosen a median or mode president, but we got a mean one.
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The math puns remain a vector towards sanity.
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I don’t disagree with you at all. I guess I should clarify that I would certainly expect “my” candidate to be a decent human being; that’s the first criteria full stop. Realistically, better-than-average interpersonal skills would be necessary for just the reasons you describe. I just don’t have a need to feel like she/he and I would be best buds. There are plenty of nice folks in the world who I wouldn’t be friends with simply because we don’t “spark”. This attitude is different from so many people I’ve encountered over the years who wax rhapsodic about how they’re supporting a particular candidate because “he’s a guy who I would have a beer and shoot the shit with”.
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Also, I get feeling that way about GWB frinstance, he seems genial enough. He’d be welcome at just about any backyard barbecue.
But DJT? Can anyone honestly say they would want to play a round of golf with that guy? Without trying to curry favor or get something out of him, that is. Just purely as a pleasant way to spend an afternoon? I’d rather be harangued by Nixon over unflavored buttermilk shakes.
ETA note to self: buttermilk milkshakes. Savory? Kale? Cucumber & garlic?
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Man, I think I need to re-read Vonnegut.
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I wouldn’t want to even shake that guys hand. I really would want to sit down with GWB now and have a beer with the guy and tell him that I take back the shit I used to say about him. I may not agree with his politics but I take back the comments about stupid.
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Well, he’s still not the sharpest tool in the shed, but that matters much less now than when he was President. Ordinary people can be dim without costing thousands of lives.
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Yeah, I really don’t get the adoration for DJT either. After much contemplation, the only conclusion I can come to is that at the bottom of many (most?) humans’ psyche is a need for a boogey man to fear, and a big daddy to tell them that everything’s going to be alright.
And: buttermilk milkshake = yum!
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This is a great book on the subject:
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x appears is approaching insanity at an increasingly increasing rate.
maybe we should regulate the derivatives market?
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