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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 09:51 AM Nov 2018

John Dean Warns: 'This Is What An Autocrat Does'


Caroline Orr

November 23, 2018 3:32 am

Nixon-era White House counsel John Dean sounded the alarm Tuesday over Trump’s chilling desire to weaponize the Department of Justice (DOJ) against his political enemies.

“This is what an autocrat does,” Dean warned.

Dean, who became a star witness in the Watergate scandal after his time in the White House, made the remarks during an appearance on CNN just hours after The New York Times published a bombshell report about Trump’s attempt to order the DOJ to prosecute Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey.

According to the report, Trump floated the idea to the White House counsel earlier this year — a move that CNN host John Berman referred to as the “definition of Nixonian.”

“If I had to channel a little of Richard Nixon, I think he’d tell this president he’s going too far,” Dean responded. “This is the sort of stuff of a banana republic. This is what an autocrat does.”

more + video
http://www.nationalmemo.com/john-dean-warns-this-is-what-an-autocrat-does/
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John Dean Warns: 'This Is What An Autocrat Does' (Original Post) DonViejo Nov 2018 OP
Only if we let him Racerdog1 Nov 2018 #1
His co-conspirators in Scarsdale Nov 2018 #2
Yes, McConnell knows that he and the GOP leadership are up to their eyeballs in Russian money. Eyeball_Kid Nov 2018 #4
Dean's comment SHOULD be frightening. But here's the problem. Eyeball_Kid Nov 2018 #3
You are right, of course. pangaia Nov 2018 #5
Unfortunately, 30% are blinded and deafen by the FOX type propaganda. olegramps Nov 2018 #7
Agree with everything you say here FakeNoose Nov 2018 #6
David Corn made some early noises. Eyeball_Kid Nov 2018 #8
 

Racerdog1

(808 posts)
1. Only if we let him
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 10:49 AM
Nov 2018

With only 30-35% supporting this orange menace, stopping him by any means necessary should not be a big problem. His dumb ass and his moron supporters should be informed the odds are against them bigly.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
2. His co-conspirators in
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 10:58 AM
Nov 2018

the gop are up to their necks in Russian money. They are protecting HIM, in order to protect themselves. McConnell refused to reveal the truth about the Russian interference in the elections, he forbid President Obama from bringing it up, threatening to accuse him of political dirty tricks. The TRUTH about the orange ass was well known, but covered up and protected from being revealed. The gop is fully responsible for this gigantic mistake in the WH - BIGLY. I hope they all eventually pay for this mess. Putin had many allies in DC, the gop members being fully in his camp. It will take YEARS for a democratic president to clean up this ungodly mess he will leave behind. My hope is that the entire tRump family, and many top gop members will all watch it unfold from PRISON.

Eyeball_Kid

(7,410 posts)
4. Yes, McConnell knows that he and the GOP leadership are up to their eyeballs in Russian money.
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 12:02 PM
Nov 2018

He knows that Mueller will likely indict him and the rest of the leadership, including Paul Ryan, in a RICO scheme. He HAD to deny the sense of urgency conveyed to him by Obama before the 2016 election, because admitting the problem would also expose him to criminality immediately. The GOP took millions from Russian sources, and possibly from Saudi sources as well.

It's likely that Mueller's indictments will be issued to over a hundred individuals. The wave is about to commence.

Eyeball_Kid

(7,410 posts)
3. Dean's comment SHOULD be frightening. But here's the problem.
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 11:52 AM
Nov 2018

The US public DOES NOT UNDERSTAND what it means to be ruled by an autocrat. They don't know what an autocrat is. Further, they have no experience with a dictator, so they don't know what that is, either. Dean's words are accurate, but they come across as sterile and obtuse. Those two words, "autocrat" and "dictator", have little meaning beyond the intelligensia. This is partly because the US public is obscenely ignorant of these concepts. As a nation, civics is no longer formally taught. World history classes are a distant memory. Now the US public reacts to tweets, late breaking news, and political scandals.

What's needed in order to expand the conversation, IMO, is to tell the US public what they are about to LOSE by supporting the Shartcannon's descent into madness and cruelty. It's quite possible that they could lose the protections of the Constitution and state governments through autocratic decrees. They could lose their property because the dictator's business partner wants it. They could lose their ability to meet in groups. They could lose public access to education and information. They WILL lose the right to vote for the candidate of their choice. They WILL lose the right to collective bargaining. They WILL lose the right to protest against injustice. They WILL lose the right to privacy (police will need no warrants to invade their homes). Legal punishments and restraints will be arbitrary and will favor the convenience of those issuing orders (If you break even minor laws, you will have to bribe people to keep from losing everything you own.).

The US public needs concrete examples of what is really at stake when playing with autocratic leaders/dictators. They don't know, and because it all seems like a distant dream, they don't care. Right now, living under a dictatorship is more akin to watching a bad TV show. We're all removed from the concrete pain that awaits all of us. This was also the problem when journalists far and wide warned of what will happen to our nation as the 2016 elections approached and if Trumpy actually WON the election. Few of those who voted for Trumpy really understood. Now the nation has to fight for the Constitution to remain in place because Trumpy is threatening to dissolve all of it. And yet 40% of us still don't get it.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
5. You are right, of course.
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 12:25 PM
Nov 2018

I think, however, that even being told exactly what you propose will have no effect on them. They will just shrug and say, -well as long as I am not guilty of anything, I don;t have to worry. Or, I trust "them" to do the right thing, ot whatever it might be

olegramps

(8,200 posts)
7. Unfortunately, 30% are blinded and deafen by the FOX type propaganda.
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 01:09 PM
Nov 2018

Demagoguery is the first step toward authoritarianism. It is the vehicle by which they exploit problems with false promises to gain their support. Trump and his cadre of extremist broadcasters have completely captured these people's minds and they are totally oblivious to any attempt to convince them that they are being misled. Trump fully realized that they are susceptible to his ridiculous promises. He is only taking advantage of a situation that has been in the making for the last forty years. The major fault of the Republican Party is that they are willing to sacrifice our freedoms to blind party loyalty.

While they wave the flag and claim to be patriots, in reality they are the arch enemies of the Republic. Time and time again they have refused to enact legislation that would benefit the nation if they think that it could enhance the Democrats approval. This is their sole bases that determines their vote. While they are in power they will continue to enact laws and repeal any law that would hold businesses accountable or would threaten their profits. This runs the entire gamut from pollution to labor laws. If it in anyway harms profits, regardless of the damage it may do to families, health and the environment, it is automatically doomed during their watch.


They are faithfully following the handbook of fascism that will take our nation to the same ruination that has befallen every nation that adopted these policies. My only hope is that the Democrats don't falter when the take over control of the House. They have a daunting job facing them. Each step must be carefully planned and that is why I am supporting Pelosi. It isn't a time for amateur first time members of congress to be taking the led. Far to much is a stake.

FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
6. Agree with everything you say here
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 12:58 PM
Nov 2018

... however I don't recall many journalists warning us about autocrats and dictatorships during the 2016 campaign period. All I can remember is 24/7 rah-rah Trump from just about all of them. Even among the journos who believed that Hillary would win, nobody was sounding any alarms about Trump. Can you think of any?

Eyeball_Kid

(7,410 posts)
8. David Corn made some early noises.
Fri Nov 23, 2018, 06:44 PM
Nov 2018

Louise Mensch was all over it early on. There were a few others in the outlying areas of the profession. I must have read more, because I was reading warnings all over the place in 2015 and 2016. Mainstream media was enchanted by the Buffoon. Drove me bananas.

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