Feels a lot like the Watergate era.

[Ms. Toad]

Last edited Tue Jan 24, 2017, 06:18 PM - Edit history (1)

I remember the feeling near the End of Nixon's presidency, once he had lost all respect from the press. The constant honest but brutal criticisms from the press - and a sense of how overwhelming and out of control it must feel for those inside the White House to not have any way out of the corner they had trapped themselves in.

And - because we didn't have internet then, his diehard fans weren't so well connected - but they believed what they believed regardless of facts.

I have vivid memories of hearing the news of Nixon's resignation just as my best friend called - and gleefully almost shouting into the phone . . . forgetting for just a moment that she was one of the diehard fans - and feeling the stone-cold silence from the other end of the line.

The last few days have had the same feeling, with the mainstream press finally willing to say out loud, in print, what has been just below the surface for months.

ETA: I'm talking about the atmosphere - particularly from the press - surrounding the White Office - NOT about the character (or level of danger posed by Trump v. Nixon)

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

1. I lived through the Nixon Years and Watergate

and this feels far worse, far scarier to me.

[Ms. Toad]

2. As to what Trump might do - absolutely.

I was talking about the sense that the White House is under siege.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. But that was at the end of the Presidency, not the very beginning.

And Nixon, despite being Nixon, still had a sense of introspection that I don't think Trump could ever possess.

[JenniferJuniper]

4. 1000 times more chaotic now

[Binders Keepers]

5. This is accelerating at warp speed, even w/out Tweets.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Repug's begin mustering against Trump by month's end. They're leaking credibility all over the pavement.

[Ms. Toad]

8. That's a large part of what I was referring to -

There was a shift, and it was like the floodgates broke. Leaks started/accelerated from within. The press stopped dancing around the truth and started speaking with far fewer reservations.

Don't know where it will go - but that aspect is similar.

[unblock]

6. sadly, he's surrounded by like-minded people.

republicans have dreamed of controlling all three branches of government for ages and they're not about to shoot themselves in the foot just because their leader is a nutcase. they're all nutcases, most are just better at walking that fine line that donnie just tramples all over.

but that doesn't matter as long as he signs their right-wing laws.


bill clinton, richard nixon, and andrew johnson all faced the opposition party in congress.

i'm not holding my breath waiting for a deplorable batch of republicans to rise to the occasion.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. Read somewhere that 85% the Republicans in Congress are concerned about Trump. But being

that they're a bunch of opportunistic asses they will go along with Trump unless they are convinced that Trump is going to be lunchmeat.

[unblock]

10. they're worried in part because they really, really don't want to have to remove him.

it's one thing to have your party leader removed by the opposition party. it's another thing entirely to do it by the same party.

they're concerned because they know they might have to tolerate a whole lot of things that could be very damaging to their "brand", because removing him might be even worse.

[colsohlibgal]

7. This Is Much Worse

Nixon was twisted but not the total danger and disaster we have now. He was competent Orange Guy is not.

[crazycatlady]

11. I wasn't alive during Watergate

And now this asshole's presidency makes me want to read up on it.

[HipChick]

12. Me too...

[pnwmom]

13. Me, too. But the Congressional investigations then were controlled by Dems.

With the GOP in charge I'm less confident that this will turn into something like Watergate -- even though it seems exponentially more serious.