Fixing a Whole

[malthaussen]

38. Frankly, I don't think I care.

Donald Trump is one individual of increasingly diminishing resources. What is of interest is how long his running dogs are going to continue to use him as their shield, and how far they are willing to go to destroy the Republic. I do not and have not believed that Donald Trump mesmerizes and controls old pols of long experience (naming no names); I do think they consider him a useful idiot, much as does Mr Putin. In this I could be wrong: we have considerable testimony to the ability of other malignant narcissists to enslave the wills of people we would otherwise expect to be courageous and independent. But perhaps that doesn't matter, either: what matters is who will go along with Mr Trump, and what they will do to protect him (and incidentally, themselves). So far, the conduct of most of the main players on the GOP side does not give one any confidence that they will suddenly change their tune and work to best serve the nation.

A person's power extends only so far as his leverage; his leverage extends only so far as others are willing to enable him. So far, it looks like the GOP are willing to go to any lengths in that respect.

-- Mal