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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWaPo Editorial Board: The clear and present danger of Donald Trump
IF YOU know that Donald Trump is ignorant, unprepared and bigoted, but are thinking of voting for him anyway because you doubt he could do much harm this editorial is for you.
Your support of the Republican presidential nominee may be motivated by dislike of the Democratic alternative, disgust with the Washington establishment or a desire to send a message in favor of change. You may not approve of everything Mr. Trump has had to say about nuclear weapons, torture or mass deportations, but you doubt he could implement anything too radical. Congress, the courts, the Constitution these would keep Mr. Trump in check, you think.
Well, think again. A President Trump could, unilaterally, change this country to its core. By remaking U.S. relations with other nations, he could fundamentally reshape the world, too.
Of course, in many areas Mr. Trump would not have to act unilaterally. If he won, chances are Republicans would maintain control of Congress. GOP majorities there would be enthusiastic participants in much of what Mr. Trump would like to do: gutting environmental and workplace regulations, slashing taxes so that the debt skyrockets, appointing Supreme Court justices who oppose a womans right to have an abortion. In areas where Republican officeholders such as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) imagine themselves acting as a brake on Mr. Trumps worst instincts, skepticism is in order. If these supposed leaders are too craven to oppose Mr. Trump as a candidate, knowing the danger he presents, why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?
Your support of the Republican presidential nominee may be motivated by dislike of the Democratic alternative, disgust with the Washington establishment or a desire to send a message in favor of change. You may not approve of everything Mr. Trump has had to say about nuclear weapons, torture or mass deportations, but you doubt he could implement anything too radical. Congress, the courts, the Constitution these would keep Mr. Trump in check, you think.
Well, think again. A President Trump could, unilaterally, change this country to its core. By remaking U.S. relations with other nations, he could fundamentally reshape the world, too.
Of course, in many areas Mr. Trump would not have to act unilaterally. If he won, chances are Republicans would maintain control of Congress. GOP majorities there would be enthusiastic participants in much of what Mr. Trump would like to do: gutting environmental and workplace regulations, slashing taxes so that the debt skyrockets, appointing Supreme Court justices who oppose a womans right to have an abortion. In areas where Republican officeholders such as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) imagine themselves acting as a brake on Mr. Trumps worst instincts, skepticism is in order. If these supposed leaders are too craven to oppose Mr. Trump as a candidate, knowing the danger he presents, why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-wrecking-ball-in-the-white-house-the-damage-trump-could-do-from-day-one/2016/09/30/1c69e9cc-85b5-11e6-a3ef-f35afb41797f_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.6a349da251f3
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WaPo Editorial Board: The clear and present danger of Donald Trump (Original Post)
spanone
Sep 2016
OP
Yep. scary times that someone so dangerous is so relatively close to taking command of the U.S.
spanone
Sep 2016
#2
"... why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?"
Hugin
Sep 2016
#5
And they tend to be leaning right I think. This is great news, but his supporters are insane.
ScienceIsGood
Sep 2016
#8
The right stayed quiet for Shrub. Glad to see they're finally speaking up.
lindysalsagal
Oct 2016
#12
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)1. reading on in the editorial....
The Post plans to do a series of editorials about how Trump could change and damage the US.
But his scope for action should not be underestimated, either. In our upcoming editorials, we will examine some arenas where Mr. Trump has been relatively clear about his intentions and where presidential powers are mighty. We hope you will read them before you vote.
spanone
(135,873 posts)2. Yep. scary times that someone so dangerous is so relatively close to taking command of the U.S.
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)3. Thanks so much for posting.
I am glad to see some people actually care about the damage he will do. The damage he is already doing.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)4. and the Washington Post editorial board leans to the right, folks ....
which makes this more remarkable.
Much more conservative than the paper in general.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)5. "... why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?"
There you have the meat of it.
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)7. K&R!!!
ScienceIsGood
(314 posts)8. And they tend to be leaning right I think. This is great news, but his supporters are insane.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)9. K&R
kentuck
(111,110 posts)10. Excellent point!
"If these supposed leaders are too craven to oppose Mr. Trump as a candidate, knowing the danger he presents, why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?"
spanone
(135,873 posts)11. that stood out to me too. makes me shiver.
lindysalsagal
(20,730 posts)12. The right stayed quiet for Shrub. Glad to see they're finally speaking up.
Good to see.