Quote of the Day

It is impossible to know what course American democracy will take under Trump’s presidency. The fears of authoritarianism may prove overblown, and Trump may govern like a normal Republican. But the initial signs are quite concerning. Trump believes he can demolish normal standards of behavior, like the expectation of disclosing tax returns, and placing assets in a blind trust. He has received the full cooperation of his party, which controls Congress and has blocked any investigation or other mechanism for exerting pressure. His dismissal of the news media might simply be a slightly amped-up version of the conservative tradition of media abuse, but it seems to augur something worse. Rather than making snide cracks about liberal bias, Trump escalated into abuse and total delegitimization. Will the abuse of the media be seen as an idiosyncratic episode, or the beginning of something worse to come? We don’t know. His early behavior is consistent with (though far from proof of) the thesis that he is an emerging autocrat. The people have granted him license to steal and hide as he wishes. The bully has his pulpit.

– Jonathan Chait
Excerpted from "Donald Trump to America:
I Won, Accountability Is Over"
New York Magazine
January 11, 2017

Related Off-site Links:
Nobody Knows What Comes Next – Charles P. Pierce (Esquire, January 11, 2017).
This Will Not End Well: President-elect Trump’s First Press Conference was a Total Disaster – Simon Maloy (Salon, January 11, 2017).
Today We Saw a Live Performance from an Aspiring American Dictator – Charles P. Pierce (Esquire, January 11, 2017).
Trump's Trainwreck Press Conference Ushers in a Shambolic Presidency – Richard Wolffe (The Guardian, January 12, 2017).
Paid Staffers Were on Hand to Cheer for Trump at His Press Conference – Chris Sanchez (Business Insider via AOL News, January 12, 2017).
Five Ways Trump’s “News Conference” Wasn’t a News Conference – Robert Reich (Common Dreams, January 13, 2017).
Why Americans Care About Trump's Tax Returns – Ron Wyden (The New York Times, January 12, 2017).
If You're Making Jokes About Donald Trump's Sex Life, You're Missing the Point – Vera Papisova (TeenVogue, January 11, 2017).
Trump Ignores Ethics Experts Urging Him to Divest from His Businesses and Puts Sons In Charge Instead – Common Dreams (January 12, 2017).
Empty Folders and a "Meaningless" Plan: Outrage Grows Over Trump's Refusal to Divest – Nika Knight (Common Dreams, January 12, 2017).
Despite Promises, Trump Keeps Adding Goldman Sachs Vets to His Team – Steve Benen (MSNBC, January 12, 2017).
Here Are 10 Reasons Why I Believe Donald Trump Has Committed Treason – Allen Clifton (Forward Progressives, January 12, 2017).
Why It’s Paramount to Hold George W. Bush Accountable for His Crimes as Trump Is Inaugurated – Stacy Bannerman (AlterNet via TruthDig, January 12, 2017).
Maybe This Is How Democracy Ends – Mike Lofgren (BillMoyers.com, January 11, 2017).

See also the related Wild Reed posts:
• On International Human Rights Day, Saying "No" to Donald Trump and His Fascist Agenda
• Progressive Perspectives on the Election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
• Election Eve Thoughts
• Carrying It On
• Progressive Perspectives on the Rise of Donald Trump
• Trump's Playbook