Mississippi opinion about Donald Trump - echo about failed leadership

Even Mississippians are voicing anti Trump opinions, like this letter published in the Sun Herald by Bill Crawford*.  Although the original opinion was published one year ago, in retrospect, the message seems as though it was prophetic. I read it and now am blogging it, one year later.

Neo Nazi swatsika burning in Georgia from the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Trump the strongman sets dangerous example

Dictators rule. In the U.S., presidents are supposed to govern. The differences between ruling and governing are stark, e.g., Russia's Vladimir Putin rules, Germany's Angela Merkel governs.

Unlike Ronald Reagan, our current president just doesn't get it. President Donald Trump tends to praise the Putins and disdain the Merkels.

Donald Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders across the globe has been one of the few constants during his chaotic time in office," CNN reported. "From Russian President Vladimir Putin to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Trump has gone out of his way to lavish praise on some of the world's most notorious strongmen."

In 2016 ,Trump told NBC news regarding Putin, "He is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, 'Oh, isn't that a terrible thing' — the man has very strong control over a country."

In November 2017 he boasted of having "great relationships" with Philippine despot Rodrigo Duterte and China strongman Xi Jinping. He also touted his “great friendship” with Turkey dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

(MaineWriter- Recently Trump said that he is in love with Kim Jung Un of North Korea!)

Meanwhile, Trump has literally given Merkel the cold shoulder, even refusing to shake her hand at a White House meeting last year.

In February, Trump allegedly lost his temper in a call with Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto that resulted in a canceled state visit to the White House. Trump cut short a phone call with Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. (reports indicated serious divisions remain.)
Dictators set policy. Leaders who govern have to work with other factions and often must seek a compromise to establish policy.

It's evident that Trump admires dictators' power and resents having to work with others to get his way?

When China's Xi got himself anointed president for life, Trump commented, "He was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday.”

It's no secret that Trump was dissatisfied with (now former) Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He regularly slamed him on Twitter. Trump complained how he couldn't get his appointees at the Department of Justice "to do my bidding." He even told a NY Times reporter, "I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department."

Moreover, Trump sheds leaders in his administration who don’t do his bidding. He abruptly fired National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Gary Cohn quit as director of the National Economic Council and top White House Economic Advisor. (United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has resigned.)

Then, there were his controversial firings of FBI Director James Comey, who wouldn’t drop his Russia investigation, and Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend Trump's original immigrant travel ban.

The U.S. presidency was designed to be held by a leader who governs, not a dictator who rules!

How far Congress and the American people will let Trump go before reining in his strongman tendencies, is one question.
A more important one may be, will Trump's strongman example become the norm for future U.S. leaders.

(MaineWriter- very scary. Trumpzi's have substituted wearing white shrouded hoods and swastika's with red hats.)

*Bill Crawford is a columnist from Meridian Mississippi