62 Comments
User's avatar
Homi Hormasji's avatar

This worthless psychopath, this bag of putrid wind, thrives on attention. Now I know that he is going to occupy the highest office in the land within a week, but instead of reacting to his every taunt, let’s treat him with the contempt and disdain that he deserves. In other words, let’s simply ignore his pronouncements. Yes, we will obviously have to deal with the apparatus of state, but there is no need for us to countenance this reprehensible being and pay him any personal attention. His ego thrives on seeing how others react to him. Watch him shrivel up like a pierced balloon once he realizes that people have no fear of him.

Expand full comment
Meredith Leonard's avatar

It would help if FOX "News" could be shuttered. They are complicit in all Trump's crimes.

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

No one is forced to watch Fox News. People who do, do it of their own volition. If it were shuttered or outlawed, they would find another method of getting their info. Alas this is where we are now.

Expand full comment
Meredith Leonard's avatar

Can we please move to Canada?

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

We won’t annex you, unless the orange menace tries to pull a fast one on us. 😆

Expand full comment
Meredith Leonard's avatar

I promise I won't take up very much space.

PS: My first vacation with my parents was to Tadoussac and around Lac Saint Jean, very long ago. Since then I've been to Churchill and L'Anse aux Meadows.

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

Tadoussac must be visited at least once - the north shore of Quebec is beautiful.

Expand full comment
Barbara Andree's avatar

I intend to only post or say that he is LYING when he says anything, not on what he's saying. Posting the truth about what he lies about is my antidote.

Expand full comment
Homi Hormasji's avatar

That’s a great plan, Barbara. (He’ll keep you busy!)

Expand full comment
Monet Lion's avatar

Nice fantasy, but I portend his oligarch cohorts will take over.

Expand full comment
Meredith Leonard's avatar

Do you FOX watchers think Trump would be our next President if it weren't for FOX?

Expand full comment
Ed Colman's avatar

As always, excellent commentary. One thing that I have noticed. The guy is in perpetual campaign mode. That’s why he’s constantly attacking his perceived opponents, to score political points. He would much rather be running than govern.

Expand full comment
Diane E Bellard's avatar

I think he just likes to appear tough and so he acts like a schoolyard bully every day.

Expand full comment
Richard Brody's avatar

It’s as if he was running for a lifetime position. Sickening.

Expand full comment
Richard Brody's avatar

Thank you so much, again, for your sense of history and how it translates to current events. In my own Substack today I opined for better sources for news and suggested Substack. Your comments demonstrate exactly what Americans deserve in terms of their media experience. Thanks for keeping us informed during these most difficult times.

Expand full comment
Steven Beschloss's avatar

Thx kindly.

Expand full comment
David J. Sharp's avatar

What terrible times this young century has seen … starting with the inconceivable 9/11. Drastic climate change disruptions - hurricanes, wildfires - four straight years of presidential horror shows (caged children!), lies, racism, misogyny; one can hardly breathe.

Expand full comment
Teri D's avatar

God forgive me but I wouldn’t put it past him to have some people set those fires!

Expand full comment
Carol Moore's avatar

It's terrible, isn't it, that we've come to a point when a thought like this actually crosses our minds. I wondered the same thing....

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Exactly what one of my friends said also. Hard to disagree with her.

Expand full comment
AVee's avatar

Excellent essay Steven.

Expand full comment
Diane E Bellard's avatar

Trump's lies and attacks during these fires have been despicable and I could not be more disgusted. Americans were literally fleeing for their lives, thousands have lost everything, and this is what he does. For me, I'll just add it to the list of things he does to abuse his office and power. If he gets in office and decides to withhold aid to California due to political differences, who will hold him accountable?

Expand full comment
Dawn Kucera's avatar

Trump and Johnson want to tie policy conditions to relief funding for LA - Trump wants raising the debt ceiling to be a condition. This is monstrous.

Expand full comment
DJHammond's avatar

For the people of California it must be heartbreaking to watch their previous lives go up in smoke.. Add the fear of Republicans already saying their help should be portioned out since it’s a Democratic state..So much for “governing for all the people.” God help us all get through the next 4 years of torture… what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right?

Expand full comment
SPW's avatar

We’re going to have to find a way to pull together to support each other; that’s the only thing I can think of. Work within your own community. We will be finding ourselves back in the 18th Century in a lot of ways. We won’t survive otherwise.

Expand full comment
Maryann Boyd's avatar

God I hope so!! He has no compassion for anyone or anything.

Expand full comment
Melanie G's avatar

I had a nightmare when he won the first time. He is pure evil.

Expand full comment
SPW's avatar

As did I. I saw him set off a dirty bomb. I’m no sure that’s not in the offing now.

Expand full comment
David J. Sharp's avatar

Terrible times now … but great for the future historian if he survives.

Expand full comment
gpm414's avatar

Steven, your assessments of the instincts of arsonists and Trump are spot on. The primary responsibility of the President is to serve and protect our country and every citizen in it; not just the ones he deems worthy, praise him, and enrich him. Here's a fact we can't change, he's incapable and unwilling to perform the most basic duties of being President.

And this is where we find ourselves. In a few days he will become President again, and will likely attempt to destroy and dismantle our Democracy, not unlike an arsonist who will takes pleasure in doing it. I believe that most Americans don't share his view of the world. Let's take it one day at a time and stay focused on who we are and the Democracy we believe in.

Expand full comment
Jill Stoner's avatar

Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind . . .

If there were a cabinet position such as "Secretary of Fire Management," Trump would be looking for someone with expertise in burning books.

Expand full comment
Sharon C Storm's avatar

You’re absolutely correct, Steven, he is an arsonist of the worst kind. He has not one redeeming quality, and he thinks we should serve him. The president should serve the people, he is our employee.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Your essay is brilliant -- and terrifying. Outstanding. "He delights in seeing things burn. He likes destruction. Fixing things is hard; destroying them is much easier." "[T]here’s nothing Trump delights in more than death and destruction and the opportunity to appear like the tough guy, the strongman who knows what to do." And finally: "Let’s remember to support the firefighters, both real and figurative."

Expand full comment
Steven Beschloss's avatar

Thanks much.

Expand full comment
Susan MacNeil, PhD's avatar

It’s getting more concerning day by day. Especially since democrats keep telling us what disaster is ahead, and yet do nothing to defend us. They are acting, as usual, with words but no actions. I’d think they could put in some protective measures and demand more from the FBI with the nominations. But what do I know. Something is wrong with the way they are running scared.

Expand full comment