Putin has done to American democracy what Osama Bin Laden did to NYC

[0rganism]

Putin smashed an electoral missile broadside into our federal government. now the whole thing is on fire, and eventually it will collapse under its own weight. or at least that's what Putin hopes will happen.

we the people are like those in Manhattan on that horrible day. up until now, we've all seen the smoke and fire slowly spread from the collision point, and tried to deal with it in our own ways -- some run in, some run out, some find shelter, some document events as they unfold. now the collapse is upon us -- it is imminent. Americans will now be tested as a people as we have not been in a very long time. there will be chaos and bloodshed. this much is certain. will we somehow recover and rebuild, stronger than ever? will we descend into the madness of civil war? will nuclear fire engulf the planet? little is certain, much is possible, our national character will be revealed in the process.

[Trust Buster]

1. Sorry, I cannot agree. The republicans have laid the foundation for their grievance politics for

Decades. don the Con realized it and turned dog whistling into blatant and crass strategy. Putin came in after that train left the station.

[mr_lebowski]

2. 2013, while in Russia, is when he decided he was 'running in 2016' ... Don didn't figure out shit ..

Putin's people told him 'you can win and here's how'.

Agree that the groundwork had to have already been laid, that part is true. But I think Putin & Co put him up to running or at least gave him the confidence to do so and told him they would help.

[0rganism]

5. sokay, just my opinion, feel free to disagree

still not a crime to disagree in this country, so enjoy it while you can.

[jodymarie aimee]

3. You are spot on

I did a letter to the editor on this last month.

[Me.]

4. He May've Thought He Dealt A Death Blow

just as Bin Laden did but NYC came back stronger than ever

[0rganism]

6. not a death blow, but not easily recovered either

took us nearly 2 decades to recover from the attack on NYC, doing so wasn't cheap, we got stuck in a couple wars as a result, but we were mostly unified as a people (for better or for worse) and we had the sympathies of much of the world on our side.

the attack we're under now is going to be much harder to prevail against. we are at an immense disadvantage now, with our government thoroughly corrupted and compromised at the highest levels, and 40% of the population supporting the ongoing destruction.

if/when America rebounds from this savage attack, our emergent leaders will be hailed as heroes by history, but it's going to be really difficult going forward. from here on down, it's uphill all the way.

[Me.]

7. I Have Higher Hopes Than You

and I say this having been in NYC on the morning

[LeftishBrit]

8. Putin can only damage American - and British - democracy if we LET him

Putin is quick to exploit the weaknesses in the democracies of other countries. But he didn't create the weaknesses. While not all the details were known, it was well known *before* the election that Trump was a fan of Putin and other corrupt strongmen. He was elected (by the EC) anyway.


We have - in America, Britain and Europe generally - to improve our democratic systems; to reform the billionaire-dominated media; to reduce the influence of big-money lobbyists; of xenophobic demagogues; to reform the Electoral College in America; to end no-threshold referenda in the UK; to get out the vote in elections (and prevent voter suppression): only around 55% of Americans vote in presidential elections; the UK is better on voting in general elections, but only one-third voted in Europaean elections. Extremists are elected by reasonable citizens who don't vote.


If we stand together for reason and common sense, neither Putin nor any other crazy dictator can mess up our governments. I am no fan of Putin, whom I call 'the Godfather' as in Mafia, but he cannot be entirely blamed for our own disastrous choices.

'The Simpsons' predicted 18 years ago, in what then seemed to be comedy, that Trump might be elected President and ruin America. Perhaps a 'Lisa Simpson' is needed to sort out the mess.

The one hopeful sign is that the young people are starting to get not just angry but active.