WaPo Editorial Board: The clear and present danger of Donald Trump

[spanone]

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 woman’s 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. Trump’s 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

[OKNancy]

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.

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2. Yep. scary times that someone so dangerous is so relatively close to taking command of the U.S.

[sheshe2]

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]

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]

5. "... why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?"

There you have the meat of it.

[napkinz]

6. K&R!

[2naSalit]

7. K&R!!!

[ScienceIsGood]

8. And they tend to be leaning right I think. This is great news, but his supporters are insane.

[smirkymonkey]

9. K&R

[kentuck]

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]

11. that stood out to me too. makes me shiver.

[lindysalsagal]

12. The right stayed quiet for Shrub. Glad to see they're finally speaking up.

Good to see.