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Craig Lilly's avatar

Great article, sir!

Like you, I’ve been trying to figure out Trump’s game, and I thought I’d try my thoughts out on you.

First, who is this guy? He’s lazy (except where it comes to saving his skin). He is easily manipulated by flattery and avoids hard decisions. He is swayed by the last person who had his ear. He’s not very smart and clearly in decline, physically and mentally. He’s a terrible businessman and negotiator. Did I miss anything?

Then there are his influences. He doesn’t have a cabinet in the traditional sense to help him sort out priorities and actions to advance them. Thus, he jumps around, often following contradictory paths.

First, there’s Putin. He and Trump have frequent private chats, and I have no doubt that Putin has been planting the idea that Trump should have complete control of the America’s the way he wants complete control of Europe. This, I believe, is where the idea of controlling Greenland, Canada, and Mexico comes from. Ts stupid, destructive to American interests and world standing.

Then there’s the Project 2025 crowd. They don’t want to destroy government so much as bend it to fit their concept of a Christian Nationalist state. Abortion banned, Women out of the workforce, home having babies, a single breadwinner. This would mean more money for salaries, more social services, but this runs up against Trump’s huge tax cuts for the wealthiest. It’s contradictory.

Then there’s Musk and DOGE, who want to erase huge portions of the government, and throw thousands of people out of work. But Trump likes having Musk around (I’m not sure who is who’s pet). Musk is intoxicated by proximity to power, but he’s not good at politics and his businesses are suffering from his inattention to them. Tesla’s aren’t selling, Starlink is being abandoned for competing European systems, and with the ISS’s days numbered his rockets won’t have my place to go. Musk will soon implode.

Americans are generally pissed at all this. They (we) hate uncertainty, and that’s all Trump has to offer. You can see the tide changing as people flood town halls and inundate their elected reps with phone calls and e-mails. And GOP reps must be terrified as they watch Trump et al do things their voters clearly don’t want.

If the Dems are smart (not always a good bet) they’ll position some good electable candidates to win in the midterms and 2028. I love Pete Butegieg and AOC but I think someone more accountable to Middle America is the way to go. Then they can do things like restoring balance to the Supreme Court, pass legislation to void Citizens United, presidential immunity, restore Roe, etc.

That’s enough for now. I feel better.

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