Trump's Nastiness

[lpetrich]

Washington Post Editorial Board Pulls No Punches With Latest Searing Trump Critique | HuffPost
notes
Presidents are expected to set the national tone. What we got with Trump has been catastrophic. - The Washington Post

The great fear of these early Americans was that the presidency could fall into the hands of a demagogue: ...

He has broken taboos — against personal insults, questioning the motives of one’s opponents and delegitimizing the political process itself — that historically enabled Americans to compromise when it is possible and to co-exist when it is not. Think of it: From the highest office in the oldest electoral democracy on the planet, he has referred to the free press as “truly the enemy of the people,” and repeatedly spread the canard that the next election will be “rigged.” Earlier this month, Mr. Trump broadcast to the entire world, on Twitter, this about Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) of New York: “Cuomo killed 11,000 people in nursing homes alone. Crooked & Incompetent!” The remark was typical — not even close to his basest outburst while in office.

Then on his bigoted and belligerent rhetoric. "Even at his nastiest, Richard M. Nixon generally saved ugly comments about his political foes, the media and minority ethnic groups for the privacy of the Oval Office."