I completely agree with your take on Mr. Trump. You apparently have little use for the Woke Left, but at least in today's essay you neglect to mention the degree to which the words and actions of the Woke Left motivate voters to support Mr. Trump
Cut Bezos a little slack. He didn't endorse Trump; he simply declined to endorse either candidate. Is it not possible to despise Trump -- his persona, his views and his policies -- and at the same time 1) believe Harris lacks what it takes to be president; 2) believe that a Harris administration would continue, or buttress, Biden (Obama?) policies that you regard as unacceptable; and 3) in any event, believe that personal morality does not require you to "endorse" what you perceive as the lesser of two evils? Bezos has not whispered into my ear what motivated his decision. What I do notice is that departing Post staffers weren't fired; they resigned. Dissenting staffers haven't been disciplined; they are publishing their views loud and clear, including in Bezos's newspaper. Whatever Bezos is, he is not McCormick or Hearst.
The news pages of the Washington Post (and the NY Times) have deeply explored every flaw in Trump's program and character. I wish they would do as much for the other side because both sides need to improve their game. Nobody thinks that an editorial endorsement has much effect.
I hope I'm not wrong but I doubt that Trump will succeed in accomplishing any of the bold catastrophic initiatives feared by the Times and others. My observation over the course of decades is that presidents have a lot of trouble getting anything done. In our system power is widely distributed. Often half-measures or end-runs are employed in the course of just operating the government. The January 6 insurrection was appalling but it had no chance of succeeding. Our republic has survived much greater dangers than Trump over the last 250 years.
I certainly hope Trump goes down to defeat. Whether or not he's elected I hope that both parties figure out a new way of selecting candidates because we need a competition for the office of President that engages the public and does more than anoint someone who happens to be in the right place at the right time.
If Trump is elected, he will automatically become a lame duck. Lame ducks seldom achieve what they plan, in part because members of their own party in Congress still have to worry about getting reelected and, therefore, do not want to push as far as the President does. History is replete with examples of second term and lame duck Presidents failing to implement their agendas.
Well said Joe, but it was George Soros, I think, that said "Business should be amoral." Not immoral but amoral and I can't disagree....in general. What I can do is admire and support those businesses and their leaders that make courageous decisions absent business considerations. What Jeff Bezos doesn't understand is that should Trump win, he has succumbed to Trump's rule and though he may continue to live another day, he has eaten your soul. Reread James Comey's May 1, 2019 NYT OpEd.
I completely agree with your take on Mr. Trump. You apparently have little use for the Woke Left, but at least in today's essay you neglect to mention the degree to which the words and actions of the Woke Left motivate voters to support Mr. Trump
I didn't cancel mine, either. Lots of good reporting and reporters to support.
Cut Bezos a little slack. He didn't endorse Trump; he simply declined to endorse either candidate. Is it not possible to despise Trump -- his persona, his views and his policies -- and at the same time 1) believe Harris lacks what it takes to be president; 2) believe that a Harris administration would continue, or buttress, Biden (Obama?) policies that you regard as unacceptable; and 3) in any event, believe that personal morality does not require you to "endorse" what you perceive as the lesser of two evils? Bezos has not whispered into my ear what motivated his decision. What I do notice is that departing Post staffers weren't fired; they resigned. Dissenting staffers haven't been disciplined; they are publishing their views loud and clear, including in Bezos's newspaper. Whatever Bezos is, he is not McCormick or Hearst.
The news pages of the Washington Post (and the NY Times) have deeply explored every flaw in Trump's program and character. I wish they would do as much for the other side because both sides need to improve their game. Nobody thinks that an editorial endorsement has much effect.
I hope I'm not wrong but I doubt that Trump will succeed in accomplishing any of the bold catastrophic initiatives feared by the Times and others. My observation over the course of decades is that presidents have a lot of trouble getting anything done. In our system power is widely distributed. Often half-measures or end-runs are employed in the course of just operating the government. The January 6 insurrection was appalling but it had no chance of succeeding. Our republic has survived much greater dangers than Trump over the last 250 years.
I certainly hope Trump goes down to defeat. Whether or not he's elected I hope that both parties figure out a new way of selecting candidates because we need a competition for the office of President that engages the public and does more than anoint someone who happens to be in the right place at the right time.
If Trump is elected, he will automatically become a lame duck. Lame ducks seldom achieve what they plan, in part because members of their own party in Congress still have to worry about getting reelected and, therefore, do not want to push as far as the President does. History is replete with examples of second term and lame duck Presidents failing to implement their agendas.
Very powerful piece. Thank you.
Reading this post, you'd think Bezos had endorsed Trump.
While cannot disagree with you completely, in parts, methinks thou dost protest too much.
The DC Leviathan never accepted 45, the 4th estate is biased muck, read Ruy Teixeira ‘The Progressive Moment is OVER’ to see why we are where we are.
Teixeira's piece was brilliant -- he always is -- and it explains why Harris has failed to close the deal.
An excellent piece, Joe. Thanks!
Well said Joe, but it was George Soros, I think, that said "Business should be amoral." Not immoral but amoral and I can't disagree....in general. What I can do is admire and support those businesses and their leaders that make courageous decisions absent business considerations. What Jeff Bezos doesn't understand is that should Trump win, he has succumbed to Trump's rule and though he may continue to live another day, he has eaten your soul. Reread James Comey's May 1, 2019 NYT OpEd.
I’d cancel Prime not the Post if I had it. Bezos belongs on the platform of vulgarity at MSG