Donald Trump represents an authoritarian movement and a cultural force. Trumpism is not merely or just a set of political policy preferences. Like other authoritarian cultural movements Trumpism promises a national-cultural transformation, psychological uplift, group superiority, personal salvation, and a sense of membership and belonging in an exclusive community for its members and other supporters. … Read more
Former FBI Director James Comey recently published an important opinion piece in the New York Times. In the article, he examines the question of how otherwise intelligent, accomplished people, like Bill Barr and Rod Rosenstein, can find themselves justifying and excusing the amoral and illegal actions of this president. Amoral leaders have a way of … Read more
On Sunday March 24, 2019, Attorney General William Barr sent a letter to Congress summarizing the recently delivered Mueller report. On Monday, March 25, late-night TV talk show host Stephen Colbert conceded the point in Barr’s letter that Donald Trump did not “collude” with Russia’s efforts to help him during the 2016 presidential campaign. Colbert … Read more
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesians 4:14 A few weeks ago, I received a two emails, within 45 minutes of each other, asking me to … Read more
At 50, everyone has the face he deserves. George Orwell, personal diary (last entry), 1949 Ironically, George Orwell died in 1950 at the age of 46. He never quite reached the age at which he anticipated his true character would show on his face. However, if Orwell’s aphorism is true, Donald Trump, at 72, is … Read more
I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these … Read more
“He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” — John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff. Bob Woodward’s new book, Fear: Trump in the … Read more
“There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.” (2 Nephi 30:17) Donald J. Trump likes to swear his employees to secrecy before they … Read more