The term “Bully Pulpit” was coined by Theodore Roosevelt while president. It meant he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. The word bully carried a more positive meaning in those days, meaning “superb” or “wonderful.” It could mean a fine chap or a noisy, rough fellow in England. According to Webster:
“A bully is a person who hurts or frightens someone else, often over a period of time, and often forcing them to do something that they do not want to do. Bullies are blustering, mean, or predatory people who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidate, abuse, harass, or coerce people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves. Bullies are habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable.”
Whoever wrote that entry must have been looking at a photo of Donald Trump at the time.
In his first few days since becoming president again, Trump has threatened Russia, Panama, Greenland, Canada, Palestine, China, Mexico, and Denmark. These are just some of the nations he’s threatened.
Trump has threatened corporations and individuals. He’s ordered the Justice Department to investigate cities and states that don’t comply with his wishes. Corporations have rushed to eliminate their DEI practices before Trump comes after them. He’s threatened former president Joe Biden and members of the House of Representatives January 6th Commission and previously threatened to imprison Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi.
Most bullies don’t actually want to fight, but Trump doesn’t have to do his own fighting. He has a Justice Department, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the military—none of whom are willing to stand up and say no. He’s been given absolute criminal immunity for “Presidential Acts,” with no one to tell him something is not.
Trump’s conflicts with nations will play out over time. He’ll impose tariffs that will hurt Americans more than the nations he hopes to dominate. His war on immigrants will take a toll. Overturning the Fourteenth Amendment and birthright citizenship by executive order will ultimately fail in the courts, but how many people will have been deported first?
Trump has unleashed his hordes against undocumented aliens. Several American citizens will catch some strays along the way, but he doesn’t care. The price of eggs will continue to rise while he personally males billions from bitcoin ventures, with no one daring to point out his conflict of interest.
What will die under Donald J. Trump is any hope of unifying the country. Trump will continue to pit Americans against Americans along with those from shithole countries. Let the media beware, should they engage in negative reporting about Trump. He previously called for MSNBC to be shut down and even called out Fox News if they don’t do his bidding regularly.
Having a bully in the bully pulpit makes for a meaner country. Look for an increase in violent behavior, especially since Trump pardoned over 1,500 participants in the J-6 insurrection, including those who committed violent crimes or engaged in seditious conspiracy. America has a history of such violence; maybe seeing its return is what he has in mind when he wants to Make America Great Again.
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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Photo credit: iStock.com
“In his first few days since becoming president again, Trump has threatened Russia, Panama, Greenland, Canada, Palestine, China, Mexico, and Denmark. These are just some of the nations he’s threatened.” The Russians? That’s who you think of first? That’s who you feel is in the same boat as Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Panama, Denmark and Gaza. You just can’t seem to say ‘Ukraine’ can you. Russia is not a US ally that Trump is actively and repeatedly talking about annexing- which is more than can be said for Canada, Greenland, or Panama (or, in the case of Gaza, “buying”). Trump is threatening the rest of the world vis-a-vis Russia… Read more »