Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/power-in-the-people

Comment #4454

2017-01-29T23:46:23Z

President Nixon succeeded in restoring our relations with Communist China in a day when the very idea was considered a major betrayal of Taiwan, which was the only "China" we acknowledged. Consider how much longer it took to normalize relations with Cuba (and we're still working on it), a much smaller and less significant country. If a Democratic president had tried to recognize Red China, the uproar and opposition would have been crazy. But Nixon was a Republican, and could not be accused of being "soft on Communism"—and he made it happen. Whether that was in the end a good idea or a bad one is not the point.

My understanding is the President Clinton similarly accomplished things that Republicans in general supported, which would have met strong opposition coming from a Republican president.

Similarly, I think President Trump is going to end up doing things that would raise a huge Republican outcry from a Democratic president. But IANAP. (I am not a prophet.)

Comment #4453

2017-01-29T23:29:16Z

What is meant by "Nixon-in-China Syndrome?"

Comment #4452

2017-01-29T14:04:55Z

I think you are right, Stephan. Mr. Trump may be an unpleasant person, but he's not a fool. Anyone who says he has no political experience doesn't understand what it takes to succeed in the business world.

I notice that Scott Adams has picked up on the Nixon-in-China Syndrome. I wouldn't be surprised if many knowledgeable Democrats are privately laughing, no matter how appalled they need to appear to their constituencies.

Comment #4451

2017-01-28T19:28:15Z

There may be another way to read what Trump is doing when he announces something crazy and then withdraws it. Scott Adams (yes, the Dilbert creator who's a little too much into alt-right conspiracy theories for my taste) calls it "pacing and leading" - examples here under section 8. (Pacing and leading seems to stem from the pseudoscientific NLP theory/model.) Others just call it shrewd negotiation: brazenly exaggerate with your first offer, and the next offer (which otherwise would also have looked like brazen exaggeration) will sound a lot more reasonable...

In short: let us not underestimate Mr. Trump.

Comment #4450

2017-01-27T15:18:00Z

Let's hope and pray the checks and balances work. I must confess that Mr. Trump as president appalls me. I found him appalling since the beginning of the campaign, because I've read extensively in psychiatry and psychology, (this, apart from the genital grabbing, antiMexican, antiMuslim, and nasty woman comments) and I immediately recognized a tremendous narcissism, like I had never witnessed in a leader during my lifetime. His public discourse was disturbing, and the support of far right groups coupled with the lack of support from important people in his own party added to my discomfort. Then there was the tweeting. And then he became president. He has exhibited delusional behavior (continuing to harbor fixed beliefs regardless of conflicting evidence). And several times, he has annouced things and then withdrawn them (for instance a 20% import tax as a way to pay for The Wall). This shows me somebody who talks before having carefully thought things out. I have found trends that evoke fascism, especially his war on the press. And the list just goes on and on. I am sorry, but I just can't be optimistic. I just hope checks and balances work. But that is not heartening either when his party has control of both House and Senate, and with another conservative Supreme Court appointment that branch of government will also be under his sway... Power to the people, my eye! Heaven help us...