Please do not refer to Trump as the leader of the free world

Please stop referring to Trump as the leader of the free world. Trump is fast turning the USA into a pariah nation and a bully while destroying freedom in his own country. He is obsessed with consolidating power in his hands by abusing power and conducting a campaign of fear and retribution to shut up his opposition and political adversaries.  His preferred alliances are with other pariahs and bad actors, from Putin to China to even Hungary and Turkey. We are no longer a democracy, but Trump's method of operation resembles the fascist leaders of the 1930s. MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Take the test: is the Trump regime is already a fascist government

There are few of us left alive who realize what living in a dictatorship, communist or fascist, is like or what freedoms are taken away that you once enjoyed. Those who wish for such a dictatorship/strongman/rule by a single or small group/ autocracy/tyrannical king, fascist,  are ignorant fools, even if the wannabe dictator is one making promises of policies you favor. If the dictator fails to deliver, and you object, you, too, will be on his enemies list if you seek any favors from your once-beloved leader.  It is the opposite of what freedom means in a democracy.

Trump's newest example of fear and retribution: find bogus, unrelated to official conduct ways to attack political adversaries to Trump himself, past and present, such as  Letitia James and Adam Schiff. These   Department of Justice actions are designed to make an example of them of what happens if you cross him.  Whether the DOJ succeeds or not, it is the pain they hope to inflict on adversaries with expensive defense and bad propaganda, whether there is any fire causing whatever pretense or any smoke.

 He fancies himself as a strong man and acts like a dictator, issuing executive orders that, on their face unconstitutional, to see how much he can get away with. The trail of court decisions for and against Trump's interests are witness to that. One you count on from the Supreme Court majority 6-0 majority: if the power of the presidency is the issue, decisions will favor giving Trump more power. 

Only one thing may stop him: the stupidity of his judgment on economic policies that could lead to a recession. It certainly is already obvious that his promises for lower prices, fuel, food, and necessities are going to be ignored.  It is certainly not becoming more affordability for those hoping for some relief from the increasingly higher cost of living. Any attempt to present made-up or distorted, or suppressed data will mean nothing if middle America sees and experiences reality themselves.  Tariffs and less access to health care providers are only part of the problem, as fear still lurks of a Trump-made recession.

We are no longer the home of the free and our homeland is full of cowards. How do we know this? To speak out in any way that shows disloyalty to Trump himself, the media, or personal social media postings in the past or present, will get you on his enemies list if you come to the administration, hat in hand, or to redress your grievances or seek a job in his government of even a promotion to flag officer in the military. Loyalty to Trump trumps all. Loyalty to the constitution means nothing to him, but is a barrier to be broken.  A reality check: We are no longer a free country and the home of the brave, but if we speak out, we will have consequences. The brave will do it anyway, or the cowards will dominate the response to a bully, from broadcast media to major law firms and any elected official facing the prospect of a partisan primary. If you dare speak out on the civil rights of migrants or a racial minority who is a fellow citizen, you are now calculating whether you want to take political risks and suffer consequences to your well-being or your family's. That if opposition demonstrations get too powerful, expect a dictator like Trump to claim there is a national emergency where there is none, and send in the military.   That is what it means to be the subject in a country run by a dictator.   We are seeing it happen before our very eyes. 

 It is not too late to fight back and aside from waiting for the economy to collapse,  we can begin by taking back the House in 2026...and for that reason, the Texas gerrymandering dirty trick to distort and steal the vote must be stopped.  If it means fighting fire with fire, I am all in.

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Happy to have Trump act like a strong man leader? Careful what you wish

From a Muftic Forum facebook posting: another test of what is fascism:

It would be easier to look at this list of what fascism is and see which ones do not apply to the current regime. So far, it looks to me he meets all of the criteria...or at least a case can be made. This list is from a earlier post on my blog. Does Trump resemble any of the fascists? He began his political life with "birtherism" to try to delegitimize the first African American president, calling immigrants rapists and murderers and terrorists from the beginning of his campaign and praising white nationalists and militia hate groups as patriots and fine people.., This culminated in January 6 violence mostly fueled by those carrying confederate flags, and neo Nazi symbolistic insignia and banners, Instead of brown shirts of Nazis, in Charlottesville, they were dressed in polo shirts and recently in Arizona crowds awaited the "forensic audit" dressed in mail order camo, waiving weapons of war accompanied by military-like trained dogs., These are who Trump has called patriots and fine people. This is the kind of governance Trump likes and praises. , This is the future of America he favors. He made strides in his first term. Should he be given another chance to take us further down that path?

Are those who support Trump fascists, too? Take the test.

I have seen one provided in 2013, well before Trump's political rise and before the term was applied to Trump supporters or to Donald Trump himself. Dr. Lawrence Britt, an Australian political scientist, wrote "14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism." Those who wonder if they are ideological fascists or object to being called one, take the test and see how many with which you agree. If the shoe fits wear it

Nationalism: saying one's own country is better than other countries

Disdain for human rights

Scapegoating: blaming someone else for the country's problems

Putting the military first

Sexism: saying men are better than women

Control of mass media: telling newspapers and other sources of news what they can and cannot tell the people

Focus on national security

Close ties between religion and government

Protection of businesses and corporations

Suppression of labor power: preventing labor unions from becoming powerful

Disdain for intellectuals and the arts: telling people not to listen to scientists, scholars, and artists

Focus on crime and crimefighting

Corruption

.Fraudulent elections: Even if the people vote, the votes are either not counted or otherwise abused. In some fascist governments, leaders will have their opponents killed. .