Still, it's disconcerting to read a Woodward book that reveals a presidency just as malignant and dysfunctional as the Nixon administration, although in different ways. I confess that I didn't expect to see two presidents with such monumental character flaws twice in my lifetime. If I didn't know better I would think there's something wrong with the Republican Party that it keeps electing these people.
There are many differences between the two men, starting with Trump's frightening lack of preparation, intellect and general knowledge by comparison with Nixon. But on a character level, they show similar flaws. Trump lacks Nixon's sometimes maudlin sentimentality and Nixon didn't manifest the grandiose self-regard that Trump uses to mask his insecurities. But both presidents have a petty, mean vindictive streak and a fetish for never showing "weakness." And both will be remembered for a total lack of normal human empathy.
Nixon's flaws in that regard are well-known. The man mastered politics and policy but he was a cold fish. The fact that he climbed as high as he did with such a prickly personality was a testament to his perseverance and ambition. But Donald Trump is something else again. His inability to care about anything but himself is so glaring and obvious that it's pathological.
It out of place for a torah website to constantly criticize a sitting president .
ReplyDeleteHilarious biumois, Dinah dimalchusah , chayav bishloim malchus kahanah rabois etc
wild chazir running around Rome, yemach shmam, on day after Tisah b'Av
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/12/romans-afraid-walk-dog-take-kids-swings-wild-boar-encroach-capital/
wow a new Torah concept
ReplyDeleteתהלים פ יד
ReplyDeleteיְכַרְסְמֶנָּה חֲזִיר מִיָּעַר וְזִיז שָׂדַי יִרְעֶנָּה.
אבות דרבי נתן, פרק ארבעה ושלושים, ד
יכרסמנה חזיר מיער - זה מלכות רומי.