Trump Takover - PBS Frontline tonight

[question everything]

or, check local listing

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/trumps-takeover/

[nmgaucho]

1. I lost faith in the American electorate after 2016

How the people that voted for him couldn't see through his BS is beyond reason.

[question everything]

2. I think that for many him not being an ideologue was a plus

And many were hoping that once he took office he would "pivot." Even I thought that if the Republicans were to win - as often happen after two terms of the opposing party - that he was better than Cruz. He used to be pro-choice, he believed in taxing the rich, he suggested a Canadian style health care. Being a New Yorker was better than being a Dixicrat.

But instead of getting a person who could at least think, ask questions, be open to other opinions - as we've seen glimpses - we ended up with a thin skin self centered adolescent surrounded by mean spirited individuals with their own agenda like Bannon, Miller, Navarro.

[a kennedy]

4. and the drain the swamp shit......ugh, what the hell does that even mean??

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. "drain the swamp" was probably three words ...

... tested by Cambridge Analytica for the effect on voters. It's meaningless, yet seems to be a good political position.

I'm starting to think that all those stupid nicknames he had for opponents (crooked Hillary, little Marco, lyin' Ted Cruz) were all pre-planned and tested before being put into his script.

[elocs]

3. "How the people that voted for him couldn't see through his BS is beyond reason."

How many people from the Left couldn't be bothered to vote in the swing states, or couldn't be bothered to vote for the one and only person who could have stopped Trump from ever becoming president?

[misanthrope]

7. Same. It has thoroughly upended my faith

I've realized for decades that a great deal of my fellow citizens abrogated their duties to themselves and their fellow Americans when it came to the electoral process. Considering how many adults I've encountered in my life who are emotionally arrested in adolescence, it wasn't entirely surprising.

But to consider that so many could be convinced to vote for such a transparent con artist, someone whose inadequacies and dangerous traits have been on full public display for decades, well, that's shattering. It makes me wonder how many Americans actually want the responsibilities of self-governance.

[renate]

5. thank you!

These are unreal times. I can't wait until documentaries like this are in the past tense instead of the present.

[question everything]

6. First part I thought: oh, if Trump legacy is destroying the Republican party

I'll take it.

But by the end - he took over it.

Really scary.

Can't wait for next January when we take control of the House.

And, I hope, in contrast to the Republican missing the replacing the ACA, I hope that our side is ready with all the articles of impeachments. With proof.

[question everything]

9. Wonder whether Ryan watched it and realized how humiliating it was for him

to be cowered by the teabaggers and to realize how his beloved party is now Trump's.

[renate]

10. he looked pathetic. the other one I really thought looked terrible was Orin Hatch

Good grief, what was that with the "greatest presidency of all time" crap at the tax-cut ceremony? That was just weird and unnecessary.