Is Trump a "Fifth Columnist"?

[tikka]

Trump's rhetoric of bad-mouthing our institutions and inflaming a segment of the population that feels it has been disenfranchised has the earmarks that fit a Fifth Column agenda. By casting doubt on integrity of elections, military commanders, intelligence agencies, the legitimacy of the president, and more, he has gone beyond simple political disagreement.

Whether or not his ties/debts to Russia have any bearing on this is speculation (and there is a good chance they do), his calling for Russian hackers to find Hillary's emails was beyond the pale. Whether he or Manafort softened the RNC platform about the Ukraine is another questionable action. But these actions seem secondary.

If Trump is a Fifth columnist, his real intent is self serving. He would tear down the country just to appease his need for attention and feed his ego.

[63splitwindow]

1. As I just asked in another new thread...

At what point does the Con's (and his Russian backers') efforts go from beng classified as an election campaign into being an attempt to overthrow the United States Government by any means necessary?

[jaysunb]

6. +1 n/t

[misterhighwasted]

3. He has all the markers. I say "if it walks like a.." It is.

A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group—such as a nation or a besieged city—from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or nation. The activities of a fifth column can be overt or clandestine. Wikipedia

The term was originally used by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the Spanish Civil war. In 1936, Mola was preparing to attack Madrid, and he described his strategy to a journalist. He had four columns of troops for the attack, and he was expecting a "fifth column" to appear inside the city to act subversively against the Republican government from within.

The term has come to common use, and it refers to a group of secret sympathizers of the enemies of the state who engage in espionage or sabotage within the borders of the state.

[EricMaundry]

4. Trump is Putin's poodle

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. K&R "send in the clowns!"