Republicans cheer Trump suggestion that the US try having a 'president for life'- congratulates Xi

[Buddha Dharma]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

 

[M83]

The nice thing about the US system is the check and balances that keep that from happening.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

The nice thing about the US system is the check and balances that keep that from happening.

Yes that is nice, but it should still be alarming when the president of a representative republic that employs democracy says such things.

 

[M83]

Yes that is nice, but it should still be alarming when the president of a representative republic that employs democracy says such things.

I agree but at this point I just roll my eyes at what he says and move on. We survived bad presidents before and we will again.

 

[Revoltingest]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

I think you should worry about this.
You know how Trump always does what he says.

 

[Father Heathen]

Yes that is nice, but it should still be alarming when the president of a representative republic that employs democracy says such things.

And it's even more alarming when a sizable portion of the public applauds him for it.

 

[siti]

This has to be the strongest argument against gun control! "Give it a shot"? Indeed!

 

[RedDragon94]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No

Now we want to pattern ourselves after China.

 

[Twilight Hue]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

It sounded like dry humor to me.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I agree but at this point I just roll my eyes at what he says and move on. We survived bad presidents before and we will again.

I'm waiting for President Oprah.

 

[sun rise]

I think you should worry about this.
You know how Trump always does what he says.

A cogent question is how one knows that a liar is not lying. His M. O. has been to demand adulation from those close to him and that strikes me as accurately reflecting his desires for ever more.

This has to be the strongest argument against gun control!

It's a bit of a digression, but your post reminded me of the greatest success in gun control came when this was the "face" of open carry

 

[M83]

I'm waiting for President Oprah.

Still waiting on The Govenator to become president.

 

[Falvlun]

I always give Trump the benefit of the doubt. “There’s no way it’s that bad in context.” And then I read the context, and I see that it’s worse. So much worse.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Still waiting on The Govenator to become president.

Too bad he wasn't born here. He could always cough up a birth certificate though.
Wink wink, nudge nudge.....

 

[Stevicus]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

Well, I guess they'd have to repeal the 22nd Amendment, but that's not likely to happen. I remember there were a few idle proposals in that direction when Reagan was in his second term and some of his fans didn't want it to end. But it wouldn't be a president for life. He'd still have to run for election every four years and win. FDR was the closest we ever came to having a president for life.

I can see a case being made for the idea, using arguments similar to making the Supreme Court justices lifetime positions. That was so they could be free of having to run for re-election, so they would not be subjected to the vagaries of public opinion or the political pressures within the system. I can't say I've ever been all that keen on the idea, but I don't think we should ever have a president for life. I can't see it ever happening.

I can't really say much about Trump's comments; maybe he was just joking. With all the talk about trade wars lately, maybe it's just his way of lightening things up a bit. Who knows? Psychoanalyzing the president's words and actions seems to be a favorite pastime, although it seems more an exercise in futility.

But if America ever does have a president for life, we probably wouldn't stop there. We'd have an Emperor.

Or, to borrow another piece of fiction, this could be shaping up like 1984, with Xi as the leader of Eastasia, Putin as the leader of Eurasia, and Trump as the "Big Brother" of Oceania. They will be the "Big Three" of the future. Larry, Moe, and Curly.

 

[fantome profane]

If Obama had made the same joke the right would have exploded. Certain members of the board would still be complaining about it.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Still waiting on The Govenator to become president.

After ruining my state I hope he just fades into oblivion.

 

[Mindmaster]

If Obama had made the same joke the right would have exploded. Certain members of the board would still be complaining about it.

Or, just be endlessly amused that Trump made a joke, some other people took it seriously, and therefore another joke is happening.

 

[idav]

President Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday.

Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a luncheon for Republican donors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently consolidated power. Trump told the gathering: “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.”

Source: Trump says maybe U.S. will have a president for life someday

I'm sure Trump saying that is just being misinterpreted though, right?

What is it going to take for people to see how dangerous this man actually is? He just praised authoritarian maneuvering and implied it's worth trying. He said Xi's actions are good.

More authoritarian remarks, not surprising, I doubt he is joking, Trump is too consistent with facist rhetoric. I don’t find it amusing but plenty of authoritarians no doubt love to hear the possibilities of being more like China.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

More authoritarian remarks, not surprising, I doubt he is joking, Trump is too consistent with facist rhetoric. I don’t find it amusing but plenty of authoritarians no doubt love to hear the possibilities of being more like China.

Yeah I really don't find it funny either, but plenty of people do apparently. So much so, that they don't pay attention to anything he says or does. That isn't a good thing.