Marco Rubio seems to be the only one that is a classical Republican, but he isn't Molotov enough for Trump. I assume Trump took him as to please the GOP crowd that "everything is fine, it's as business as usual". Yet just like Stalin, Trump wants and needs a Molotov as a secretary of state: a person who uses his brain only to repeat the line that his dear leader wants him to say, not a "bright mind" that would come up with thoughts and plans like some Kissinger. Above all, not a guy that would "explain" his leader behind his back and tone down what the leader wants... just as Rubio is now doing.

Trump really would like Molotov.

The Cult of the Bully

Let's do what the Israeli have been trying to do for decades...

I've been thinking lately about how Stalin took over. He started by quietly making lists of people to target.

But where the comparison ends (for now) is that Trump and Musk haven't done anything that hasn't been wildly popular with voters, and frankly, I like it.

I think they should have left the tariffs on Mexico to discourage American industries from having their manufacturing done right across the border, for instance in Juarez.

I love watching the USAID debacle unfold. It proves a few things.

The whole intersectional and progressive grip on culture throughout the world is largely astroturfed, payed for by American tax-payer dollars. It is forced; there is nothing organic about it.

Americans have been thanklessly funding foreign NGOs, media, Universities, and subsidizing the aid of other wealthy countries, like Australia.

Hidden beneath the facade of humanitarian benevolence is routine imperialism. “Experts” who lament a lack of access to such a piggy bank are now fearful China will step in to fill the void.

This will be his best executive order yet:

I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!

This will be his best executive order yet: — NOS4A2

I absolutely agree this cannot be topped.

On the other hand, this "Truth" Social post puts his abject stupidity on full display:

"20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT”

Hidden beneath the facade of humanitarian benevolence is routine imperialism — NOS4A2

That's true. But Americans are still giant do-gooders, so the flow of private aid will continue.

From what little I've seen not much of the "aid" part has been cut from the program, and both Trump and Rubio like the idea of foreign aid. Except not much of USAID is aid, as far as I can tell, save for the clever acronym. Hopefully we'll get to see a full audit.

DOGE shares some of their cuts on X.com:

From what little I've seen not much of the "aid" part has been cut from the program, — NOS4A2

Oh. I thought they stopped almost all foreign aid. They didn't?

Not according to them, at least.

What type of funding is permitted to move forward?

The original order, dated January 24, 2025, contained several important exceptions, including “emergency food assistance,” and outlined the process to secure additional exceptions. Requests were reviewed and, where needed, approved within hours. Subsequently, the Secretary approved a broad waiver on January 28, 2025, for humanitarian aid, which is defined as “life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.”

https://www.state.gov/prioritizing-americas-national-interests-one-dollar-at-a-time/

I love watching the USAID debacle unfold. It proves a few things.

The whole intersectional and progressive grip on culture throughout the world is largely astroturfed, payed for by American tax-payer dollars. It is forced; there is nothing organic about it.

Americans have been thanklessly funding foreign NGOs, media, Universities, and subsidizing the aid of other wealthy countries, like Australia.

Hidden beneath the facade of humanitarian benevolence is routine imperialism. “Experts” who lament a lack of access to such a piggy bank are now fearful China will step in to fill the void.

What you describe was the post war settlement. It worked ok for a few decades, until it ran out of steam as a result of the rise of China.
Now the US is committing Hari kari as a response and geopolitics is again in flux.
Fortunately Russia was broken before Trump’s second term, or things would be far worse now.
For me now the question is, will the new world order have two, or three competing superpowers? And will the US be one of them?

"On Thursday, at a federal courthouse in Washington state, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour—an 84-year-old Ronald Reagan appointee—delivered a striking rebuke to Trump’s assault on birthright citizenship. Speaking from the bench, Coughenour declared: “It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. Nevertheless, in this courtroom, and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.” He then issued a nationwide injunction prohibiting the administration from denying birthright citizenship to the children of immigrants for the duration of the litigation."
--https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/federal-judge-birthright-citizenship-donald-trump-ignore-law.html

As a businessman, Trump treated contracts, and laws, as inconveniences. It's no surprise he'd continue this as President.

But since he was re-elected after what he pulled in Jan 6, it appears that large swaths of Americans don't care about rule of law either.

People care a lot about the rule of law as it pertains to their situation. Those who believe that the election was stolen from Trump in 2020 saw the system as failing and that vigilante reaction was a reasonable response.

That is a different kettle of fish from looking at Trump's past treatment of contracts and creditors. In NYC, he lost the ability to do deals as his word became null. He found a bigger aquarium to urinate within afterwards.

But since he was re-elected after what he pulled in Jan 6, it appears that large swaths of Americans don't care about rule of law either. — frank

Not necessarily. 60-70% of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen, and therefore Trump was justified in trying to remedy that situation.

I don't have statistics, but it appears to me that few Republicans understand that Trump committed obstruction of Justice during the Mueller investigation and in the documents case. Many also deny that he sexually assaulted E Jeane Carroll, and that it was therefore fine to defame her for her "lies".

It also seems that many are unaware of, or deny his guilt, at his various fraudulent activities (Trump U, Trump foundation, real estate valuations, and election fraud), or they consider the crimes minor.

So...some voters may actually respect rule of law, but are in denial about Trump. Of course, I expect that many believe that "Rule of Trump" is a greater good than rule of law.

Not necessarily. 60-70% of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen, and therefore Trump was justified in trying to remedy that situation. — Relativist

That would mean 30-40% of Republicans plus a mass of independent voters don't care about rule of law. I think it's actually higher than that.

That would mean 30-40% of Republicans plus a mass of independent voters don't care about rule of law. I think it's actually higher than that. — frank

I see your point.

Came across this (4 pages), some of which ring true today:

“The Danger of American Fascism,” Henry Wallace (1944)

Your mileage may vary.

^{Some other snippets/sources:
• America, Fascism, and God: Sermons from a Heretical Preacher (2005) by Davidson Loehr
• American fascists: the Christian Right and the war on America (2006/7) by Chris Hedges (pdf)
• Christianity - Christianity and Fascism (2007) by M D Magee
• Did FDR's Vice-President Write an Op-Ed About 'American Fascism'? (2018) by Arturo Garcia
• Am I My Brother’s Keeper? : Local and Global Responsibility in the Digital Age (2020) by David Gethings}

That would mean 30-40% of Republicans plus a mass of independent voters don't care about rule of law. I think it's actually higher than that.

Maybe they think it’s corrupt, therefore can’t be trusted.
There’s also this thing where they know that what Trump does is wrong and there will be some economic pain etc. But it’s necessary to make American great again, or to break out of the malaise.

I'm sure all of that is part of the picture. Embracing rule of law takes a lot of trust in society and government. Where that trust has eroded, it's natural that alternatives become attractive.

Maybe they think it’s corrupt, therefore can’t be trusted. — Punshhh

They do, but IMO it's because of their faith in Trump. Trump's defense of his crimes entails blaming the system. It's reminiscent of OJ insisting LAPD conspired to get him. The difference is that OJ didn't sell this to the public like Trump does. In his supporters minds, Trump can do no wrong - so they embrace the ridiculous deep state conspiracy theory against him. The GOP assists by pushing the alleged weaponization of the DOJ.

Which crimes are those again?

Thanks for proving my point.

You say “crimes” plural but refuse to name one. That’s because all you got is the trumped-up Bragg charges, and now you can say he’s a felon because his accountant wrote “legal expenses” instead of “hush money”, a charge so laughable it puts everything into perspective. So horrific are Trump’s crimes in the perversion of anti-Trump mythology that you let yourself use OJ Simpson as an analogy.

The kleptocracy is falling apart, one day at a time:

ROFL! Apparently amnesia is one of the disorders contributing to the denial of his crimes. We've discussed various of Trump's crimes in the past, and you just deny the evidence and echo whatever nonsense the criminal has said.

A few posts back I mentioned a few of the prominent crimes: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/966696

Civil cases misconstrued as criminal ones. Why won’t you tell the truth and say he lost some lawsuits, I wonder? Amnesia?