re: #363 Teddy’s Person

I think Trump is the culmination of two specific attitudes toward government and the presidency promoted by Republicans (and too many Democrats). The government should be run like a business and the idea that the president has to be someone you’d grab a beer with.

Yeah I’ve heard both of those for a long time. Romney was fond of echoing the former and W Bush was the poster child for the latter. I think government has a positive role to play in our greater society. The big problem with Trumpism is I think this rise of cult of personality in American politics. Obviously it’s not new but it’s the “Me alone” attitude that Trump promoted and to another extent it’s what greatly alienated me about Sanders’ style of campaign too. I really like that Biden is a career legislator. He understands how important the independence of the branches of government are to each other. I always thought that separation of powers was among the Founders’ greatest legacy. But tbh with Trump, I don’t even get what’s likable about him. Bush I could see it. And I never thought Romney’s business experience was practical to running a country. Running a country is totally different than running a business. I hope I enver hear that again after Trump “businessman” and W Bush (MBA) have led the nation to two recessions.