By Tom Burke
It’s reported Donald Trump doesn’t read much, if at all. While his TV habits are well-known (All Fox, All The Time), it’s said he’s not much of a bookworm — maybe some briefing bullet points to match his short attention span — but not much more.
Well, here’s breaking news: West Wing leakers say the President’s favorite, only-read-and-highlighted tome is, no surprise, the apocryphal “Dictatorship for Dummies”; as opposed to his now, real, most unfavorite-book (the one-he-really-wants-to-burn-or-at-least-ban): “Fire and Fury,” by Michael Wolff.
Yep. “Dictatorship for Dummies” is a White House “must read.”
Trump was asked about his reading habits by Fox “not-fake-news” journalist Tucker Carlson.
And when Carlson asked, “Mr. President, what do you do at the end of the day? What do you read, what do you watch?” Mr. Trump answered, “Well, you know, I love to read. Actually, I’m looking at a book, I’m reading a book — I’m trying to get started.”
(Reportedly there was “B” roll tape of Trump claiming he read to his children … but quit after they asked for “Pinocchio,” as he feared embarrassment his nose might grow every time he lied, just like the little wooden-headed boy’s.)
Now, while “Dictatorship for Dummies” resembles Jay Ulfelder’s article “Dismantling a Democracy in the 21st Century,” this mythical “How To” is more prescriptive, explaining precisely how to upend 242 years of American tradition, law and practice; and was beta-tested by some of Trump’s favorite world leaders.
It starts with attacking the media. And Trump’s constant bleating about “fake news,” threats to journalists’ White House access (unless their name is Michael Wolff, who apparently had unlimited access, but probably doesn’t any more), and “cease and desist” letters to Wolff’s publisher and Steve Bannon, clearly show he’s following the book’s template to neuter, if not kill, the First Amendment.
Unfortunately, his minions often misfire:
Sean Spicer missed the bullseye (but not the bull%*#) explaining Trump’s Inauguration “Crowd-is Envy” and why Trump’s was bigger than Obamas. (It wasn’t.)
And Sarah Sanders shot herself in both feet when she said, “The president believes in making sure that information is accurate before pushing it out as fact,” after saying, when Trump retweeted fake anti-Muslim videos pushed by neo-nazi Brits, that accuracy didn’t matter.
I’m skipping over the chapter on “Attacking Minorities and Scapegoating Foreigners,” although Trump hasn’t; as well as prosecuting old political opponents and voter suppression, two more chapters he’s studied.
However, another chapter, on efforts to stack federal courts, is worth a quick look:
One of his nominees, Mathew Peterson, when asked about his judicial experience, fell flat on his … face.
Have you tried a jury trial?” A Republican Congressmember asked him.
“I have not,” Peterson replied.
“Have you ever argued a motion in federal court?”
“No,” he responded.
Petersen confessed he’d never done a bench trial, any civil or criminal cases in federal or state court, and couldn’t explain the Daubert standard, regarding the admissibility of expert testimony, among other legal terms.
“Ah, shoot!” was Donald’s reported reaction after Petersen, and two other equally unqualified nominees, withdrew.
A key question about self-help books is, “Do they work?”
“Dictatorship for Dummies” got raves from some of the world’s “best” dictators (and Trump’s favorite leaders):
Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine President, said he learned a lot, especially about human rights: “Forget the laws on human rights. … You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I’d kill you. I’ll dump all of you into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there.” (He has.)
Vladamir Putin, Russia’s strongman, reported success attacking media critics: Russia is the seventh-most dangerous country for journalists to work in. As did Xi Jinping, the leader of Communist China, after his country was identified as “the world’s worst jailer of journalists” in 2014 and 2015.
Now understand this: our Clown in Chief, while morbidly entertaining, is a dangerous man. His ignorance, temperament, greed and narcissism puts our country at great, great risk.
He tweets the unstable leader of a nuclear power that, “Mine’s bigger than yours;” ignores cyber attacks, creates havoc in the Middle East, diddles with the environment, sabotages health care, and mucks about with taxes.
And those closest to him are as frightened as we are, questioning, according to Wolff, his elemental fitness for office:
Rex Tillerson called Trump a moron. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus both labeled him an idiot. Gary Cohn said he was “dumb as ****.” National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster alleged he was a dope. And Rupert Murdoch, an early Trump supporter, said, “What a ****ing idiot.”
“Dictatorship for Dummies” may not be a real book, but Donald Trump’s threat to America is real. And simply hoping Republican Sen. Bob Corker was wrong when he called Trump’s White House, “an adult daycare center” isn’t enough, because the “child” in the West Wing isn’t playing with toys, he’s playing with our lives.
Tom Burke’s email address is t.burke.column@gmail.com.
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