Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump 2.0: The most damaging two weeks in history
The Washington Post ^ | February 4, 2025 1:56 PM EST | Ruth Marcus

Posted on 02/04/2025 12:25:20 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

No president in history has caused more damage to the nation more quickly. As we enter Week 3 of President Donald Trump’s second term, the chaos and disruption of his first look quaint by comparison. The country survived Trump 1. Now, it faces a real threat that the harm he inflicts during his second term will be irreparable. The United States’ standing in the world, its ability to keep the country safe, the federal government’s fundamental capacity to operate effectively — all of these will take years to repair, if that can be achieved at all.

This column will concentrate on the third piece of that trifecta: efforts to undermine the basic functioning of government. A unifying theme of much of Trump’s activity since Jan. 20 has been his unrelenting and broadscale assault on the federal workforce. In his first term, Trump railed about what he termed the “deep state” and its seeming ability to frustrate his plans. In his second, he has unleashed a no-holds-barred attack on career employees — one designed to punish those who dared to counter him or his allies; to oust or neuter those with years of expertise; and to set the stage for a new spoils system, replacing seasoned, nonpartisan career workers with compliant Trump loyalists.

“[Trump] is destroying whatever gets in the way of what he wants to do,” Max Stier, the normally mild-mannered president of the Partnership for Public Service, told me. “That includes having loyalty be the primary screen for choosing his direct lieutenants and crushing the civil service and converting it into a tool for his private agenda, as opposed to a force for the public good and the rule of law.”

Contempt for civil servants — sneering at “unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.” — is not...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: deepstate; enemieslist; enemyjournalist; insurrectionist; ruthmarcus; seditionist; wapo; waposedition; winning
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: FlipWilson
The administrative state is their god.

The Capital is their church.

21 posted on 02/04/2025 12:34:33 PM PST by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Do they use paper still, or is this all digital? Because I want to tell the to shove it....


22 posted on 02/04/2025 12:35:13 PM PST by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Slash your wrists Ruth.


23 posted on 02/04/2025 12:37:32 PM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

That which damages America's domestic enemies is good for America.


24 posted on 02/04/2025 12:38:08 PM PST by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: know.your.why
Pigs squeal for a reason.
25 posted on 02/04/2025 12:38:55 PM PST by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

This country has been under assault from Progressives since Woodrow Wilson. That’s over a hundred years. For Trump to identify the breadth of the problem in only two weeks is probably once of the most important acts of a president since Jefferson bought half of America.


26 posted on 02/04/2025 12:39:00 PM PST by Repealthe17thAmendment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“The most damaging two weeks in history”

Winning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRIB8qWHS-Q


27 posted on 02/04/2025 12:39:40 PM PST by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Uh...its called winning, Ruth. Your side has inflicted more damage to the US than anyone since FDR.

Its being fixed before you unbelieving eyes.

Shut up and enjoy the show.


28 posted on 02/04/2025 12:42:39 PM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Good job, you did indeed fix that statement. 🙂👍


29 posted on 02/04/2025 12:42:43 PM PST by Robert DeLong
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Most damaging to the Democrats” they mean.

Meanwhile, after having to hunker down and take the abuse over the past 4 years, conservatives are flying high and loving every minute of it.

The left and their adoring media haven’t yet found an effective counter-message so they are returning to the old “Trump’s administration is full of chaos and destruction” narrative. It doesn’t seem to be working well thus far since our response is “Hell yeah, that’s what we voted for!”

The only people who read their drivel are the die-hard leftist progressives and people who just want to mock them.


30 posted on 02/04/2025 12:42:57 PM PST by CFW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Hey, Ruth......blow me.


31 posted on 02/04/2025 12:43:03 PM PST by The Sentient Sheep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus

And it could take down Huffington Post, Slate, TYT, Vox and all manner of Lefty news sites. All benefiting from the money Obama gave them through USAID.


32 posted on 02/04/2025 12:43:12 PM PST by RayChuang88 (.FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

DEATH TO THE #ENEMEDIA!


33 posted on 02/04/2025 12:43:43 PM PST by EasySt (Say not this is the truth, but so it seems to me to be, as I see this thing I think I see. #MAGA-A)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CFW
The left and their adoring media haven’t yet found an effective counter-message so they are returning to the old “Trump’s administration is full of chaos and destruction” narrative. It doesn’t seem to be working well

It doesn't work on a lame duck.

34 posted on 02/04/2025 12:44:18 PM PST by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

More proof President Trump is doing an outstanding job!


35 posted on 02/04/2025 12:45:39 PM PST by EastTexasTraveler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Not damaging enough.

I’ve called on the Russians to keep their word ;-)

Then again, it’s only been ‘2 weeks’...


36 posted on 02/04/2025 12:45:40 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum


37 posted on 02/04/2025 12:46:04 PM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Like Rush said, “Good news for America is bad news for Democrats.”


38 posted on 02/04/2025 12:47:52 PM PST by equaviator (If 60 is the new 40 then 35 must be the new 15.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Yep people like her, are in constant meltdown mode, day after day, as new things are happening. They can’t get their footing, as they process and meltdown over one event, Trump keeps coming out with more and more, to keep them off balance.

Chuck Schumer is worried about your beer and guacamole. They are totally confused as to what to do.


39 posted on 02/04/2025 12:48:52 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: The Sentient Sheep

Careful..... she may actually be a he.


40 posted on 02/04/2025 12:49:42 PM PST by LastDayz (A Blunt and Brazen Texan. I Will Not Be Assimilated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson