A man named Philip Terzian argued in the NYT a few days ago that Donald Trump really isn’t that different than his predecessors. He finds Trump’s domestic policy to be consistent with standard GOP fare, his foreign policy to be rooted in Taft era thought, and his pugnacious tweets to be essentially similar to combative statements from the two Roosevelts. Is he right?
Not really, because he omits several Trumpian qualities that are truly unique:
1. His dark view of America;
2. His complete lack of interest in telling the truth;
3. The numerous ways in which he is unapologetically corrupt;
4. His overwhelming egotism;
5. His rejection of any concept of public service;
6. His rejection of expert advice in favor of messages from his ample gut; and
7. His rejection of liberal democratic norms both at home and abroad, and his enthusiastic embrace of dictators.
There is no precedent in American history for any of this. None whatsoever. Terzian is kidding himself.