Donald Trump is a Russian asset. He may not know it and he may not believe it. Nevertheless, he is perhaps the greatest foreign asset that Russia and Vladimir Putin have. Tucker Carlson, a mega-media personality and propagandist (I won’t insult real journalists by calling him one), is not far behind.
This is the same Tucker Carlson who thinks the U.S. should “liberate” Canada and who actually addressed a sellout crowd in Alberta to drive his message home.
And yesterday, while real leaders throughout much of the world were decrying the murder of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny, what did Carlson say about that when asked? “Every leader kills people. Some kill more than others. Leadership requires killing people.”
Donald Trump did something extraordinary for him when asked about the killing of Navalny. He kept his mouth shut, perhaps the one time he should have opened it. But no, to do that would have insulted Putin, a “strong leader” whom Trump openly admires.
Another former President, Barack Obama, said this about the death of Alexei Navalny. “He was fearless for his beliefs who died unbroken by the tyranny he opposed. He fought corruption, inspired millions and never wavered in his insistence on free expression, the rule of law and a Russia that is accountable to the people and not to a dictator.”
Vladimir is an evil man. To say that the death of Alexei Navalny is merely a coincidence defies reality. How many opponents of Putin have died in recent years from falling out of windows, blown up in airplanes, killed by radiation or poison, or just plain shot? Coincidence? Uh … no.
Putin has been empowered by the dysfunction in the United States, weakening their influence in global affairs and choreographed primarily not by Joe Biden as many would like to think, but by Donald Trump.
Here is a man, without elected office, whose mental stability is clearly in question, who can control the House of Representatives and tell them what to do.
He has instructed the House not to pass a bipartisan bill with the strongest approach to illegal immigration in decades, simply because he does not want to give Joe Biden a win and is quite happy to have the immigration problem escalate so that he can be seen to deal with it a year from now.
He is also blocking legislation to send more crucially needed relief to Ukraine and Israel, a clear gift to Putin. And to all of this, Republicans who control the House of Representatives say, ‘Yes Sir’. What a bunch of puppets.
Trump has made no bones about supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In fact, he has gone much further than that. He has encouraged Putin to do “whatever the hell he wants” with NATO countries who are behind in their financial support to that body.
Canadian political Strategist Warren Kinsella put it this way: “Trump is not only comfortable with Russia launching an attack on Canada or other NATO countries, he encourages it.”
It is no wonder that Putin feels he can act with impunity when it comes to invading other countries and disposing of anyone who dares to oppose him.
And in the event that we in Canada think we can shrug at all of this, we should listen to John Ivison, Ottawa Bureau Chief for the National Post. “Even the Navalny assassination has not woken our political leaders from their slumber. We are sleepwalking to war and our national debate is dominated by trivialities.” Scary that.
On top of all of this, should be a real concern for Donald Trump’s mental health. The Governor of Illinois, J. B. Pritzker, has captured that concern. “Trump’s comments are becoming increasingly unhinged. We must shine a light on his sick talk of revenge, his dehumanizing language and threat to pull from NATO.”
As well, Judge Arthur Engoron, in his decision related to the Civil Fraud trial of Donald Trump in New York noted, “the defendant’s complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on the pathological.”
When all of this is put together, it is very hard for me to understand how a man like this has at least an even chance of becoming the next President of the United States. It is a clear tug-of-war between democracy and authoritarianism.
Liz Cheney, a Republican, a former member of Congress and a fierce critic of Donald Trump, spoke about authoritarianism on CNN’s State of the Union this morning. “When you think for, example, of Donald Trump pledging retribution, what Vladimir did to Navalny is what retribution looks like in a country where the leader is not subject to the rule of Law. You’ve now got a Putin wing in the Republican Party”.
Is that what American’s really want? Is that what a militarily vulnerable Canada wants as their next-door neighbour?
I know that there will be those who say I am fear-mongering, that Donald Trump isn’t really a bad guy and just says what he says to get attention and doesn’t really mean most of it and the legal troubles he is facing are all trumped up charges. (Pun intended) But sometimes you have to say to yourself, if it walks like a duck and if it quacks like a duck, maybe it really is a duck?
I am not a particular supporter of President Joe Biden. He is a little too far to the left for me. But I do believe, as Republican Senator Mitt Romney has said, that Joe Biden is a decent man and one who has committed much of his life to serving America and the wider world. I do not believe that can be said of Donald Trump. I do think it would be better both for America and Canada if both men stepped aside to allow a generational change for their respective parties.
As things stand, however, the presidential race in the United States this year will be between Trump and Biden.
It is well within the margin of error that a wannabe despot, possibly “unhinged” man, who supports Vladimir Putin, who advocates the invasion of NATO countries and has been convicted of sexual assault and financial fraud with more criminal charges ahead, could once again become President of the United States. A shuddering thought for much of the Western world, including Canada.
If this isn’t the time for a wake-up call, I don’t know what is.
Hugh Mackenzie
Publisher
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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Thank you Mr. Mackenzie for your insightful article.
Mr. Guanciale, Trump has a diagnosable personality disorder and sociopathy. Trudeau, as much as you dislike him, has flaws but not the mental illness and cognitive decline of Trump. (disclosure: I am a retired nurse).
Mary Trump (Donald’s neice) and credentialed psychologist who has known first hand the Trump family of 3 generations, has some insights into his behaviour (e.g. his love of Putin)- much relates to being close to the image and power of wealth. Donald loves to be thought of as a wealthy, successful businessman, whereas his is the ‘Emperor with no clothes’ (see, Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale).
Trump feeds emotionally on the chaos he creates and the adulation from the followers at his rallies. There is no substance, just anger mixed with some undeciperable humour. That adulation he interprets as love.
In response to Paul Kuebler, I see major similarities between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau.
Both believe in nothing but whatever is good and expedient for themselves.
Both are deeply cynical and nihilistic.
Both are incompetent.
Both are selfish, sanctimonious, self-righteous and narcissistic.
Both are deliberately divisive and condescending.
Both were born on third base and think they hit a triple.
Both have a demonstrated history of racism.
The list goes on and on. They’re the same person. One is just more acceptable to “polite society” than the other.
Fact remains, Trump left his country in better shape than Trudeau will leave this one.
A perennial truth: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Good synopsis of the pervasive evil playing out in Russia and the USA. Nancy’s use of Lord Acton’s famous quote from 1887 is bang on-this isn’t a new concept and we all need to be vigilantly aware and to respond accordingly. Paul also notes-when you point a finger at someone, remember you also need to recognize what’s happening in your own backyard, and as Marg says, we all need to be ready to act. We may not have a vote in American politics, but we still have a responsibility to be diligent and call out our own leaders when we see “power corrupting”. Recognize the evil intent and fight against it.
Re comment from Nancy Long:
Those are the words of someone who has given up and they are not helpful in the fight for peaceful change. [pun intended!]
By word, deed and vote we should each call out naysayers and choose the rule of law over chaos. We are pretty comfortable here in this country but we are small and need our allies as they need us. D.T. Trump is an ally to no one but himself and he does a poor job of that in my opinion.
Are we too comfortable to sacrifice some time to consider the greater good of mankind and learn about the issues?
I am Glad to see you can see the Republican far right for what it is, that being an authoritarian regime.
But Hugh, look in your own backyard, do you not see the similarities in the current Ontario premier and the current Federal Opposition leader???
If you don’t see these men as similar, then you too, are blinded by partisan politics.
God help us all.
Paul Kuebler,
Port Sydney
WOW! TDS pill are available at Walmart .. hurry up and get 100! Just remember the AMERICANS will vote .. not you .. on issues, programs, services. border disaster, spending, DEI, Wokeness, cime etc etc as it impacts them and for what THEY bear for consequences and impacts to them …now ..and …if allowed to continue! I find it real funny you give all the current war USA mongers a free pass ..present and past! You give Bill a free pass for his behaviour in the white house! And all Hillary efforts at lying and fake news that has been documented and was truth & fact! Again .. bottom line …at end of day… AMERICANS will vote and YOU will be real upset if your Republican bashing doesn’t sway the AMERICAN vote!
same old thing…..money is power, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. same as it ever was!