Too Dumb to be a Dictator?

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

John Bolton has served as a controversial foreign policy operative in two administrations, first as George W. Bush's Ambassador to the United Nations, a position for which he was unable to win Senate confirmation so instead served in the position for nearly a year and a half as a "recess appointment," and later as Donald Trump's National Security Adviser where he also served for a little less than a year and half.   Bolton is a foreign policy hawk, and The Economist called him "the most controversial ambassador ever sent by America to the United Nations."

Bolton's dynamic personality and hardline foreign policy beliefs began to clash with Trump's dynamic personality and spasmodic foreign policy actions, and eventually he either voluntarily offered his resignation (according to Bolton) or was fired (according to Trump), and their bromance ended abruptly in September of 2019.  Since that time Bolton has spoken harshly of Trump in his book, "The Room Where it Happened," and also labeled the January 6, 2021, insurrection as an attempt by Trump to overthrow the US government.

John Bolton remains out of favor with the American left, and he is certainly on Trump's shit list.   Perhaps that is why the political extremist without a country this week sought release of his pent-up rage at Trump through the foreign press.  Bolton recently sat for an interview with the French news outlet, Le Figaro, in which he cut loose on Donald Trump's quest for absolute power.

Le Figaro asked John Bolton if Trump has tendencies that mirror dictators currently in power whom Trump has praised, people like Putin and Kim Jong-un, or, put another way, is Trump a potential dictator?  Bolton's answer was scathing.   He said that Trump "hasn't got the brains" to operate a dictatorship, before adding, "He's a property developer for God's sake!"

Ouch!  That had to hurt!

However, I don't think that John Bolton is necessarily correct.

Donald Trump may be a glorified slumlord, but he knows how to manipulate the under-educated and embittered masses, and he also surrounds himself with hardened ideologues and people whose vested interests are (like Trump's) in themselves and their own well-being, and not necessarily the best interests of the nation.   Trump may not be smart or energetic enough to run a competent dictatorship, but he will have a whole host of fascist and racist rats racing around the White House and constantly massaging his ego who are fully adept pulling the levers of power in a manner that would make the Third Reich proud.

Trump doesn't have to be in charge for a dictatorship to take over the nation, hell, he doesn't even have to be competent.  He just has to go play golf and stay out of the way.  His staff will tell him what to sign, and where, and when to rage, and about what.  And somebody will take care of his make-up, like they do now, and someday he will croak and Trump II can step up - and the staff can run his dictatorship, too.

North Korea won't have anything on us!

Glory days!