No DEI For Republicans

Republicans have been complaining for years that higher education in the U.S. is too liberal and has been treating conservative scholars and students badly.

They want to see more conservative faculty, students and administrators in higher education.  They want more respect for conservative thought and policies.  They want a full seat at the table.

Sorry Republicans, that sounds like DEI. 

Why The Hell Destroy Harvard?

Why the hell is Trump trying to destroy Harvard?  His purported reason is that they haven't done enough to suppress antisemitism on campus.  Of course that is bullshit.  Just  another of Trump's continuous string of  lies. 

Does Harvard have some problems?  Name one institution that doesn't have some.  Are some Jewish students feeling uncomfortable on campus?  Well of course.  Jews have faced prejudice for millennia.  They may be facing more now because of the current war in Gaza.  I deplore antisemitism, but I also deplore Israel's current actions in Gaza.   

Antisemitism is not a justification for the multiple actions Trump is taking against Harvard.  What is Trump really trying to accomplish by going after Harvard?  My guess he wants to show Harvard (and all of us and the world) that he has power over everyone and everything.  Harvard is a widely respected institution and Trump wants to make sure that even they have to kneel to him.  He really does want to be king of the world.

Higher education in the U.S. is the envy of the world.  Many of the worlds best scholars and researchers want to work at Harvard.  The most talented students from around the world want to study at Harvard.  Harvard is a power house of research and an engine of academic advancement.  Harvard's affect on the economy and health of the world is tremendous. 

Yet Trump seems to relish the idea of destroying the institution and its on-going research.  He wants to make Harvard less appealing to foreign researchers and students.

Why is he doing this?  If Trump destroys Harvard or brings the institution to its knees, will antisemitism be decreased?  I don't think so.

The fact that Trump is trying to destroy for no valid reason just shows how significant his mental decline is.

Trump Is Not Presidential And Is Getting Worse

I'm having trouble putting the word "President" in front of Trump.  I know he won the election, but practically every day he does something that is clearly not presidential.

He seems to be working very hard to destroy this country.  I'm not sure why.  My guess is there are four impulses that are driving him.  

First, he is a narcissist  He only cares about himself. He does not care about anyone else except to the extent he can use them to bolster his ego or increase his wealth.  His obvious corruption and lawlessness doesn't bother him as long as it helps him. He is deeply flawed psychologically.

Second. as has been pointed out by many people, he is transactional.  He makes decisions on what to do or say by calculating what the most beneficial action would be for him personally in that particular moment.  It is reported that he doesn't read his daily intelligence briefings.  We have to depend on him to keep us, the country and the world safe, but he shows no interest protecting anyone or anything except himself.

His transactional method of governing explains his most significant and obvious personality trait, constant lying.  If Trump says something, there is a better than even chance he is lying.  That is why he can say something and then soon after say the exact opposite.  Both of the contradicting statements were true to him when he said them; even if the first true statement was reversed later.   

Trump never admits a mistake.  So you won't hear an apology or a reason.  He feels it would be weak to admit a mistake.  He only admits to a mistake when doing so would benefit him.  And even then he will claim that the mistake was caused by someone else.

Trump continually violates his oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".  He has dismantled important independent agencies such as the  Department of Justice and the FBI.  He neutered the legislative branch and he is trying to destroy the judiciary.  He insults and alienates our  allies.  He is trying to destroy important institutions such as Harvard for seemingly no reason.

Third, Trump can hold a grudge for a long time. Trump promised to be the president for everyone in the country, not just the people who voted for him.  That is clearly not the case.  The pardoning of January 6th rioters is a good example.  Another is his actions that benefit states or groups he considers part of the MAGA movement while trying to hurt states or groups that are not MAGA.

Fourth, Trump's mental condition is declining rapidly.  Republicans have been making a lot of noise about Joe Biden's mental health while he was in office.  I wonder if any Republicans are thinking about how and when they are going to be faced with removing Trump from office?  My guess is they are hoping for some health issue bad enough that it is obvious he can no longer perform his duties as president (as if he ever has actually performed like a president).

Trump was never fit to be president in his first term and he is much worse this time around.  

I worry that without some help from Republicans Trump will irreparably damage our  country before we can vote in a Democratic legislative majority next November.  And that assumes enough voters wake up and see how dangerous Trump is.