Garvin - Putin understands weakness. For example, he seeks to hide his own under devastating bombardments of Ukrainian civilians.
Trump's weakness is quite visible. Republican congresspeople could be the check on it - they have more power than Trump but fear to use it. Some fear they'll lose the scraps of influence they gain by being his abettors. Some fear being targets of his retribution because they distrust that their colleagues would join together to rid their party of the interloper (lacking the wisdom of children on a playground who unite to oppose a bully).
A weak old man can continue to abuse power when supported by enough weak comrades in the right positions. It's a weird trick indeed.
Garvin - Putin understands weakness. For example, he seeks to hide his own under devastating bombardments of Ukrainian civilians.
Trump's weakness is quite visible. Republican congresspeople could be the check on it - they have more power than Trump but fear to use it. Some fear they'll lose the scraps of influence they gain by being his abettors. Some fear being targets of his retribution because they distrust that their colleagues would join together to rid their party of the interloper (lacking the wisdom of children on a playground who unite to oppose a bully).
A weak old man can continue to abuse power when supported by enough weak comrades in the right positions. It's a weird trick indeed.