Trumpocalypse

Restoring American Democracy

By: David Frum

Narrated by: David Frum

"I don't take responsibility at all." Those words of Donald Trump at a March 13, 2020, press conference are likely to be history's epitaph on his presidency.

A huge swath of Americans have put their faith in Trump, and Trump only, because they see the rest of the country building a future that doesn't have a place for them. If they would risk their lives for Trump in a pandemic, they will certainly risk the stability of American democracy. They brought the Trumpocalypse upon the country, and a post-Trumpocalypse country will have to find a way either to reconcile them to democracy - or to protect democracy from them.

In Trumpocalypse, David Frum looks at what happens when a third of the electorate refuses to abandon Donald Trump, no matter what he does. Those voters aren't looking for policy wins. They're seeking cultural revenge.

It is not enough to defeat Donald Trump on election day 2020. Even if Trump peacefully departs office, the trauma he inflicted will distort American and world politics for years to come. Americans must start from where they are, build from what they have, to repair the damage Trump inflicted on the country, to amend the wrongs that, under Trump, they inflicted upon each other.

Americans can do better. David Frum shows how - and inspires all listeners of all points of view to believe again in the possibilities of American life. Trumpocalypse is both a warning of danger and a guide to reform that will be read and discussed for years to come.

©2020 David Frum (P)2020 HarperAudio

Outstanding listen

A passionate and heart felt calling for my U.S
brothers and sisters to get that loving feeling back
A great listen from a Great American from Canada 🇨🇦

great post-election listen!

While I was familiar with many of Trump's distressing characteristics and actions, Frum reports both with more detail and background. The book was published in Spring, 2020, and it was enjoyable to hear Frum's many predictions - those that have been realized and others that haven't. Now, I can only hope that Frum's next book makes concrete suggestions about how to coax the Trump loyalists back to belief in facts, reassure them about their place in the US, and improve their financial situations.

Good take on the Trump term.

Well done. As an independent mind who as a fiscal conservative rarely would previously agreed with Frum on much, his take on the vile man who is trump, as well as where the dangers lie now and beyond him are insightful and always eloquently stated. Thanks

Important read 4 anyone who cares about democracy

This is a book written with love of country and love for the Republican party and democracy. This is a must read for anyone thinking to vote for Trump again and for those who understand the damage he and enablers and minions have done to our nation. The party will never be a home for me again, but it reminds of why I was a registered Republican in the first few years of adulthood.

Republicans gave up on democracy a long time ago, when the beliefs of a majority of Americans no longer aligned with theirs and they did not make the shift to the left that Dems made to the right. Since then, they have embarked on an ever more blatant overthrow of democratic rule. Under Trump, it has been completed. Republicans now believe they have the right to rule indefinitely as a minority through obvious efforts to disinfranchise voters by every means possible and to gerrymander as a back up and to appoint justices that will not enforce the voting rights act as yet another backup and with the open threat of violence as the final measure. They believe Dems don't deserve an equal vote or that most should have never been given the right to vote. They have to believe there are millions of illegal immigrants (yes I use that word) voting even though they know it is not true because they have to find a way to square their undemocratic actions with their "we the people" rhetoric. They have to believe that they have been robbed because to admit that their ideas are weak and they they have only held on to power this long through theft . . theft of court appointments and seats at the state as well as federal level because of dirty tricks, cannot comport with their own heroic idea of themselves. They are open to courting foreign interference into our elections and suppressing the vote and they must be stopped. . . . and then, forgiven and brought back into the fold of democracy. Yes, the entire adult Trump family should and hopefully will go to prison and their willful enablers should be ignored an eschewed from society with T's metaphorically branded on their foreheads . . . but the rest of Trump America are our fellow citizens and love us or not, we have to listen to their ideas that make sense and not create a Democratic monster to replace the Trump monster. Don't get me wrong. Things that the vast majority of Americs supports should be done and laws passed over the whining of these right-wing snowflakes (and they will yell that everything is socialism), but we also have to be smart and generous when possible to show them a better way.

Trump's disingenuous presidency

A cogent and thoughtful reminder to all Americans that President Trump is not truly representing your ideals, nor your message. David Frum is a conservative writer who admonishes and reminds his readers that all Trump has brought to the presidency is divisiveness, duplicity, greed and a stoking of tribal and identity politics. Trump is incredibly successful at pointing out what makes his supporters, and frankly, many of his non-supporters mad, but offers no solutions on what can make our country better. Nor does he care. So long as he can “make the libs cry”.

Make no mistake, this is not an anti-Trump book which extols the wonders of liberal political ideals. Indeed, Frum points out that one of the biggest Achilles heels of the Democrats is their misguided position to provide health care for illegal immigrants and their overall lack of attention to promoting meaningful immigration reform. He points this out as much to let them know how the MAGA movement plans to continue to out flank them (or, as Trump would say: “eat their lunch”) as he does really mean that there is a serious problem with immigration which needs to be addressed!

Frum does a great job of pointing out the things that Republicans, who are in the difficult position of defending Trump, are asking everyone to turn a blind eye towards in order to make his ends justify his means. This helped me so much because I often find myself at a loss for words when I run into Trump defenders who ask me why I specifically don’t like Trump. They always have a reason why they DO like Trump: walls to deter illegal immigration, conservative judges, tough talk…. What’s not to like?

Well, here are some examples: While Frum doesn’t believe Trump actively solicited Russian influence in the 2016 election, Trump certainly benefited from it and Trump is certainly not doing anything to discourage it in 2020; nor does he see a reason to since it most likely will benefit him. Frum points out it’s a slippery slope for the US to turn a blind eye to obvious foreign intervention in elections regardless if it supports your candidate or not.
Another: Trump identifies with strongmen and his leadership skills are bellicose and reckless rather than thoughtful and inclusive. Think of your favorite presidents and whom they identified with and their personal demeanor. Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Reagan. Could you imagine Reagan having a so many kind words about Putin or Kim?
Another: Trump’s go-it-alone MAGA approach is antithetical to what the world needs in order to move forward in a positive direction by an economically strong and rule-of-law based country like the United States. The world is crying out for leadership and if it can't get it from the US, it'll get it from somewhere else. Another country, perhaps? China? Russia?
The old adage: If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together. As opposed to Trump’s adage of: you’re either a winner or a loser. What if everyone thought that way? What if the world all thought that way? Hope I’m the winner. Sorry, for you if you’re the loser. Better luck next time… Thoughts and Prayers....

Frum reminds Republicans and Tea Party adherents that the ideals upon which they firmly believe, are not shared by Trump. He’s not fiscally conservative. He doesn’t believe in bringing down the national debt….. He will, however, appoint conservative supreme court justices (remember the Bible photo op in front of St. John’s Church? He was reminding his evangelical supporters of his supreme court nominating track record) and give tax breaks for the wealthy to appease these two major conservative principles. But, at what cost?
Frum essentially asks: do these particular ends justify Trump's means? And, do they justify a permanent change to politics going forward in which we should now expect political candidates to be boisterous, not worry about facts, belittle their opponents as a school-yard bully would, never apologize when found to be wrong (and is never apologizing, even if you know you were wrong, what it means to be a “strong leader”? Try that approach out in your marriage or with your children and let me know how that works for you...), and extol the virtues of known autocrats such as Putin and Kim….. And on and on. At what broader cost are these particular Republican and Tea Party ideals won?

Finally, the book offers a path forward and reminds all of us too that in a world after Trump, much like in the world after the Civil War or World War II, we must ensure there is a place for everyone. The defeated do not do well when they are denounced as “losers” (does that sound like your favorite president: me, tweeting?). Think of the rancor that is borne out of liberal media; much of it comes from them being told that they are “losers” and “enemies of the people”. It ultimately becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The mistake made by seeking and enforcing war reparations after World War I enraged a defeated and demoralized Germany and it’s citizens, and provided a path to nationalism that led directly to World War II. Does anyone see this scenario being replayed?
Trump’s resonating message to those Americans who have felt left behind by it’s prosperity, is a siren call that they must be acknowledged and have an obtainable path to prosperity. Frum points out that if you have a country in which millions of its people feel unappreciated and disaffected, they will dissent and do what they can to destroy it rather than allowing others to possibly even appear to prosper in it.

Impressive Verdict on 45

There are over fifteen Audible audiobooks on Donald J Trump or Trump as the President, only a slender handful are in favor of this man, this Presidency, the rest are hard looks and hard facts on the worst Presidency that this Nation has endure. David Frum looks at what brought this plague and what it is doing to the Nation, at this writing,45 is on the verge of giving commence speech at West Point, what will be said,heaven knows. Mr. Frum's give a incredible analytical look and facts that the Nation has to put up with, missing and I am sure that more writings will be forthcoming about his photo op in front of a church with massive protesting over Mr. George Floyd and his self narcissus that makes up Trump. For the time now, this is a incredible book that Mr. Frum wrote all pointing directly to Trump and the Republican Party, who I believe will be starting their 40 years quest in the desert, to exorcise themselves and the Presidents that have elected, Reagan, The Bushes and Trump. Years from now when a Republican candidate speaks up, he or she will say,"Well yes, we fucked up, but we got our shit together now". Mr.. Frum focuses on what and what have not Trump done to the Nation and openly shows us what can be done, stop once and for all gerrymandering and make Washington DC a state, and other points that that need to be address, if we are to be going forward. One can only image more books will be coming forth,once he leaves office, the inner working with him, his mental state and more from the inner world of Trump's White House, with many will recant their times and blaming it on something other themselves

amazing

loved it.. this is like the third or fourth book that I've listened to regarding our democracy under the Trump administration and it surprises me each and every day that were able to get through this...I feel sorry for the administration who is going to come after this because they have a mess !!!!

Trump More Dangerous Than the Axis of Evil

Trumpocalypse, Restoring American Democracy, written and read by David Frum. If you do not know Mr. Frum, (how can you not if you watch cable tv?). He is the man known as the creator of the Axis of Evil's statement in the George Bush address to Congress. In other words, he is who you would reference as a neo-conservative think tanker. For example, some of these other credentials are a senior editor of the Atlantic, (well not too conservative there), a former Wall Street Journal editorial editor, and a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. An Educated Conservative. A Conservative whose position is thought out and strongly reasoned.

Part One of the book (which is more of a long essay) gives us a stage backdrop for the performance to come in Part Two. Thus, the book starts with a brilliant display of listings of the multitude of in competencies of Trump and his administration and then goes on to explain, in organized detail, just how those bunglings hurt each of us and as a cumulative result, the American way. Frum concludes, Trump’s demonic ways contribute to the derogation of the health of our economic opportunities in this republic and which could result in the diminution of our democratic ways? Frum also gives us brilliant instruction as to how our do right norms, now being debased by our present president is failing the fabric of our society. He explains how we have protected our free system by adhering to norms, which Trump has violated. Now that they are violated, one cannot be sure we will ever get them back. Yes, this president is life-threatening to you individually and universally.

Mr. Frum then explains who the alleged deep state is and reveals its true value is Trump operating within the systems but then sending out his minions to operate against his state systems. Makes no sense here but Mr. Frum’s explanation is better than mine. It is a brilliant analysis and I am not going to tell you more. Read the book. As the book begins its culmination Mr. Frum then turns to the electoral system, explains its character, and its innate weaknesses. Here though he educates but does not predict or suggest a cure for the frailties.

Then part Two of the book. Here Mr. Frum talks about suggested political corrections such as getting rid of the filibuster, statehood to the District of Columbia, adoption of a modern voting rights act, quality of our Congressional representatives, providing healthcare, a proper immigration system.

Enlightening and compelling

Trumpocalypse is incisive, logical and entertaining. The book does a great job of explaining how we get out of this mess. Without being insulting to the average Trump voter.

A conservative worth reading in the age of Trumpism

Mr. Frum has brought such integrity and wisdom to this work, that I cannot think of a more useful book on American politics that I have encountered. It’s succinct and rich. It’s a wonderful education. If the conservative movement in America really reflected as a whole the courage, kindness, rationality and integrity Mr. Frum represents in this book, I might call myself a proud member. Let’s indeed hope for America’s better angels to win the current struggle for power, but it has rarely happened before. The legacy of human beings is overwhelmingly one of injustice, pain, ignorance, and self-importance.