It is, but of course, the popular, ever-present thing to do in the liberal media.
And that would be?
Branding President Trump as an “authoritarian” and wannabe dictator.
Here’s but a handful of headlines and news reports to the point:
Here’s this beauty from The Hill:
Trump’s military occupation of LA is just the beginning
The story reports:
President Trump’s sharp descent into authoritarianism in Los Angeles has bent our collective reality like a funhouse mirror. On Monday, the president authorized deploying another 2,000 National Guard troops to the chaos-stricken city, adding to the 2,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines he already activated. The scene now looks more like Kirkuk than the West Coast.
From Newsweek:
Trump Meets Every Criteria for an Authoritarian Leader, Harvard Political Scientists Warn
Trump Is an Authoritarian. So Are Millions of Americans
Trump’s Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent
On and on-and on and on - goes this “Trump is an authoritarian and wannabe dictator” line from the liberal media.
It’s ridiculous, of course. Trump has been duly elected in a thorough going democratic election - and twice at that. And as with every other President, Trump’s actions as President are subject to checks and balances supplied by the Constitution, the Congress and the Courts.
And of particular amusement along this line is that those liberal media types who say it seem to have no idea of American history and how what they are saying sounds when applied - or more accurately not applied - to old chapters of history liberals so love. Examples?
Back there in 2013, an Alabama publication ran this headline after looking back in Alabama history fifty years to 1963. The headline:
Kennedy federalized National Guard to integrate Alabama public schools (Sept. 10, 1963)
The story reported:
"SEPTEMBER 10, 1963 -- President John F. Kennedy federalized the 17,000 member Alabama National Guard to allow black students to attend nine previously all-white schools in Birmingham and across the state.
"Governor Wallace has refused to respect either the law or the authority of local officials. For his own personal and political reasons -- so that he may later charge Federal interference -- he is desperately anxious to have the Federal Government intervene in a situation in which we have no desire to intervene," Kennedy stated.”
The Franklin Roosevelt era was a very long time ago (1933-1945), but in the day the “authoritarian” label raised its head for sure. Over there at The Future of Freedom Foundation was this on FDR, written mere days after Trump was elected the first time in 2016. It reads:
As the left continues to decry the authoritarian tendencies of President-elect Trump, they conveniently forget those of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who they continue to extol as one of America’s greatest presidents. Even though FDR’s authoritarian actions took place more than 80 years ago, they have had a lasting impact on the American people and American society.”
Just think about only one of the things that FDR did: He nationalized and confiscated the gold-coin holdings of the American people, replacing them with irredeemable and devalued paper bills and notes. It’s difficult to get more authoritarian than that, especially considering that gold coins had been the official money of the American people for more than a hundred years.
Conveniently forgetting is decidedly an accurate description of the liberal view on presidential authoritarians.
Back there in 2018, today liberal historian Michael Beschloss took to the pages of The Washington Post to take on the anniversary of the end of World War I as led by the progressive hero, Democrat President Woodrow Wilson. To his credit, Beschloss was candid, headlining:
On this World War I anniversary, let’s not celebrate Woodrow Wilson
Admitted liberal historian Beschloss:
Wilson is an excellent example of how presidents can exploit wars to increase authoritarian power and restrict freedom, some arguing that criticizing the commander in chief amounts to criticizing soldiers in the field.
Bingo.
None of this is to suggest that authoritarianism is a good thing. But it is important to note that liberals in general tend to love strong presidents - if they are on the right side of the philosophical divide.
Simplified with presidential personalities? That means, for liberals: FDR yes, Reagan no. The latter a big time no.
Then there is the humorous side of all of this particular argument.
Take a look around the Internet and there are all manner of folks labeled as authoritarian.
One lighthearted site - by name “Famous Authoritarian Leaders,” listed seven people, two of of them not Americans at all.
They were (ready??!!);
First, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss: Chancellor from 1932 to 1934. (The Chancellor actually was a real dictator of Austria.)
Then the list goes for the humor, listing the remaining six on the list as President John F. Kennedy, Martha Stewart, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King, Jr., Vladimir Putin and - yes, you guessed it - President Donald Trump.
All of which is to say, the business of labeling someone an “authoritarian” can be stretched - and stretched and stretched - to the point of ridiculousness.
Ahhhh well. Happy Flag Day to you - authoritarians and non-authoritarians one and all.