Joe Biden, “together with a band of his closest thugs, misfits and Marxists, tried to destroy American democracy.” This is what Donald Trump said to his supporters hours after pleading not guilty in federal court in June 2023 to his mishandling of classified documents.
The indictment of a former president was shocking, but Trump’s words were not. Twenty years ago, his rhetoric would have been unusual coming from any member of Congress, let alone a party leader. Yet language like this from the leading Republican presidential candidate is becoming remarkably common in American politics.
It’s not just Republicans. In 2019, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker appeared on a talk show bemoaning Trump’s rhetoric and the lack of civility in politics. But he then went on to call Trump a “physically weak specimen” and said that his own “testosterone makes me want to” punch Trump.
How bad have things gotten?
I made it as far as “It’s not just Republicans,” in the 4th paragraph. Yeah, it’s an other “discourse has gotten so bad” and “both sides do it” un-think piece.
@kuontom
Maybe read the whole thing first. It’s just an article pointing out notable examples of ‘nasty politics’ and how voters receive it in polls.
Btw, you missed out this gem of Republican buffoonery
Edit: Also surely you notice the irony of your comment calling an article you didn’t read an ‘un-think piece’