Could it happen here? I want the answer to be "No! Not in America," but actually the answer seems to be "Yes."
Is it happening here? I want the answer to be "No!" but actually, and sadly, tha answer seems to be "Yes." Especially the way Trump is grooming Americans -- and yes, I understand that is a term describing abuse -- grooming Americans to think about another Trump presidential term after this one. Another term, which is forbidden by virtue of the 22nd amendment to a document called the Constitution which Trump sees as an annoyance.
The Turkish people I encountered last fall were great admirers of Attaturk, who gave Turks a strong nation just over a century ago and allowed Turks to worship, or not worship, as they chose. None of the Turks I met expressed any admiration for today's Erdogan.
"Toss it against the wall and see what sticks ..." was the first 100 days. They did not care what worked or not. Just stuff to keep the base happy. Then if unopposed, they win. And so many were resigned and said: "He did it already." Easy victory with no opposition? Just regrets.
There's an even more disturbing parallel between the gathering storm here and Turkey. Erdoğan used the government’s response to the July 2016 coup attempt to turn the country's decades-old parliamentary system into a heavily centralized, presidential one, hollowed out key institutions and placed incompetent loyalists in important positions. Look like a familiar play book? But wait, there's more. With historical precedents dating back to the sultans, a political culture is now again evident that is willing to accept big man or strongman rule, feels less attached to core civil liberties associated with liberal democracy (such as freedom of expression and media), and has become more conservative and less tolerant of diversity. The look and feel extends even to dirty tricks and disinformation. Apart from detaining İmamoğlu and an associate, Erdoğan's minions are claiming the mayor's legit university degree is fake and had it annulled under some pretext. Having a university degree is a requirement to be president and there are real doubts whether Erdoğan actually has one. Good thing you guys are leaving tomorrow. Protests are already ramping up. It could get very ugly. In the meantime, suggest enquiring minds keep to themselves.
I've been feeling like I'm living with my hair on fire since the inauguration, but it feels like someone has poured gas on it over the past five or six days. I am incredibly unsettled.
I did not hear about the mayor, and I've become almost OCD about checking the news sources I use often. Not a peep about Turkey, other than the MAGA mentions of how wonderful Erdogan is for the people of that country.
I've come to the sad conclusion that the rule of law is finished here in the United States. While I expected the day to come, I don't think I had it on my March 2025 bingo card.
This column gave me a feeling in the bottom of my stomach in regard to the mayor of Istanbul. The anecdotes of the rug sellers and restauranteurs were lovely. And I really, really, really am envious of that honeycomb breakfast. I see what you did there, Gene.
Reading about the situation in Turkey and the situation here in the U.S., I am reminded of Al Gore"s metaphor of the frog in the pot of water on the stove. If you heat the water slowly, the frog will not notice it until it is too late. That is what is happening now. Each little cut seems unnoticeable, but they slowly add up until it is too late.
Not sure you will have time to visit any of the Istanbul antique markets (the Bursa is a good one) with their variety of Ottoman clocks, but as a clock maven, you'll appreciate how important time keeping and mechanical clocks, in particular, were to the Ottoman Empire (and Islam in general). The western invention was adopted early on because of the importance of establishing exact time --- it being crucial for Muslims because the five daily prayers (Salah) are obligatory and have specific times based on astronomical phenomena. Clocks made critical timekeeping much easier and more accurate if, for example, traditional astronomical observations were obscured by weather conditions. Also, the beginning/end of Ramadan fasts relied heavily on accurate astronomical calculations. Astronomical studies were critical as well for calendars and navigation of the Empire's vast territory. To improve accuracy, one of the Empire's leading scientists and engineers is credited with coming up with a number of inventions and improvements including the first mechanical clock capable of displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, as well as having an alarm function.
Gene probably remembers the Bethesda I remembered when I started work at the Uniformed Services University and it had many rug stores. I suspect the owners were holding real-estate for the boom years and with nothing else, put a rug store in many of them. Likely on Wisconsin or a few blocks away. And nobody ever paid full price.
Thanks, Gene. I needed that. Yes, I’d heard about the mayor’s arrest. But I hadn’t given it the deep attention and context it deserves. Appreciate you making that leap. Also, raki is indeed punishment.
Beautiful storytelling. But distressing and alarming. I didn’t think it was possible for my boiling blood to reach a new high temperature. Also, now I want a rug.
It IS happening here. Florida's AG has threatened to remove the mayor of Fort Meyers from office for vetoing a local law against immigrants. Jacksonville's mayor may soon be in the same position. IT IS HAPPENING.
You cannot afford to have Gene Weingarten write about you, even peripherally. Not if you’re famous enough. From today’s NYTimes:
Jeffrey Bruce Klein, one of four journalists who in 1976 founded the magazine Mother Jones, rooting it in the crusading left-wing politics of the 1960s, and who returned in 1992 as editor in chief to rebrand it for younger, more digital readers, died on March 13 at his home in Menlo Park, Calif. He was 77.
How do you DO IT!?!? And why doesn’t it work with politicians?
There was a headline in WaPo's "Wednesday's Headlines" email: "Turkey orders detention of Istanbul mayor, a rival of Erdogan’s." I did not click through, but I had technically heard about this, so I voted Yes.
Could it happen here? I want the answer to be "No! Not in America," but actually the answer seems to be "Yes."
Is it happening here? I want the answer to be "No!" but actually, and sadly, tha answer seems to be "Yes." Especially the way Trump is grooming Americans -- and yes, I understand that is a term describing abuse -- grooming Americans to think about another Trump presidential term after this one. Another term, which is forbidden by virtue of the 22nd amendment to a document called the Constitution which Trump sees as an annoyance.
The Turkish people I encountered last fall were great admirers of Attaturk, who gave Turks a strong nation just over a century ago and allowed Turks to worship, or not worship, as they chose. None of the Turks I met expressed any admiration for today's Erdogan.
"Toss it against the wall and see what sticks ..." was the first 100 days. They did not care what worked or not. Just stuff to keep the base happy. Then if unopposed, they win. And so many were resigned and said: "He did it already." Easy victory with no opposition? Just regrets.
So, did you buy a rug?
There's an even more disturbing parallel between the gathering storm here and Turkey. Erdoğan used the government’s response to the July 2016 coup attempt to turn the country's decades-old parliamentary system into a heavily centralized, presidential one, hollowed out key institutions and placed incompetent loyalists in important positions. Look like a familiar play book? But wait, there's more. With historical precedents dating back to the sultans, a political culture is now again evident that is willing to accept big man or strongman rule, feels less attached to core civil liberties associated with liberal democracy (such as freedom of expression and media), and has become more conservative and less tolerant of diversity. The look and feel extends even to dirty tricks and disinformation. Apart from detaining İmamoğlu and an associate, Erdoğan's minions are claiming the mayor's legit university degree is fake and had it annulled under some pretext. Having a university degree is a requirement to be president and there are real doubts whether Erdoğan actually has one. Good thing you guys are leaving tomorrow. Protests are already ramping up. It could get very ugly. In the meantime, suggest enquiring minds keep to themselves.
When I look at the cup, I see a Costco rotisserie chicken on the left
Imamoglu’s detention showed up in my newsfeed - Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty picked it up
I've been feeling like I'm living with my hair on fire since the inauguration, but it feels like someone has poured gas on it over the past five or six days. I am incredibly unsettled.
I did not hear about the mayor, and I've become almost OCD about checking the news sources I use often. Not a peep about Turkey, other than the MAGA mentions of how wonderful Erdogan is for the people of that country.
I've come to the sad conclusion that the rule of law is finished here in the United States. While I expected the day to come, I don't think I had it on my March 2025 bingo card.
This column gave me a feeling in the bottom of my stomach in regard to the mayor of Istanbul. The anecdotes of the rug sellers and restauranteurs were lovely. And I really, really, really am envious of that honeycomb breakfast. I see what you did there, Gene.
Reading about the situation in Turkey and the situation here in the U.S., I am reminded of Al Gore"s metaphor of the frog in the pot of water on the stove. If you heat the water slowly, the frog will not notice it until it is too late. That is what is happening now. Each little cut seems unnoticeable, but they slowly add up until it is too late.
Not sure you will have time to visit any of the Istanbul antique markets (the Bursa is a good one) with their variety of Ottoman clocks, but as a clock maven, you'll appreciate how important time keeping and mechanical clocks, in particular, were to the Ottoman Empire (and Islam in general). The western invention was adopted early on because of the importance of establishing exact time --- it being crucial for Muslims because the five daily prayers (Salah) are obligatory and have specific times based on astronomical phenomena. Clocks made critical timekeeping much easier and more accurate if, for example, traditional astronomical observations were obscured by weather conditions. Also, the beginning/end of Ramadan fasts relied heavily on accurate astronomical calculations. Astronomical studies were critical as well for calendars and navigation of the Empire's vast territory. To improve accuracy, one of the Empire's leading scientists and engineers is credited with coming up with a number of inventions and improvements including the first mechanical clock capable of displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, as well as having an alarm function.
Gene probably remembers the Bethesda I remembered when I started work at the Uniformed Services University and it had many rug stores. I suspect the owners were holding real-estate for the boom years and with nothing else, put a rug store in many of them. Likely on Wisconsin or a few blocks away. And nobody ever paid full price.
Thanks, Gene. I needed that. Yes, I’d heard about the mayor’s arrest. But I hadn’t given it the deep attention and context it deserves. Appreciate you making that leap. Also, raki is indeed punishment.
Beautiful storytelling. But distressing and alarming. I didn’t think it was possible for my boiling blood to reach a new high temperature. Also, now I want a rug.
It IS happening here. Florida's AG has threatened to remove the mayor of Fort Meyers from office for vetoing a local law against immigrants. Jacksonville's mayor may soon be in the same position. IT IS HAPPENING.
Forgive me. Would Mr. Language Person approve of your use of 'anxious'?
Excellent story well told!
I find myself just marveling at the writing, then remember, well, yeah, he has won TWO Pulitzers! Sometimes I forget that "our" guy is "That" guy.
You cannot afford to have Gene Weingarten write about you, even peripherally. Not if you’re famous enough. From today’s NYTimes:
Jeffrey Bruce Klein, one of four journalists who in 1976 founded the magazine Mother Jones, rooting it in the crusading left-wing politics of the 1960s, and who returned in 1992 as editor in chief to rebrand it for younger, more digital readers, died on March 13 at his home in Menlo Park, Calif. He was 77.
How do you DO IT!?!? And why doesn’t it work with politicians?
And now you can deduct the cost of the trip to Turkey, and maybe even an upgrade to business class.
The Republic has fallen. Life goes on.
There was a headline in WaPo's "Wednesday's Headlines" email: "Turkey orders detention of Istanbul mayor, a rival of Erdogan’s." I did not click through, but I had technically heard about this, so I voted Yes.