I think that many conservatives write off Trump's behavior as damnable but not all that serious. I don't.
Is Trump a tyrant? He is not Hitler, and he is not Caligula. But I just finished a Netflix special about Caligula - "Roman Empire" season three. It was very interesting, and it showed a man who was badly psychologically wounded and dominated in his youth, thrust into the position of Emperor of Rome (the third emperor after Augustus and Tiberius) and who started off courting popularity from the people and cooperation with the Senate. That changed after he suffered a very serious illness of three months where he almost died, an illness that drove him into paranoia, madness, and violence. His behavior was debauched, and he slaughtered tens of thousands accused of treason. He ended up being assassinated by his uncle, Cassius after only three years of being an emperor at the age of 28. Cassius went on to be what Caligula was not - a competent Emperor.
So what has this to do with Trump? Trump is not an unfettered Emperor and although the Senate is doing nothing to curb his whims and abuses of power, there is an opposition press and opposition House of Representatives that are having some effect. And the judiciary has not been compromised by his commands.
However, there are some descriptions of Caligula by the historians in the film that are interesting to us in America today:
"Caligula did not know what he was doing. You have this damaged individual that you now have thrust into power, with no skills, no background, nothing but his damaged psyche who you have now given all the power in the world to, and asked him to behave properly"
Sound familiar?
"Caligula needed to make sure that the people knew that he was all powerful and could do anything. So he built bridges, he built temples, he was putting up statues of himself everywhere. He tried to be worshiped as a God while still living."
Sound familiar?
The most frightening thing about the Caligula story was that after he had lost the adoration of the crowds he decided to lead Rome into war and conquer Britain, which was a total failure because of his incompetence, so he staged a fake victory and returned in a fake triumph. It didn't help him all that much.
Hoping and praying that Mr Trump doesn't decide to become popular by attacking some country....
Of course, Trump has not slaughtered tens of thousands for treason, but he does accuse critics of him as being treasonous, doesn't he? He hasn't built statues and monuments to himself, but he does put his name, TRUMP, on buildings and anything he can get away with, doesn't he?
The Romans didn't have the tools of impeachment and elections to replace terrible Emperors, and America does. The only way they could get rid of Caligula, and indeed get rid of Caesar, was assassination.
I hope my conservative friends recognize the danger that this incompetent, ignorant, erratic, and mentally unfit man is and support any and all challengers to Trump in the upcoming primaries. And if that fails, I hope that they hold their nose and vote for his opponent in the general election.
The man is no Caligula, but not because he wouldn't like to be...
