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When a Real Bully Occupies the Bully Pulpit

Donald Trump Threatens the World

William Spivey
The Polis

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Shealeah Craighead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The term “Bully Pulpit” was coined by Theodore Roosevelt while president. It meant he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. The word bully carried a more positive meaning in those days, meaning “superb” or “wonderful.” It could mean a fine chap or a noisy, rough fellow in England. According to Webster:

“A bully is a person who hurts or frightens someone else, often over a period of time, and often forcing them to do something that they do not want to do. Bullies are blustering, mean, or predatory people who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidate, abuse, harass, or coerce people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves. Bullies are habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable.”

Whoever wrote that entry must have been looking at a photo of Donald Trump at the time.

In his first few days since becoming president again, Trump has threatened Russia, Panama, Greenland, Canada, Palestine, China, Mexico, and Denmark. These are just some of the nations he’s threatened.

Trump has threatened corporations and individuals. He’s ordered the Justice Department to investigate cities and states that don’t comply…

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