President Trump’s first year in office was presciently captured by former president George W. Bush’s declaration after Trump’s inaugural address: “That was some weird s---.”It accurately forecast the Trump we would see in 2017: eccentric, uncouth, clownish and vicious. Last year, however, could well mark the high point of his presidency. Should that occur, nothing less than the rule of law — or the absolute rule of Trump — will be put to the test. He said at a rally in Boca Raton, Fla., in March 2016: “You know, you have to brand people a certain way when they’re your opponents.”And he bragged about how he does it: “Lyin’ Ted,” spelling it out letter by letter; Little Marco, “L-I-D-D-L-E. Liddle, Liddle, Liddle Marco”; and “Low-Energy” Jeb. “Now Trump is favored.”“But,” Trump said, “you’ve got to brand people.”And let’s not forget Trump’s “Crooked Hillary” branding iron.

Source: Washington Post January 27, 2018 00:00 UTC