Donald Trump thinks himself "larger than life". He has conducted his Presidency like an autocrat and has been abetted by a chorus of sycophants. But his narrowness of vision, self-absorption, incompetence, and ignorance have resulted in ineffectiveness of historical proportions. In short, he has diminished the Presidency measurably.

Nationally, he has no legislative accomplishments. His party is in disarray. He's under potentially criminal investigation. And his cabinet is derided for their astounding and aggressive incompetence. Internationally, he's shunned, pilloried and ignored. Our Allies are looking to move on without him, our enemies/adversaries see no reason to respect or fear him, and most of the rest look on in incredulity.

It took most of his two terms for Obama to heal the rifts and regain the respect that George Bush created and destroyed. How long will healing take this time? Can we recover?

A well reasoned argument is like a diamond: impervious to corruption and crystal clear - and infinitely rarer.

Here, as elsewhere, people are outraged at what feels like a rigged game -- an economy that won't respond, a democracy that won't listen, and a financial sector that holds all the cards. - Robert Reich