General Discussion

RockCreek

(989 posts)

6. What about those who don't end in grief?

Sun Apr 27, 2025, 09:41 AM

Apr 27

The article begins "Tyrants come to a sticky end, or so history suggests. Richard III and Coriolanus made bloody exits. More recently, Saddam Hussein went to the gallows, Slobodan Milosevic went to jail, Bashar al-Assad went into exile. Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi was run to ground in a sewer. Tyranny, from the Greek túrannos (“absolute ruler”), is typically fuelled by hubris and leads ineluctably to nemesis. Tyrants are for toppling. Their downfall is a saving grace."

But what about those who don't? I'm no historian, but I suspect there is a long list. Particularly considering the large number of Tyrants in history.
Stalin?
The House of Saud?
Rulers of some of the former Soviet "Stan" republics?
South American dictators?
I'm throwing out possibilities here.

I'd like to know about former democracies or near democracies whose leaders went authoritarian and what happened.
Those may be the applicable cases.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

9 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Tumbulu lucca18 not fooled misanthrope BeerBarrelPolka Hekate calimary raging moderate blubunyip

67 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Tyrants like Trump always fall - and we can already predict how he will be dethroned [View all] babylonsister Apr 27 OP

Thats all well and good choie Apr 27 #1

That is the important thing Cirsium Apr 27 #35

To the extent that it starts effecting members of congress Javaman Apr 27 #43

Not enough spin doctors to hide the lies & failures. Xi etc. calling his bluff really helps. The rest of us.... dutch777 Apr 27 #2

"...even if we never see the likes of a Trump again." dchill Apr 27 #49

There will have to be major changes in this country. No more guns, no hate speech. mucholderthandirt Apr 28 #64

No Russians. dchill Apr 28 #66

I do hope someone on the Dem side is making a list of legislative changes to limit the future danger dutch777 Apr 29 #67

The grand larceny bus is loaded with monied elites and Trump is driving bucolic_frolic Apr 27 #3

Also, he has a cabinet full of lunatics, frauds & failures. CrispyQ Apr 27 #4

There are only two things, other than death, that could shorten Trump's term Fiendish Thingy Apr 27 #5

I would guess ..... #DroolingDon is playing golf at mar a largo and he is hit by a huge bit of space debris Trueblue1968 Apr 27 #34

How? Cirsium Apr 27 #36

It's in the post: dchill Apr 27 #50

and then... Cirsium Apr 28 #53

What about those who don't end in grief? RockCreek Apr 27 #6

South America is full of peacebuzzard Apr 27 #9

Uggh. RockCreek Apr 27 #10

Hitler ended his own after causing over 20 million deaths. Justice matters. Apr 27 #20

Just look at Venezuela. Self Esteem Apr 27 #28

Long or short MadameButterfly Apr 28 #55

Franco and Salazar stayed in power for decades in Spain and Portugal, until ill health or death caught up with them muriel_volestrangler Apr 28 #61

From The Guardian to God's ears---just as soon as possible. (nt) Paladin Apr 27 #7

Diocletian, Henry VIII, Ghengis Khan, Stalin edhopper Apr 27 #8

They were all much smarter and more competent in their evil. Silver Gaia Apr 27 #11

How will Trump fall edhopper Apr 27 #12

If they remain that way, he won't. Silver Gaia Apr 27 #32

Exactly bdamomma Apr 27 #41

And if millions of us don't take sustained, direct action to push those in power to react, they won't react strongly eno Magoo48 Apr 27 #38

Hitler destroyed himself because of his own hubris MadameButterfly Apr 27 #15

His hubris edhopper Apr 27 #16

Do you see another country taking down Trump? usonian Apr 27 #26

Trump is starting a global economic war MadameButterfly Apr 28 #54

It took 12 years to get Hitler out of power. raccoon Apr 27 #46

We cannot let Trump consolidate MadameButterfly Apr 28 #52

There were multiple internal attempts on H's life supposedly around 42 we know of Meowmee Apr 27 #31

The felon is bdamomma Apr 27 #42

Realistically speaking, our only hope is slippery stairs dalton99a Apr 27 #13

Big K&R! UTUSN Apr 27 #14

He'll be dethroned by his own cardiovascular system. Crowman2009 Apr 27 #17

Sure but when? Self Esteem Apr 27 #29

I'd say he's tipping more towards 290 to 300. Joinfortmill Apr 27 #33

I posted some scenarios recently. usonian Apr 27 #18

Stories about corruption are the only ones that will break through to the other side... ihaveaquestion Apr 27 #19

The North Koreans Just Need to Be Patient! TomCADem Apr 27 #21

Just a side note mchill Apr 27 #22

Some very bright journalists have said the same of Trump. LudwigPastorius Apr 27 #23

Riding in a tumbril on the way to the guillotine? yellowcanine Apr 27 #24

IMHO. His own party will turn against him after a sweeping defeat in '26 just to save thieir own sorrry asses. Ping Tung Apr 27 #25

We all know this route is not sustainable. nt Exp Apr 27 #27

They don't say how he will destroy himself though do they? Meowmee Apr 27 #30

Don't go on Youtube, then...... AZ8theist Apr 27 #51

You may be waiting for a long time. OldBaldy1701E Apr 28 #59

Agree 😁 I go to YT for music and watching cats/dogs mostly and other stuff Meowmee Apr 28 #63

I hope when I_UndergroundPanther Apr 27 #37

All respect to The Guardian, but not soon enough, and horrendous damage is already done Hekate Apr 27 #39

The felon bdamomma Apr 27 #40

K & R malaise Apr 27 #44

Bookmarked CitizenZero Apr 27 #45

I'm much more concerned about the "when" than the "how," considering what's already happened in 3 fucking months. Karasu Apr 27 #47

When he finally passes... OhioBack2Blue Apr 27 #48

"drowning in hubris" -- forget that. i'd rather he do a slip and fall and drown in his pool (asap like tomorrow) orleans Apr 28 #56

I Am Somewhat Skeptical CitizenZero Apr 28 #57

A "tyrant-toppling toolbox". I like it! calimary Apr 28 #58

If he ups and dies in office blubunyip Apr 28 #60

The writer is contradicting himself. D23MIURG23 Apr 28 #62

When he's done his job, Project 2025 will take him out. mucholderthandirt Apr 28 #65