You cannot keep constitutional democracy running in an extended era of authoritarianism.

What gives presidents power isn't being an as$hole, it's achieving legitimacy from the people.

People are actually quite intelligent—even people who didn't go to college (who are obviously much less than other people who did). But still, very intelligent, loving, kind, open hearted, etc. They want to be informed and feel a sense of togetherness.

You can march into a foreign country and try to tell them what to do. But if you lack the support of the common person (on the street, as they say) you will not have a certain kind of strength.

That strength is sometimes called 'solidarity'. If you don't have that, then you are on your own. And that kind of strength requires buy-in, which this government did not seek.

This idea that everything is a secret (you can't divulge your intentions because then the enemy will know) is intuitive to an extent, but actually creating solidarity (and thereby signaling one's actions) is worth risking.