Cont: The Trump Presidency 11: Insert something funny

[Paul2]

I assume this is actually a spoof?

It looks like a real website but these things are easy to fake. It reads like something Trump would say, but just wildly exaggerated.

But I cannot believe anyone would let this go out, unless on the principle of give him enough rope ...

So is it real?

It's from https://www.whitehouse.gov, that's the official White House site.

 

[Stacyhs]

The arms contracts that were offered, but mostly never agreed to? Or Obama-era ones?

Trump's:

After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries – and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!

By his own words he is putting money first. As he always does. But you bring up a good point: the majority of these deals are not signed and sealed but you'd never know that from what Trump claims. He needs them to be fulfilled so he can continue claiming what a great negotiator he is and how the good economy is all due to him.

ETA: Just watched Trump taking questions (which was appalling). He just reaffirmed exactly why he won't take any action against S. A.: it's all about the money.

 

[Minoosh]

That statement will be just fine with the only people Trump cares about.

 

[Stacyhs]

I just watched Trump taking questions as he was leaving for (where else?) Mar a Lago. I have to say it was most appalling. I was disgusted by the whole thing. His narcissism was on full display in glorious color. I can't even put into words how much I loath that man.

 

[alfaniner]

Maybe he fears an assassination plot hatched within the White House?

I never really quite got the concept or need of the military coup until now.

 

[Sideroxylon]

This kind of muddying of the waters has been going on a long time:

it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!

That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi​

Young earth creationists have been doing if for decades. Consider Ken Ham’s “Were the scientists there?” They ignore anything reliably known and gaslight their followers into an abandonment of any notions of reaching the truth beyond the authority of the Bible/preacher and what they would rather believe.

This is dystopian stuff. Sort it out America.

 

[varwoche]

(Trump)

Putin fiasco 2.0. Looks like Trump is in not only Putin's pocket, but in the Saudis' pocket, too.
He's more concerned with keeping those arm sales contracts than common decency. Oh, wait. What was I thinking? Silly me.

I share your suspicions. There are three plausible explanations that occur to me:

1. He's a blithering idiot. He actually believes the drivel he spouts about the financial gains for the country.
2. His ego is deeply invested in "the art of the deal". The fact that "the deal" is by and large BS doesn't matter. Maintaining the illusion is more important than disrupting the relationship. (See Kim/NK)
3. They have dirt on him. (See Putin?)
4. Some combination of the above.

As we ponder the possibilities, we must be mindful that today's proclamation on SA is/was obviously going to be explosive politically, and that's a hit he was willing to take.

 

[carlitos]

So now stating what Trump is is "juvenile name calling?"

Are you doing a meta-parody of the "Rule of So" or do you seriously disagree that "Stubby McBonespur" is a schoolyard taunt?

 

[Stacyhs]

I share your suspicions. There are three plausible explanations that occur to me:

1. He's a blithering idiot. He actually believes the drivel he spouts about the financial gains for the country.
2. His ego is deeply invested in "the art of the deal". The fact that "the deal" is by and large BS doesn't matter. Maintaining the illusion is more important than disrupting the relationship. (See Kim/NK)
3. They have dirt on him. (See Putin?)
4. Some combination of the above.

As we ponder the possibilities, we must be mindful that today's proclamation on SA is/was obviously going to be explosive politically, and that's a hit he was willing to take.

One and two have been proved over and over again. Number 3? I would say it's more likely than not.

He survived the Putin outrage. He'll survive this. Why? Because his supporters just don't care what he does. And that says so much more about them than Trump. He's Teflon Don as far as they're concerned. I keep being told that I need to 'try and understand' his base. Sorry, I can't. I've tried. I keep coming up with the same conclusion: they're just stupid.

 

[Stacyhs]

Are you doing a meta-parody of the "Rule of So" or do you seriously disagree that "Stubby McBonespur" is a schoolyard taunt?

Of course it is. But none of us is the President of the United States. He should be held to a higher standard. Sadly, he's not by his supporters.

 

[Diablo]

Trump's:



By his own words he is putting money first. As he always does. But you bring up a good point: the majority of these deals are not signed and sealed but you'd never know that from what Trump claims. He needs them to be fulfilled so he can continue claiming what a great negotiator he is and how the good economy is all due to him.

ETA: Just watched Trump taking questions (which was appalling). He just reaffirmed exactly why he won't take any action against S. A.: it's all about the money.

My bold. But that's normal, isn't it? Some Americans always do that.

 

[varwoche]

I "try to understand" his base for the purpose of (1) knowing thy enemy and (2) laughs. These are impermeable cultists.

 

[Stacyhs]

My bold. But that's normal, isn't it? Some Americans people always do that.

Of course it is, as I stated in my next sentence. Fixed the rest.

 

[carlitos]

Of course it is. But none of us is the President of the United States. He should be held to a higher standard. Sadly, he's not by his supporters.

Each of us is responsible for what we say here. No one else.

 

[Stacyhs]

Of course it is. But none of us is the President of the United States. He should be held to a higher standard. Sadly, he's not by his supporters.

Each of us is responsible for what we say here. No one else.

I never said otherwise. My point is that a private citizen resorting to childish name calling of a politician is much different than the POTUS using childish name calling toward members of Congress, political opponents, journalists or anyone else he decides to go after. I would think that's rather obvious.

 

[Diablo]

Of course it is, as I stated in my next sentence. Fixed the rest.

Of course, but Americans are much better at it.

 

[Stacyhs]

An interesting article on what Congress can do to counter Trump's refusal to punish bin Salman:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...-arabia-if-trump-wont/?utm_term=.afd3a764a8ab

 

[Stacyhs]

Of course, but Americans are much better at it.

Considering that so many support Trump for that very reason, you may well be right.

 

[carlitos]

I never said otherwise. My point is that a private citizen resorting to childish name calling of a politician is much different than the POTUS using childish name calling toward members of Congress, political opponents, journalists or anyone else he decides to go after. I would think that's rather obvious.

Sure is. Not sure what it has to do with my observation about forum posters here, though.

 

[jimbob]

GOod fix,The arms sales to Saudi is not nearly as impotent as Donnie likes to say.
It' another sign of one of Trump most dangerous traits;He sympathy for authoritarian dictatorships.

Envy - those people can get all the adulation they can command.

Smart people tend to be good at finding smart sounding reasons to justify things they came to support for very 'not smart' reasons.

Self-reporting is a poor way to find out such things.





It could be a combination of perception, momentum, and tipping points.

Before there were a lot of vocal supporters of him and thus social pressure (for that sub-group) to either support Trump, or at the very least not be vocal in your opposition. Apart from the normal social pressure mechanisms, there are career risks picking the wrong fights and in some sad cases in the military, risks of physical harms.

Then things add up. People feel safer to express more limited criticisms of specific things. 'I don't like dems, but attacking McCain again is wrong.' Those criticisms are let to pass, which makes people feel safer to express other ones. Then it's thinkable to not support him. Then it's thinkable to oppose him. Then it's thinkable to express opposition of him. It builds up in a way where the measurements of it show all at once.

Just because it's detectable suddenly does not mean it occurred suddenly. It certainly doesn't make it traceable to one factor or incident.

That's sort of my view. There will be shifts and unease as he insults more of his base, and they'll make excuses in their mind, but eventually, his declining facilities will mean he'll forget who was responsible for the latest imagined slight and he'll turn on an ally he shouldn't (hopefully Fox news).