Cont: The Trump Presidency 11: Insert something funny

[Ladewig]

Not really. 45's a bully. He hits down, or at least in the direction that he perceives as down, because striking at a peer or superior is potentially going to get him hurt.

I cannot think of a single person that the president would consider a superior.

Most democratically elected leaders do what they can to maintain at least a statesman-like appearance and don't resort to childish name-calling and attempted strong-arm tactics as their first choice of how to deal with people. While 45 seems to look on it as a way to put his "opponent" off balance so he can "win" the exchange. He's the person who looks at the person not responding to the catcalls as weak, rather than as someone with the strength of character to ignore the petty stuff in order to get what needs doing done.

Contrasted with the people he sucks up to (MBS, Putin, etc) who take steps to emphasize their apparent strength all the time. Essentially, they put out the appearance that if you tangle with the bear, you're going to get mauled, and 45 believes it, because that's how he operates.

And it probably doesn't hurt that he is financially beholden to the Saudis and Russian oligarchs.

45's also incredibly shallow. His actions very clearly indicate that if something isn't "in your face" apparent, then it isn't true, because he cannot perceive what lies beneath. It's why he goes for the furnishings that would make Louis XIV go, "You should try to be less ostentatious." It's why he chose Mattis to be his SecDef, or keeps changing wives for younger and hotter models.

And he certainly doesn't get the idea of altruism - if its not to his benefit, then he doesn't care, or worse, sees it as a threat to be beaten back.

Exactly. He spent time at one rally making fun of G.H.W.Bush’s “Thousand points of light” which described the country being made better through volunteerism. Of course he’s going to mock it: volunteerism is beyond his comprehension.

It would have taken effort to pick a worse person to be POTUS.

Indeed. He has neither the intellect, the temperament, the maturity, the breadth of knowledge, the ability to compromise, the moral compass, the critical thinking skills, or the understanding of US civics necessary to be a good president.

And I think a good case can be made that he does not have an understanding of the nature of reality. He seems to lack the ability to recognize that recording devices are able to document what he said - he often denies he said something that everyone heard. Facts that disagree with his world view are considered disinformation presented by his enemies and can be dismissed by shouting “fake news.”

 

[Horatius]

Exactly. He spent time at one rally making fun of G.H.W.Bush’s “Thousand points of light” which described the country being made better through volunteerism.

I realized recently that this, alone, is the fundamental problem with Trump as President. We used to have Presidents who encouraged people to try to be better than they are. With Trump, we get the message, "You're all right Jack!", no matter how wrong the person may be. From coal miners who would rather just hope that their old job might come back rather that go back to school, to neo-nazis who love to revel in outright racism, and everything in between: Just go ahead and wallow, don't bother even trying to sort yourself (or your country) out.

 

[Armitage72]

Exactly. He spent time at one rally making fun of G.H.W.Bush’s “Thousand points of light” which described the country being made better through volunteerism. Of course he’s going to mock it: volunteerism is beyond his comprehension.

Unfortunately, it's not just Trump. A number of years ago, Red Eye, a talk show on Fox News, did a show featuring the Real Life Superhero Movement and viciously mocked them for helping the homeless and using their costumed identities to draw attention to charities and social causes.

 

[Belz...]

Looks like President Trump isn't the only one who broke the Left.

Oh, dear.



The one whom Trump broke is you.

 

[Trebuchet]

So, You're right! That is indeed goofy dictioneering. (I think the two e's works better.)

But an excellent job on your part of causing the sidetrack to begin with! Diversion, misrepresentation, weaseling, infantility, flat out lying, trolling, wrong on the facts, wrong on the meta facts, supportive of autocracy, misogynistic, a sense of self worth rivaling your fuhrer, make believe Bernie supporter, make believe legal expert, hoisted by your own retard on a daily basis. Etc. With apologies to Trebuchet.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Minoosh]

I chuckled when they used the word scapegoated to illustrate scapegoating, that is some quality dictionering.

This is pretty pathetic. The definition of the word as a noun is given, then the definition of the verb uses the noun form that was defined immediately above it.

Good distraction though.

 

[GlennB]

This is pretty pathetic. The definition of the word as a noun is given, then the definition of the verb uses the noun form that was defined immediately above it.

Good distraction though.

Aye. It's perfectly normal to define the word and then give an example or two of its use. From Merriam-Webster :

Definition of distraction

1 : something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else
[She]turned off her phone to limit distractions
One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.

 

[Stacyhs]

Not really. 45's a bully. He hits down, or at least in the direction that he perceives as down, because striking at a peer or superior is potentially going to get him hurt.

Most democratically elected leaders do what they can to maintain at least a statesman-like appearance and don't resort to childish name-calling and attempted strong-arm tactics as their first choice of how to deal with people. While 45 seems to look on it as a way to put his "opponent" off balance so he can "win" the exchange. He's the person who looks at the person not responding to the catcalls as weak, rather than as someone with the strength of character to ignore the petty stuff in order to get what needs doing done.

Contrasted with the people he sucks up to (MBS, Putin, etc) who take steps to emphasize their apparent strength all the time. Essentially, they put out the appearance that if you tangle with the bear, you're going to get mauled, and 45 believes it, because that's how he operates.

And it probably doesn't hurt that he is financially beholden to the Saudis and Russian oligarchs.

45's also incredibly shallow. His actions very clearly indicate that if something isn't "in your face" apparent, then it isn't true, because he cannot perceive what lies beneath. It's why he goes for the furnishings that would make Louis XIV go, "You should try to be less ostentatious." It's why he chose Mattis to be his SecDef, or keeps changing wives for younger and hotter models.

And he certainly doesn't get the idea of altruism - if its not to his benefit, then he doesn't care, or worse, sees it as a threat to be beaten back.

It would have taken effort to pick a worse person to be POTUS.

Excellent post. This sums up Trump very well.

 

[LSSBB]

Aye. It's perfectly normal to define the word and then give an example or two of its use. From Merriam-Webster :

Definition of distraction

1 : something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else
[She]turned off her phone to limit distractions
One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.

Indeed, here is another entry that uses the very same dictioneering.

Definition of troll (Entry 2 of 3)
transitive verb

1a : to fish for by trolling
b : to fish by trolling in
troll lakes
c : to pull through the water in trolling
troll a lure
d : to search in or at
trolls flea markets for bargains
also : PROWL
troll nightclubs
2a : to antagonize (others) online by deliberately posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content
… trolls engage in the most outrageous and offensive behaviors possible—all the better to troll you with.
— Whitney Phillips
b : to act as a troll (see TROLL entry 3 sense 2) on (a forum, site, etc.)
… is also notorious, for trolling message boards on the Internet, posting offensive material he himself has written and then suing anyone who responds in agreement.
— Mark Hemingway
c : to harass, criticize, or antagonize (someone) especially by provocatively disparaging or mocking public statements, postings, or acts
The switch came after the Chargers became the butt of jokes, memes and derision on social media. The NFL tweeted the initial logo Thursday, but later deleted it as the Chargers even got trolled by other pro and college sports teams over the logo that looked like a cross between baseball's Dodgers and hockey's Lightning.
— Arnie Stapleton
But [Niki] Caro told The Los Angeles Times this week that there might be music after all. Caro said she got trolled by fans because of the rumor of a lack of music.
— Herb Scribner
The club has been trolled in a brutal (and somewhat brilliant) manner—by having a giant poster of Tevez scoring his last-day winner plastered outside their Bramall Lane ground.
— Will Magee
3 : to cause to move round and round : ROLL
4a : to sing the parts of (something, such as a round or catch) in succession
b : to sing loudly
c : to celebrate in song

 

[acbytesla]

Not really. 45's a bully. He hits down, or at least in the direction that he perceives as down, because striking at a peer or superior is potentially going to get him hurt.

Most democratically elected leaders do what they can to maintain at least a statesman-like appearance and don't resort to childish name-calling and attempted strong-arm tactics as their first choice of how to deal with people. While 45 seems to look on it as a way to put his "opponent" off balance so he can "win" the exchange. He's the person who looks at the person not responding to the catcalls as weak, rather than as someone with the strength of character to ignore the petty stuff in order to get what needs doing done.

Contrasted with the people he sucks up to (MBS, Putin, etc) who take steps to emphasize their apparent strength all the time. Essentially, they put out the appearance that if you tangle with the bear, you're going to get mauled, and 45 believes it, because that's how he operates.

And it probably doesn't hurt that he is financially beholden to the Saudis and Russian oligarchs.

45's also incredibly shallow. His actions very clearly indicate that if something isn't "in your face" apparent, then it isn't true, because he cannot perceive what lies beneath. It's why he goes for the furnishings that would make Louis XIV go, "You should try to be less ostentatious." It's why he chose Mattis to be his SecDef, or keeps changing wives for younger and hotter models.

And he certainly doesn't get the idea of altruism - if its not to his benefit, then he doesn't care, or worse, sees it as a threat to be beaten back.

It would have taken effort to pick a worse person to be POTUS.

I don't disagree with most of your post. But I'm still convinced that Trump is being blackmailed. That he sold out and the Saudis and Russia are extorting him.

 

[Segnosaur]

I don't disagree with most of your post. But I'm still convinced that Trump is being blackmailed. That he sold out and the Saudis and Russia are extorting him.

If he is getting blackmailed, do you really think he'd be able to keep it a secret? With all the leaks (from both the Trump administration and Stubby McBonespurs himself) you figure we'd probably know if he was being blackmailed. Trump tweeting "I made such a good deal with the Saudis... we buy their oil and they don't release pictures of me having sex with the camel".

 

[Giordano]

Not really. 45's a bully. He hits down, or at least in the direction that he perceives as down, because striking at a peer or superior is potentially going to get him hurt.

Most democratically elected leaders do what they can to maintain at least a statesman-like appearance and don't resort to childish name-calling and attempted strong-arm tactics as their first choice of how to deal with people. While 45 seems to look on it as a way to put his "opponent" off balance so he can "win" the exchange. He's the person who looks at the person not responding to the catcalls as weak, rather than as someone with the strength of character to ignore the petty stuff in order to get what needs doing done.

Contrasted with the people he sucks up to (MBS, Putin, etc) who take steps to emphasize their apparent strength all the time. Essentially, they put out the appearance that if you tangle with the bear, you're going to get mauled, and 45 believes it, because that's how he operates.

And it probably doesn't hurt that he is financially beholden to the Saudis and Russian oligarchs.

45's also incredibly shallow. His actions very clearly indicate that if something isn't "in your face" apparent, then it isn't true, because he cannot perceive what lies beneath. It's why he goes for the furnishings that would make Louis XIV go, "You should try to be less ostentatious." It's why he chose Mattis to be his SecDef, or keeps changing wives for younger and hotter models.

And he certainly doesn't get the idea of altruism - if its not to his benefit, then he doesn't care, or worse, sees it as a threat to be beaten back.

It would have taken effort to pick a worse person to be POTUS.

Trump does exhibit all of the behavior characteristic of bullies, ranging from bullies in junior high schoolyards to grown-up bullies in work environments, etc.: viciously attack those perceived as weaker than you, but run from or kiss up to those who stand up to you or who are perceived as potentially nearly equal (or more powerful) than you.

As to altruism: I've seen fairly convincing analyses, based on past interviews with Trump and his prior associates, that Trump simply does not believe in applying any moral or ethical constraints to his actions. That his time in business convinced him that morality simply does not, and should not apply when seeking to obtain what he wants. If true, this explains a lot of his behavior too.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including....

....for electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!

 

[acbytesla]

If he is getting blackmailed, do you really think he'd be able to keep it a secret? With all the leaks (from both the Trump administration and Stubby McBonespurs himself) you figure we'd probably know if he was being blackmailed. Trump tweeting "I made such a good deal with the Saudis... we buy their oil and they don't release pictures of me having sex with the camel".

If Trump violated the law conclusively. Laundered money and accepted illegal money from overseas before he became President, then yes, Trump could avoid leaking it.

 

[Minoosh]

If he is getting blackmailed, do you really think he'd be able to keep it a secret? With all the leaks (from both the Trump administration and Stubby McBonespurs himself) you figure we'd probably know if he was being blackmailed. Trump tweeting "I made such a good deal with the Saudis... we buy their oil and they don't release pictures of me having sex with the camel".

Especially since he picked the ugly one ...

 

[Segnosaur]

If he is getting blackmailed, do you really think he'd be able to keep it a secret? With all the leaks (from both the Trump administration and Stubby McBonespurs himself) you figure we'd probably know if he was being blackmailed

If Trump violated the law conclusively. Laundered money and accepted illegal money from overseas before he became President, then yes, Trump could avoid leaking it.

But that's the thing... we know (or, we have strong evidence) that Trump has been laundering money... Trump Jr's "We get money from Russia", the selling of properties to oligarchs, etc. Granted, it hasn't gone through the courts yet, but the bulk of the evidence is certainly pointing that way. The information got leaked.

We haven't yet seen similar leaks about blackmail.

 

[Polaris]

Especially since he picked the ugly one ...

and had Cohen pay the pimp.

 

[Minoosh]

Trump Tweets

Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including....

....for electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!

I wonder if he's hoping to send the stock down so that his buddies can get a good deal on it.

Pretty sure GM uses foreign labor for the same reason Trump does.

Somehow this tweet strikes me as juvenile even by Trump standards. Hmm ... how can he work this around to blaming Democrats?

 

[Dr. Keith]

I wonder if he's hoping to send the stock down so that his buddies can get a good deal on it.

Pretty sure GM uses foreign labor for the same reason Trump does.

Somehow this tweet strikes me as juvenile even by Trump standards. Hmm ... how can he work this around to blaming Democrats?

Who is going to set the over/under on when Trump first refers to Mary Barra's looks?

He seems completely unable to talk about women without referencing their looks, positive or negative. And because she is not on his "team" I expect the comment to be critical.

 

[ponderingturtle]

But that's the thing... we know (or, we have strong evidence) that Trump has been laundering money... Trump Jr's "We get money from Russia", the selling of properties to oligarchs, etc. Granted, it hasn't gone through the courts yet, but the bulk of the evidence is certainly pointing that way. The information got leaked.

We haven't yet seen similar leaks about blackmail.

Hell his companies are on record for money laundering

https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/politics/trump-taj-mahal/index.html