The Trump Presidency 15

[Ladewig]

Yes. I wonder how Trump supporters think he is making America great:

A notorious liar.
Communicates via Twitter.
Can't spell (and does not have the common sense to let someone proof-read his messages).
... etc, etc.

Does that make America great in your eyes?

It certainly doesn't in the eyes of most of the world. If this wasn't so serious, we'd be rolling on the floor laughing.

Hans

The can’t-spell no-proofreading thing. Why do you think other folks would think that is important? The Republicans planted the seeds of anti-intellectualism more than a generation ago.

And I suspect there are Republicans that are annoyed by it, but they say to themselves, “it annoys the liberals more than it annoys me, so I’ll just take comfort in that.”

In any case the larger point I want to make is that 40% of the country has vastly different values from those of you or me. That is a good foundation for Trumpism. And a good 40 years of reality TV has created a large segment of the population that values style over substance. A transcript of any extemporaneous Trump speech clearly indicates the lack of substance, but a video of any extemporaneous Trump speech shows that he has a style that creates standing ovations.

 

[Stacyhs]

The can’t-spell no-proofreading thing. Why do you think other folks would think that is important? The Republicans planted the seeds of anti-intellectualism more than a generation ago.

And I suspect there are Republicans that are annoyed by it, but they say to themselves, “it annoys the liberals more than it annoys me, so I’ll just take comfort in that.”

In any case the larger point I want to make is that 40% of the country has vastly different values from those of you or me. That is a good foundation for Trumpism. And a good 40 years of reality TV has created a large segment of the population that values style over substance. A transcript of any extemporaneous Trump speech clearly indicates the lack of substance, but a video of any extemporaneous Trump speech shows that he has a style that creates standing ovations.

Every time I see him at a rally pontificating, I can't help but think of Mussolini. They have very similar body language and style.

 

[Ladewig]

Every time I see him at a rally pontificating, I can't help but think of Mussolini. They have very similar body language and style.

Yes. If you need a stock photo of pure smugness, those are two go-to guys.

 

[Stacyhs]

Yes. If you need a stock photo of pure smugness, those are two go-to guys.

Yes, the jaw-jutting smugness when being idolized by their fans is so similar.

 

[Sideroxylon]

You mean bumbling around the world on the US taxpayers' tab, saying and doing anything, ANYTHING, as long as it keeps his fat orange face front and center on TV and pays him tax-free. He is such a publicity-whore that he will eat his own **** live on Fox and Friends if it gets him extra publicity.

And bring the kids along too for an experience that money shouldn’t be able to buy.

 

[Stacyhs]

>snip>

He dominates the world news, and as the world pities Mutti Merkel, Trump walks on the freaking DMZ in Korea!

I bet the parents of Adam Warmbier are just tickled pink!

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I bet the parents of Adam Warmbier are just tickled pink!

Otto

 

[CapelDodger]

Trump tweets

I had a great meeting with President Xi of China yesterday, far better than expected. I agreed not to increase the already existing Tariffs that we charge China while we continue to negotiate. China has agreed that, during the negotiation, they will begin purchasing large.....

....amounts of agricultural product from our great Farmers.

Trump actually believes that the Chinese Government buys food directly from US American farmers. It really doesn't.

At the request of our High Tech companies, and President Xi, I agreed to allow Chinese company Huawei to buy product from them which will not impact our National Security. Importantly, we have opened up negotiations...

An opening up, very positive.

....again ...

Maybe not very positive, then.

... with China as our relationship with them continues to be a very good one.

I really gotta hand it to Trump; he knows how to put on a show.

That's good to hear. Trade wars, however easy they are to win, can so get in the way of good relations.

The quality of the transaction is far more important to me than speed. I am in no hurry ...

Nov 2020, that's like a lifetime away.


...

but things look very good!

"Good" again. It's the very best word in Trump's vocabulary.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump actually believes that the Chinese Government buys food directly from US American farmers. It really doesn't.
.

He made the same claim about the Mexican govt a week or two ago.

 

[Trebuchet]

Yeah, but one of them is a muslim, mind. You know, like scary Obama.

Funny thing is, now that I think of it, all the Iranian priests probably need to do is invite Trump over, suck up to him, put on a sword dance show for him to watch over his ice cream, and let him touch the shining BFF orb, and he'll be gushing on Twitter about how bigly good and friendly the Iranians are, etc.

I keep picturing that as well. Unlikely, Muslims being worse than atheists or something, but it would be worth it just to see Bolton's head explode.

 

[Stacyhs]

Otto

Oh, yes...thank you. I was working on something else at the time concerning someone named Adam and the name stuck in my head.

 

[Stacyhs]

I wonder how the GOP-FOX News would have handled Obama stepping into N. Korea?

 

[CapelDodger]

Every time I see him at a rally pontificating, I can't help but think of Mussolini. They have very similar body language and style.

That was my immediate reaction when I first saw Trump in performance. Further observation has confirmed that initial impression. Both are examples of a type, as are the people who fall for their charms. And as their fates when it all goes wrong. Those who live by cultivating resentment die messily when they let people down.

 

[CapelDodger]

He made the same claim about the Mexican govt a week or two ago.

Trump really believes that international trade occurs between nations.

 

[Minoosh]

I agree with Trebuchet - Trump has no ideological core that can be called right-wing or left-wing. Without core beliefs, he just says whatever any given group of listeners wants to hear at any given time. I think that’s been patently obvious for a long time.

I don't disagree, but given his embrace of authoritarianism I have a hard time imagining what a real right-winger would offer "conservative" voters that Trump doesn't. That was the context of the discussion. Could a more moderate, traditional Republican have a chance as a third-party candidate? And part of that discussion was, who would be a bigger spoiler for Trump? A Kasich or a real right-winger ... and that's where I come up blank.

This is assuming that the RNC will not allow any Republican challengers to Trump. The election is still a ways out and IMO there's a chance that in 16 months Trump might begin to look less appealing the Republican establishment, especially if any GOP senators get nervous about their own chances for re-election.

 

[Minoosh]

Trump really believes that international trade occurs between nations.

Given China's governance system I'm thinking the CCP could actually make this kind of commitment. But they are going to be shopping for other sources to get what they need. They know what they need to say to Trump to make him feel good in the moment, while themselves playing a long game that Trump is utterly incapable of.

 

[Stacyhs]

Trump has claimed that Obama "begged" constantly for a meeting with Kim but was turned down. Former Obama officials, including Ben Rhodes, who served as Obama’s deputy national security adviser, have said this is simply not true.

I'm shocked! Shocked I tell ya!

 

[Paul2]

Iran is a shadow of its former self, and clearly no longer a threat to the chosen regimes of Israel & Saudi in the ME.

My rule of thumb is that anytime someone says something is clearly X, there is a fair chance it is not X.

 

[CapelDodger]

Given China's governance system I'm thinking the CCP could actually make this kind of commitment.

The Mexican government couldn't, nor could anyone on the US side of the deal. The point is that Trump has no conception of what international trade -or, indeed, any kind of trade - actually is. He is a moron.

 

[Ladewig]

The Mexican government couldn't, nor could anyone on the US side of the deal. The point is that Trump has no conception of what international trade -or, indeed, any kind of trade - actually is. He is a moron.

Yes. I always think it a bit strange when he is referred to as a successful businessman. He knows so little about business.