I watched the late morning post-impeachment-acquittal remarks by President Trump to a White House roomful of his congressional supporters. There’s something wrong with me that I can still be shocked by this stuff. There’s something else wrong with me that I can still be surprised that a large minority of the country finds it acceptable and, according to the recent small improvement in in his ratings, “approvable.”
I have, until recently, been bothered by Trump’s constant claim that the transcript of his conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy showed that his message (which, as you know, showed him pressuring Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens) had been “perfect.”
But, I note, Trump has upped the ante. I don’t know how much he knows about the constant fundraising messages sent out to supporters over his signature by his re-election committee, but, thanks to a friend of mine who receives them and passes them along to me, I can tell you that he no longer claims “perfect” as merely the best word to describe his phone call, but his entire presidency. Here’s the sentence:
“Like I’ve been saying all along, I DID NOTHING WRONG. If they had just read the TRANSCRIPT, they would’ve seen that I’ve been a PERFECT PRESIDENT.”
Modesty, thy name is Trump.
Those Trump supporters who still think they might be Christians should reflect on the notion that pride has always been regarded as the worst of the Seven Deadly sins.
One mmight ask that great fundamentalist Donald what the seven deadly sins are.
I’d bet the only ones he could name are losing and getting caught.
As Goebbels put it, there’s no point in settling for small lies.
Well perhaps “The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end…”Highness””
But then again sure does appear the right wing loves their Emperor!
On the one hand, in terms of continual outrageous behavior (in which Trumpists revel), he HAS been a “perfect” president. Trump is willing to speak exactly as one would expect a Rush Limbaughian Anti-Prez to speak–uncivil, uncouth, insulting, demeaning, divisive. And he behaves exactly as one would expect a Limbaughian Anti-Prez to act, as well. Limbaugh is the Patron Saint of Trumpism, as the SOTU Medal of Freedom sacrament made clear.
On the other hand, a cult requires infallibility from its cult leader, and reassurances that error is impossible, so today’s Trumpists appreciate the certainty that the Grand Liar feels he is far beyond any possible reproach. There are simply no chinks in the armor for the demonic Libs to exploit!
And since Trump has no intention of ever trying to move beyond the support of his reactionary base (i.e. cult), he certainly need never express contrition for anything. If you weren’t already a professing believer by 2016, he doesn’t want or need your support. He is the first candidate in American history who desires to win ONLY the electoral college.
Finally, as a mentally unbalanced narcissist with severe personality disorders, it is impossible for him to ever entertain, even in the private recesses of his mind, that he could make a mistake–in anything. (This is especially important because he is completely and wholly unqualified for the office.)
It used to be that the American electorate would reject such a personality disorder in a prez candidate out of hand, but after 40 years of ingesting torrents of conservative nonsense, the American electorate is no longer competent.
Who would have thought that a “come to Trump” moment would overshadow a “come to Jesus” moment? The anti-christ concept makes more and more sense every day.
Meanwhile the “opposition” still can’t figure out the Iowa vote, the machinations of it feel to Bernie supporters pretty much like the machinations that shut out Bernie in favor of Clinton in 2016, and the party does not seem to be any more self-correcting than at any time since 2016.
Tearing down this president while blind to incompetence/corruption in Dem elite is not a winning political strategy. Dems have to offer something more than the argument that Trump is illegitimate. Trump gets to talk about how great the country and it’s people are, while dems look like they are perpetually sucking on sour grapes, and we voters should be thankful to them for their benevolent, righteous indignation. No thanks.
We’ll see how blase and disinterested in Trump’s absolute corruption and illegitimacy you are when he orders Barr’s DOJ and FBI to open investigations into Bernie. The floodgates of total corruption are now opening, and Trump’s Enemies List is being compiled….
(I say this as a Bernie supporter in 2016.)
“blase and disinterested in Trump’s absolute corruption and illegitimacy”
I tend to avoid the use of words like absolute, as such language shuts down any understanding of nuance, and eliminates the possibility of argument and discussion in an attempt to find any truth.
Trump is indeed a megalomaniac without integrity. As for corruption however, I see him as a great example of the corruption that is this American economy. He is like this fraudulent, racketeering, coercive economy in microcosm. In that way he is in my view, as corrupt as Dem leadership, he just has more power.
As for the DOJ, Barr will be too busy going after those in the FBI, CIA etc deep state who conspired to build a coup attempt against Trump, to go after Bernie. Wait for it…
“As for the DOJ, Barr will be too busy going after those in the FBI, CIA etc deep state who conspired to build a coup attempt against Trump, to go after Bernie. Wait for it…”
You might be right. I will not be surprised if Barr – despite the findings of the DoJ Inspector General – engages in the political equivalent of ethnic cleansing.
The IG’s findings were highly underplayed by the corporate media, to convince Americans “there is nothing worth seeing here,” aka propagandized. Closer inspection however revealed that the FBI relied on fraudulent info to spy on the Trump campaign and Administration, also leading to the Mueller investigation, despite that it was understood by many in gov that the info was fraudulent.
Possibly too, a more serious look at the CIA Whistleblower who led to the impeachment of Trump was possibly planted there to spy on the Trump admin, which is illegal for the CIA to do. We will surely learn more about that come the summer.
I know too, partisan Dems see nothing wrong here. After all, the treatment of Trump by Dems since 2016 is mirrored by covert regime change we perpetrate in foreign countries all over the world (Ukraine 2013-2014 as example), in many cases subverting democratic elections, but otherwise is claimed by America as defending Democracy. Trump being seen as illegitimate by partisan Dems means apparently that the expected ends justify any means.
Fear not Mr. Dumcan, despite your “pox on all houses” protestations, when the time comes the conservatives will still come for you, too.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the trump administration engages in the LITERAL definition of ethnic cleansing.
No cause for surprise, since that is already being done by Trump’s ICE raids focused entirely on Latino immigrants. To the cheers of conservatives.
Indeed, Trump’s ethnic cleansing operation was a proud boast of the Grand Liar in his SOTU, and is arguably the main reason that 90% of Trumpites support him–certainly the minuscule tax cuts most of them received were difficult for them to even notice.
“Ethnic cleansing?” I am clearly remembering the left ridiculing those republicans who were convinced Obama was going to take away all our guns, round up all the Christians and put them into concentration camps.
I’m guessing Maddow or the like started throwing out that phrase, that it seems to have caught on. Hate, Inc, I think Matt Taibbi called it. Get the people to hate each other while elite fleece us all.
Ah no, it’s pretty standard practice for autocrats the world over, since pretty much forever. Think the Balkans, the Middle East, SE Asia. Surely you don’t think we’re somehow special, and different rules will apply to our society, do you?
” In that way he is in my view, as corrupt as Dem leadership, he just has more power.”
Or more correctly, he’s just better at playing their own game. He’s twisting the meaning of words, twisting reality, tagging his detractors with pejoratives, and getting away with all of it. A genuine radical conducting a master class in Alinsky tactics… that’s really whats driving the lefty’s crazy.
Thank you for admitting your (quite correct) conception of Trump as a “genuine radical”, Connor, most conservatives play coy on that front.
What Trump is is a radical reactionary, who desires to return the country to the manifest failures of the bigoted (first) Gilded Age, with its corrupt Robber Barons. That is what today’s “conservatives” are indeed fighting for and seeking to replicate.
You refused to hold the Obama administration accountable for illegally spying on Trump’s campaign. So now precedent has been set and Trump (and every future President) can now spy on and obstruct the candidate from the opposing party without any actual evidence to justify it.
You reap what you sow so enjoy. Obama started this mess.
“Tearing down this president while blind to incompetence/corruption in Dem elite is not a winning political strategy.”
Of course you can support this with state department witness etc. etc. Last check Hillary did 11 hours in front of the Republican firing squad and walked away unscathed, Doubtful your hero Trump could do 11 nano seconds in front of Schiff.
My hero? That is how blind Trump has made those who hate him most, that my criticism of elite Dems is turned into hero-worship of Trump. Do I love Putin too, in this conviction of yours?
This idea that Trump is my hero (and maybe Putin), has as much basis as this idea that Shiff is some warrior of Truth. From my point of view, Shiff is as much a liar as Trump, he is simply less off-the-cuff/more calculated in his lies.
No, you simply are naive to think that we operate in normal times. No one cares about your disdain for the previous administration because we face clear and present risk (to the highest and most personal degree) from THIS administration. The time to quibble about the cookware is NOT while one’s boiling in the pot.
“No one cares…”
My, that’s quite the bubble you have there sir.
Yes, Mr Wagner, I too must protest on behalf of WHD.
He is not pro-Trump; he is anti-(anti-Trump). In others words, he is against those who oppose Trump, while not being in favor of Trump himself. The critical point is that you and I are a greater danger to the republic than those who support Trumpism, because we obstinately refuse to see that the Dem party is just as (if not more!) corrupt as the Repub party (and conservative movement).
It is quite a nuanced position, and difficult to keep straight in one’s mind, but it can be done. Thus we see such things as “Schiff is as much a liar as Trump”, which demonstrates the anti-(anti-Trump) position perfectly. Indeed, it couldn’t be expressed any better!
I would quibble with your “greater danger” assessment, as I think you two are mostly harmless; also, it is not that Dems “obstinately refuse to see that the Dem party is just as (if not more!) corrupt as the Repub party (and conservative movement),” it’that so many dems see ALL corruption in Trump, trumpers and conservatism generally, while the Dem party is the (opposite) shining beacon of Truth, Justice and Democracy.
No, I simply do not expect the Democratic party, or Democrats in general to be the ones to put my life at risk, presently. I cannot say the same for conservatives, can you?
Since 100% of your comments deal with the supposed hypocrisy and corruption of the hapless Dem party and 0% of your comments deal with the horrendous Trump and the (proto-fascist) conservative movement that supports his every whim, it is quite clear who you believe to be the greater danger to the republic, WHD.
He’ll discover just who is a greater risk soon enough I think. I don’t think he’s quite realized that the time for philosophical quibbling and vain attempts to signal virtue are quite nearly at an end. The gears are spinning faster now on an outright societal disaster, and some are content to bray about whom to blame.
It has been Dems who have taken Russia baiting to a new level. It is Dems who have gotten into bed with the Inetelligence community and the war profiteering complex. It is Dems who have treated the $400 million for Ukranian neonazis to kill Russians with like it is sacrosanct. Of course republicans have done this too, just not with the same …”virtue signaling”.
You are right, these are not normal times. Naive is thinking either party has an answer for “fixing” climate change, income inequality, mass extinction, systemic toxicity, desertification, mass ecologic refugees etc mounting imperial overshoot predicaments. Both parties it seems to me are doubling and tripling down on the “consumer” status quo. A people facing reality would have disdain for every administration at least since Reagan.
Otherwise feel free to exacerbate divide and conquer duality separating America from itself…everybody’s doing it.
A perfect example of one disdaining the good because not perfect, while absolving the absolutely bad!
Good concerns all, not a one of which will matter if they start rounding liberals up, or giving their followers an implicit “OK” to do the dirty work for them. I really don’t think you fully grasp the way the wind is blowing.
Wow. This really is devolving into civil war. Both sides blaming it on the other. Have fun with that, fellows. I’m out.
You’re finally getting the idea. Would that it not be so, but I and mine are not the one’s moving events in the direction they are heading. Feel free to ignore what’s happening around you, but please don’t be surprised when the inevitable occurs, and don’t pretend you haven’t any role in it’s coming about.
We’re all getting the picture, sir.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/man-charged-with-driving-into-gop-voter-sign-up-tent-in-jacksonville/
Curious, if the Democrats had said the Iowa caucuses were perfect would you buy it? Or is it only the pathological liars you would give a pass to?
Expecting perfection from any human is foolish. They tried something new and it blew up, I hear Trump supporters may have exacerbated the situation, but as long as their on your side you’ll probably ignore it. Saying the entire DNC is rigged because Bernie didn’t win the primaries is laughable. The Iowa debacle should prove to you that the state parties are running their own primaries and caucuses and Bernie just didn’t get enough votes to win. Seems there is no conspiracy about the Democrats that conservatives won’t latch on to as absolute truth.
Eric:
With so many evangelical supporters (I believe something like 81%) it’s so had to believe that anyone professing to be a follower of Christ could support someone like this president – never mind the platform that’s behind him being anti-abortion and anti-gay, which is what the evangelicals are looking at, I’m sure when they say they support him.
I am reminded of a passage in the Bible: “. . . that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” Daniel 4: 17 b NKJV
This was written about King Nebuchadnezzar as a warning, after he had dreamed a dream and the prophet Daniel had interpreted the dream for the king and then gave him a warning: “Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” Daniel 4: 27 NKJV
And the Lord gave the king 12 months in which to repent, and he didn’t, and after that came a grave judgment upon him which lasted seven years until he came to the realization that . . . “those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” Daniel 4: 37 b NKJV
I’m just saying that pride is a sin that the Lord cannot abide, so maybe some of those evangelicals supporting President Trump should maybe relay this to him? Sooner or later, pride causes one to fall.
Very simple, folks like more money in their pocket than flowery language. “Fly over” folks think we should have a border. Working folks think able bodied people under 50, without dependents at home, should work not collect their neighbors tax dollars. Regular folks get uneasy when an entire panel of Democratic candidates raise their hands for free healthcare for illegal aliens. People that are concerned for their neighbor understand when an entire Baltimore school district can’t find children proficient in math or reading, the system of Public Schools is broken.
Regular folks use their common sense and appreciate results, not pretty talk.
No, “regular” folk care not for your concerns, as conservatives are not “regular”.
More debt as well! $1.3T this year and counting, “in the best ever economy” , you mean like able bodied farmers getting $28B of welfare? Or is it the corporations like Amazon that leverage states, cities , counties for every nickle they can pull in, and pay $0 in taxes. We do have a border, evidently you have never crossed it. So you support just letting folks die in the streets in terms of health care? But lets support Billionaires (Trump and family) and politicians with free health care “can’t find children proficient in math or reading” there are a lot of us folks that think ~ 40% of voting age Americans are not proficient in discriminating moral values or truth from lies or corruption from honesty.
Some “Regular folks use their common sense and appreciate results, not pretty talk.” Some just eat up the propaganda like popcorn at the movie theater.
Can we at least be sorta, kind of honest?
Yes, indeed. But your reliance upon supposed “fly-over….regular folks” (who perhaps believe such righwing nonsense) would be more persuasive if they were something more than a minority faction of voters!
That is why we have the Electoral College (thank God) and that “minority “ elected President Trump.
Actually they happen to be the majority. Most Americans want nothing to do with Socialism which is why Bernie, Warren et al are going to get trounced by Trump in Nov. 330+ EVs easily for Trump this time around.
Bob, Joe is at least willing to admit his distaste and dislike for actual democracy and his sincere belief that “his” people should have a greater say than other Americans. He doesn’t really care that Trump has no democratic legitimacy. You on the other hand seem to think your (Trump) minority faction is really a majority!
Let me know the Clinton states that will go Trump in 2020. Oh, I know: Minnesota!
I advocate testing Mr. Barnes’ anti-socialism thesis. Abolish public schools, Social Security, Medicare, the interstate highway system, air traffic control, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), VA system, National Weather Service, Consumer Product Safety Commission, rural electrification, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and countless other government services that serve the common good. If all government services are put out to bid, we can also test free-market capitalism. May survival of the fittest win.
“Socialism” You mean like local governemnt, fire departments, police force, local hospitals, Social security, medicare. Dump the bridge club, VFW, Rotary, Kiwanis, American Legion etc. in the loose definition they are all “social organizations” or would you describe them as anti-social?
“Socialism is based upon economic and political theories that advocate for collectivism.”
It isn’t an all or nothing game, and there is that clause in the constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,” That really looks “collective” in nature! Maybe Trump can providentially get that erased out of the constitution.
If what you say is true and not just the product of wishful thinking, why is Sanders out-polling Trump?
Here are some definitions to work from. And it seems by any of the definitions or grammatical forms we have a non starter for the use of the word perfect. Except for possible the absolute, complete example seen below reformed into this example, “the perfect sublimation of logic!”
per·fect
adjective
/ˈpərfikt/
1.
having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
“life certainly isn’t perfect at the moment
2.
absolute; complete (used for emphasis).
“a perfect stranger”
verb
/pərˈfekt/
make (something) completely free from faults or defects, or as close to such a condition as possible.
“he’s busy perfecting his bowling technique”
noun
GRAMMAR
/ˈpərfikt/
the perfect tense.
Yes over three years the “perfect destruction of logic and fact” from his mouth and his administration to some posts appearing on these pages. And today we are given the potential deportation of thousands of our neighbors and friends. How long will take for some to understand the sheer cruelty of these fascists ?
If you are always calling Trump a liar (along with other names such murderer – etc. ) in “real journalistic outbursts” and never call the lies of other politician who have equal or near equal proficiency – or the lies of the media – can you still call yourself a journalist or something else?
If you are really concerned about lying – and you ought to be – but never call the obvious lies of those who share your basic political views – you are not really concerned about lying – but have another agenda.
Who are those (contemporary) “politician[s] who have equal or near equal proficiency” as Trump in lying, Ron?
And remember that if you say “Obama!”, you will only have credibility with the Trump-loving extremist populace (perhaps 33%?), as I doubt even the more loosely-held 10-15% of Trump-enabling “independents” believe such prattle.
And to address the most common Obama ‘lie’:
Presidents propose; Congress disposes.
Obama’s original ACA proposal may have included restrictions on when private insurance companies could deny coverage; the actual Affordable Care Act was enacted by Congress.
That’s why Trump’s budget (busting) proposal is (fortunately) DOA.
“What Trump is is a radical reactionary, who desires to return the country to the manifest failures of the bigoted (first) Gilded Age, with its corrupt Robber Barons.”
And yet, it’s the Democrat dominated cities that are bringing back the division and squalor of the 18th century. Charles Dickens would recognize San Francisco, LA, Seattle, Baltimore et.al. right away.
19th Century, of course.
That’s hardly a refutation of my point, sir.
And if you think those 21st Century cities resemble the London Dickens describes, I don’t think you’re reading him closely enough!
I will grant there is certainly more handgun violence in urban America today than Dickens’ 19th Century London, but the ocean tide of high powered weaponry and gun mayhem in America today is of course a by-product of the American conservative movement, with its gun worship.
I speak, of course, of the crime, lack of civility, substance abuse, squalor, filth and disease in the streets sir.
Of course, the lefty elites that live in high rise condos don’t often encounter such unsettling realities lest a wayward breeze bring an unpleasant scent to their lofty altitudes…just as in Dickens’ London.
And as in 1800’s, it is today criminals that are accounting for the bloodshed.
Yes indeed, urban life in Blue cities is on the whole deplorable. That’s why they can’t build housing fast enough and housing prices are constantly rising!
Yes sir. Those prime condos are gaining in value. They are the gated communities of the urban elite.
“Lack of civility?” For a Trump supporter, that should be a feature, not a bug.
Were his point valid, he wouldn’t be reading them at all. If the right didn’t have revisionist history, they wouldn’t have any history at all…