I regularly believe that visionaries lack traction in society because there are so many different visions. It's hard to get a large group of people to support one of them and move towards that idea. (Example: bullet train)
This just happened in the Republican party: it fragmented so badly due to the Tea Party, religious groups, and the resulting schism, there was no legit unified GOP vision. That chaos allowed someone with an ego to stand up and say - literally - "I'm the least racist person there is." "I'm with you, the American People." and "I will give you everything." (you can find these easily on google)
So, if you don't have a good, real Republican candidate (what happened to Huntsman?) then you get this basically unopposed doofus. If there were a good GOP candidate, why did he/she sit on their hands? Is it an agreement that they shouldn't waste their time running against Hillary? I always thought that was the tacit agreement with Romney: let him have his swing at it, but he can't really win and we shouldn't waste a good candidate when the result is inevitable.
Every time he stuck his foot in it and said something idiotic or unbelievably cruel or clueless or transparently dishonest I thought "Stick a fork in him, he's done, no way he's coming back from that" and every time I've been wrong. I have given up making predictions about this race.
All I can conclude is that his supporters just aren't listening. They're projecting what they want him to be onto that fake-gold-leaf-framed canvas and nothing about who he really is is going to get in the way of that vision. That, or they hate Hillary so much that they will take any alternative. An empty lawn chair. A painting of Ronald Reagan on black velvet. A bucket of rancid deep-fat-fryer grease last used to cook babies.
Ayup. Their minds are made up, don't try to confuse them with facts. The antichrist they believe Clinton to be cannot hold a candle to the horrors that will be visited upon us - and the rest of the world - if this psychopath gets in the white house.
The thing that completely floored me was Trump's thinly veiled insinuation that the mother didn't speak because her religious affiliation would not allow her to. So what? If that were even true (it's not)... who cares? How does that take away from the ultimate sacrifice that their son made for this country?
When Trump tried to make that an issue, I could clearly see that Trump didn't want to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice that the Khan's son made and didn't understand the message being delivered. He decided instead to try and derail that message because lashing blindly back at any derogatory statements made about him by anyone is Trump's modis operandi. Trump has never once apologized for any of the stupid statements/actions he has made throughout his campaign and this will never change. For to apologize in Trump's world would be an admission that he was wrong and to apologize would also show weakness. These are two things that he could never admit to himself or anyone else so we are simply left with the fallout of a sulking, petulant, emotionally stunted, egotistical bully that is prone to verbal tantruming at the drop of a hat.
Every time he stuck his foot in it and said something idiotic or unbelievably cruel or clueless or transparently dishonest I thought "Stick a fork in him, he's done, no way he's coming back from that" and every time I've been wrong. I have given up making predictions about this race.
All I can conclude is that his supporters just aren't listening. They're projecting what they want him to be onto that fake-gold-leaf-framed canvas and nothing about who he really is is going to get in the way of that vision. That, or they hate Hillary so much that they will take any alternative. An empty lawn chair. A painting of Ronald Reagan on black velvet. A bucket of rancid deep-fat-fryer grease last used to cook babies.
The thing that completely floored me was Trump's thinly veiled insinuation that the mother didn't speak because her religious affiliation would not allow her to.
He appears to be getting his foreign policy notes from Sara Palin:
TRUMP: It’s â look, you know, I have my own ideas. He’s not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He’s not gonna go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want â
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, he’s already there, isn’t he?
TRUMP: OKâ well, he’s there in a certain way. But I’m not there. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama with all the strength that you’re talking about and all of the power of NATO and all of this. In the meantime, he’s going away. He take â takes Crimea. He’s sort of, I mean â
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you said you might recognize that.
TRUMP: I’m gonna take a look at it. But you know, the people of Crimea, from what I’ve heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were. And you have to look at that, also. Now, that was under â just so you understand, that was done under Obama’s administration.
He's a genius, I tell ya. If you don't believe me, just ask him.
I'm increasingly convinced that Trump peaked shortly after the GOP convention and that he has nowhere to go but down from here on out.
Trump succeeded in part by personifying the frustration and anger of his base, those feeling economically and socially threatened. His supporters were looking for someone who would criticize both parties and the national political system. They were looking for an outsider with a reputation for success who would promise to knock over the whole rotten system, someone who wouldn't apologize or mince his words. Trump looked successful in business and talked about his track record of creating jobs. He realized that he could appeal to voters' anger by lashing out against political correctness. He's trying to project an image of energy, infallible judgment, and unapologetic truth-telling. He succeeded largely by taking his reality-show persona into the political arena.
But now Trump's campaign has little money and less organization to work with, so he has to rely on outrageous statements to stay in the news. He was bound to criticize someone he shouldn't have and owe that person an apology. His persona as capitalist superman doesn't allow for apology, though (his narcissism and attack-as-response character may be preventing him too).
Trump clearly owes the Khans an apology and some concession that they have a point about his lack of sacrifice, but he can't or won't tactically retreat like that to move past this controversy. So his strength (attack-as-response, never apologize) has been turned against him and now he really looks like an uncaring, selfish monster. (Karl Rove was a master of attacking an opponent's strength.)
People aren't really paying close attention to this election yet, so they're still stuck on Trump-as-entertaining-spectacle. He mocks John McCain? Most people don't remember Vietnam or McCain's POW experience, so he can get away with it. He calls Megyn Kelly a bimbo? You can still get away with sexist statements towards women these days, esp. when your base laughs at statements like that. But the Khans created a strong contrast with their son's service and sacrifice on hand and Trump's self-centered selfishness on the other. The mother's response that she didn't speak because she was so overcome with seeing her son's picture damaged Trump more, perhaps, than her husband's words.
The Khans hit a raw nerve in America about sacrifice and service and Trump's failure to move away from his standard "so what, my critic has an axe to grind" response made it a much bigger news story. He stepped on a political landmine. The Democrats will keep putting these landmines in front of him and I don't think Trump can adapt to avoid further damage.
The story of the Khans and Trump's invitation to Putin to interfere with our election will keep damaging Trump for a long time.
The thing that completely floored me was Trump's thinly veiled insinuation that the mother didn't speak because her religious affiliation would not allow her to. So what? If that were even true (it's not)... who cares? How does that take away from the ultimate sacrifice that their son made for this country?
When Trump tried to make that an issue, I could clearly see that Trump didn't want to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice that the Khan's son made and didn't understand the message being delivered. He decided instead to try and derail that message because lashing blindly back at any derogatory statements made about him by anyone is Trump's modis operandi. Trump has never once apologized for any of the stupid statements/actions he has made throughout his campaign and this will never change. For to apologize in Trump's world would be an admission that he was wrong and to apologize would also show weakness. These are two things that he could never admit to himself or anyone else so we are simply left with the fallout of a sulking, petulant, emotionally stunted, egotistical bully that is prone to verbal tantruming at the drop of a hat.
He appears to be getting his foreign policy notes from Sara Palin:
TRUMP: It’s â look, you know, I have my own ideas. He’s not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He’s not gonna go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want â
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, he’s already there, isn’t he?
TRUMP: OKâ well, he’s there in a certain way. But I’m not there. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama with all the strength that you’re talking about and all of the power of NATO and all of this. In the meantime, he’s going away. He take â takes Crimea. He’s sort of, I mean â
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you said you might recognize that.
TRUMP: I’m gonna take a look at it. But you know, the people of Crimea, from what I’ve heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were. And you have to look at that, also. Now, that was under â just so you understand, that was done under Obama’s administration.
Does anyone really need more convincing that this guy is unequivocally unfit for the job? Day-in and day-out he continues to embarrass himself and his party (mostly himself). I'm a registered Republican and am deeply ashamed that it has all come to this...
There are far better people in this forum that can explain his success so far but I'm still betting that when push-comes-to-shove the voters will ultimately separate the sizzle from the steak and send the wannabe packing.
I'm increasingly convinced that Trump peaked shortly after the GOP convention and that he has nowhere to go but down from here on out.
Trump succeeded in part by personifying the frustration and anger of his base, those feeling economically and socially threatened. His supporters were looking for someone who would criticize both parties and the national political system. They were looking for an outsider with a reputation for success who would promise to knock over the whole rotten system, someone who wouldn't apologize or mince his words. Trump looked successful in business and talked about his track record of creating jobs. He realized that he could appeal to voters' anger by lashing out against political correctness. He's trying to project an image of energy, infallible judgment, and unapologetic truth-telling. He succeeded largely by taking his reality-show persona into the political arena.
But now Trump's campaign has little money and less organization to work with, so he has to rely on outrageous statements to stay in the news. He was bound to criticize someone he shouldn't have and owe that person an apology. His persona as capitalist superman doesn't allow for apology, though (his narcissism and attack-as-response character may be preventing him too).
Trump clearly owes the Khans an apology and some concession that they have a point about his lack of sacrifice, but he can't or won't tactically retreat like that to move past this controversy. So his strength (attack-as-response, never apologize) has been turned against him and now he really looks like an uncaring, selfish monster. (Karl Rove was a master of attacking an opponent's strength.)
People aren't really paying close attention to this election yet, so they're still stuck on Trump-as-entertaining-spectacle. He mocks John McCain? Most people don't remember Vietnam or McCain's POW experience, so he can get away with it. He calls Megyn Kelly a bimbo? You can still get away with sexist statements towards women these days, esp. when your base laughs at statements like that. But the Khans created a strong contrast with their son's service and sacrifice on hand and Trump's self-centered selfishness on the other. The mother's response that she didn't speak because she was so overcome with seeing her son's picture damaged Trump more, perhaps, than her husband's words.
The Khans hit a raw nerve in America about sacrifice and service and Trump's failure to move away from his standard "so what, my critic has an axe to grind" response made it a much bigger news story. He stepped on a political landmine. The Democrats will keep putting these landmines in front of him and I don't think Trump can adapt to avoid further damage.
The story of the Khans and Trump's invitation to Putin to interfere with our election will keep damaging Trump for a long time.
Location: Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth
Posted:
Aug 1, 2016 - 2:22pm
Steely_D wrote:
I regularly believe that visionaries lack traction in society because there are so many different visions. It's hard to get a large group of people to support one of them and move towards is. (Example: bullet train)
This just happened in the Republican party: it fragmented so badly due to the Tea Party, religious groups, and the resulting schism, there was no legit unified GOP vision. That chaos allowed someone with an ego to stand up and say - literally - "I'm the least racist person there is." "I'm with you, the American People." and "I will give you everything." (you can find these easily on google)
So, if you don't have a good, real Republican candidate (what happened to Huntsman?) then you get this basically unopposed doofus. If there were a good GOP candidate, why did he/she sit on their hands? Is it an agreement that they shouldn't waste their time running against Hillary? I always thought that was the tacit agreement with Romney: let him have his swing at it, but he can't really win and we shouldn't waste a good candidate when the result is inevitable.
There were 17 candidates for the Republican nod, I believe. The chips fell in a rather unusual way, leaving Trump as the last one standing. His campaign defied description and, quite obviously, common convention. Was it strategical brilliance or did he just ride a rogue wave?
Does anyone really need more convincing that this guy is unequivocally unfit for the job? Day-in and day-out he continues to embarrass himself and his party (mostly himself). I'm a registered Republican and am deeply ashamed that it has all come to this...
There are far better people in this forum that can explain his success so far but I'm still betting that when push-comes-to-shove the voters will ultimately separate the sizzle from the steak and send the wannabe packing.
I regularly believe that visionaries lack traction in society because there are so many different visions. It's hard to get a large group of people to support one of them and move towards that idea. (Example: bullet train)
This just happened in the Republican party: it fragmented so badly due to the Tea Party, religious groups, and the resulting schism, there was no legit unified GOP vision. That chaos allowed someone with an ego to stand up and say - literally - "I'm the least racist person there is." "I'm with you, the American People." and "I will give you everything." (you can find these easily on google)
So, if you don't have a good, real Republican candidate (what happened to Huntsman?) then you get this basically unopposed doofus. If there were a good GOP candidate, why did he/she sit on their hands? Is it an agreement that they shouldn't waste their time running against Hillary? I always thought that was the tacit agreement with Romney: let him have his swing at it, but he can't really win and we shouldn't waste a good candidate when the result is inevitable.
I've said this before, but Andy Kaufman 'died' about the same time Trump started his rise in the public. I'm still willing to give odds that on very near (maybe after) the election, he will pull the mask off and say "here I come to save the day" - thus ending th longest piece of performance art in history.
There are other explanations but they say very bad/ugly things about us as a people, so I'm really hoping it's Kaufman.
Does anyone really need more convincing that this guy is unequivocally unfit for the job? Day-in and day-out he continues to embarrass himself and his party (mostly himself). I'm a registered Republican and am deeply ashamed that it has all come to this...
There are far better people in this forum that can explainhis success so far but I'm still betting that when push-comes-to-shove the voters will ultimately separate the sizzle from the steak and send the wannabe packing.
I've said this before, but Andy Kaufman 'died' about the same time Trump started his rise in the public. I'm still willing to give odds that on very near (maybe after) the election, he will pull the mask off and say "here I come to save the day" - thus ending th longest piece of performance art in history.
There are other explanations but they say very bad/ugly things about us as a people, so I'm really hoping it's Kaufman.
Does anyone really need more convincing that this guy is unequivocally unfit for the job? Day-in and day-out he continues to embarrass himself and his party (mostly himself). I'm a registered Republican and am deeply ashamed that it has all come to this...
There are far better people in this forum that can explain his success so far but I'm still betting that when push-comes-to-shove the voters will ultimately separate the sizzle from the steak and send the wannabe packing.
jeepers, I hope so. That vapid attempt to win points off the Khans was really the pits.
Does anyone really need more convincing that this guy is unequivocally unfit for the job? Day-in and day-out he continues to embarrass himself and his party (mostly himself). I'm a registered Republican and am deeply ashamed that it has all come to this...
There are far better people in this forum that can explain his success so far but I'm still betting that when push-comes-to-shove the voters will ultimately separate the sizzle from the steak and send the wannabe packing.
