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    The Nothingness of Donald Trump

    This will be short.  My eyes, dammit, are still bothering me, but not nearly as much as Donald Trump bothers me.  I HATE writing about Donald Trump, adding to the list of people who make him deliriously happy whenever we mention his name, but he hit a new low the other day, even for him, when he went after Hillary Clinton's aide, Huma Abedin, and then went after Hillary's aide's husband.

    Abedin (Or "Ooma" as Donald calls her), as everybody knows, is the wife of former congressman Anthony Weiner. ("Did you know that?" Trump shouted to his audience, "Did you know that?")  So after insulting both Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin with unsubstantiated claims of underhanded collusion to hide some emails produced on an in-home server, he decided it would be a real crowd-pleaser to go after "Ooma's" husband, too. 


    Well, yes.  It was.  The crowd went wild!  During that speech and over the next couple of days he accused Abedin of giving national secrets to her husband, who, according to Trump, is a "perv", "psychologically disturbed" and "one of the great sleazebags of our time."  (Weiner's "crime", I don't have to tell you, was to tweet a couple of lewd pictures to women who weren't his wife.  Naughty, naughty, to be sure, but a perv?)

    Trump has a masterful way of suggesting something bad is going on without having to prove it.  When he talked about the Mexicans coming over the border who were rapists and murderers, he added, "And some of them are good people, I'm sure."  As if, in the middle of his sentence, his brain finally engaged and balked a little, giving him the means to soften what he just said without having to take any of it back.

    When he said McCain was only a war hero because he was captured and he, Trump, didn't like people who were captured, his brain must have been asleep at the time, forcing him, as often happens, to go it alone.  Later, when he knew he had to backtrack, he said, lamely, "I'm sure McCain is a hero."  There.  All done.

    So when he took to talking about Hillary's emails, and Huma Abedine's role in what's turning out to be another Clinton non-scandal, it was, again, a masterful demonstration of speechifying without really saying anything:

    "So how can she be married to this guy who's got these major problems? She's getting her most important information, it could be, in the world. Who knows what he's going to do with it? Forget about her. What she did is a very dangerous thing for this country, and probably it's a criminal act."
     Well, of course, the press went nuts, as it usually does whenever they latch onto non-stories as juicy as this one.  They went after Trump, practically begging him to keep it up:
    Washington (CNN) Donald Trump on Saturday stood by his charge that disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner is a "perv," adding that he "obviously is psychologically disturbed" and alleging that his wife, Huma Abedin, a top adviser to Hillary Clinton, is passing sensitive information to him."I think it's a very fair statement that I made and a lot of people have congratulated me," Trump said after an event in Nashville, Tennessee. "(Abedin) is receiving this very, very important information and giving it to Hillary. Well, who else is she giving it to? Her husband has serious problems, and on top of that, he now works for a public relations firm. So how can she be married to this guy who's got these major problems?"

    You know what's sleazy?  A man like Donald Trump having so little respect for our American system of government that he would use his guise as candidate for the presidency to spread his laughable malarkey, to push his one agenda, his own self-aggrandizement; to mock and insult anybody who isn't fawning over him and who dares to get in his way as he moves toward what he wants when he wants it.

    You know what's perverted?  The notion that a man like Donald Trump could be considered for the job of President of the United States.  Right now, as I write this, he polls at the top of the Republican contenders.  He's a panderer who hasn't given an honest thought to the needs of the citizens of this country EVER.  He's a man who admits he'll do anything to get a deal.  He's a ruthless businessman who prides himself on not knowing anything about politics or foreign policy and sees that as a plus for his side.

    He's a flim-flam man and proud of it.  A flim-flam man whose only cause is to keep his popularity going.  He's running for president of the United States and at least some of our citizens are hoping they'll get the chance to vote for him.  If you ask them why, they'll repeat the phrase embroidered on Trump's trademarked baseball cap:  To Make America Great Again.

    Such is the state of our nation. 

    My head hurts.


    (For the record, I have written about Anthony Weiner here and here, and about Huma Abedin here.)

    Addendum:  Kevin Drum shares another example of the artistry of the Trump word salad.  Nothing leads to nothing leads to nothing. . .  And seeing is believing.  (H/T to my friend Linda Tilsen for finding and sharing.)

     

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    Comments

    And Trump's response to it is pure ... well, Trump.


    Oh, that Donald!  Always classy.


    Ha! Not only did the dust-up make it on the Maddow show, Kareem will be her guest tomorrow night. Basketball fans for Trump?


    Donald walked right into that one.  He acted like a school boy.  We would be insane to expect him to behave rationally with foreign policy or our economy let alone treat people fairly.

     


    ( I'm pasting my Facebook comment here, rather than trying to think up something new.  So, apologies in advance for not being more creative. )

    Willie Stark + Lonesome Rhodes = Donald Trump.

    Another demagogue who will, in the end, get his comeuppance

     


    Hey, it looks pretty good over here, too!  And as I answered, If only he were a fictional character.  

    Adding:  And all his followers were fictional, too.  And the Media persons who can't get enough of his Donaldness. . .them, too.


    I think the GOP deserves him.  


    Americans may flirt with the preppy life of the frathouse partier because he’s poked sacred cows, said stuff we all wish we could say (except that reason keeps us from doing it), and acted buffoonishly entertaining. But when you wake up the next morning and he’s saying you’re now in a four-year relationship, reason comes rushing in, and it is time for the “it’s me, not you” speech. With over a year until the elections, there are too many Republican hopefuls that dilute the polls. Once the herd thins out (Rick Perry seems out of money; Bobby Jindal out of breath; Huckabee out of touch), other candidates with more substance will have their voices heard. And when it comes down to just three or four candidates, Trump’s blustering inarticulation and dodging of questions will seem untrustworthy.

     https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/09/02/kareem-abdul-jabbar-this-is-the-difference-between-donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders/?tid=sm_fb

    I think that says it all. 


    I already wrote about this guy in many posts.

    I noted that I have been watching West Wing on a Netflix stream; I mean like I have other things to do. hahahah

    Almost an entire season dealt with our President's inability to disclose his MS.

    Did Bartlet lie at any point with regard to his MS?

    Trump has signed documents during his corporate bankruptcies--four or five?

    Trump has most probably lied in his divorce documents over time.

    Trump has lied a thousand times, at least, with regard to his judicial filings over the last two or three decades.

    WHERE ARE THE GODDAMN DOCUMENTS?

    WHERE IS THE PRESS?

    WHERE ARE THE IDIOT BLOGGERS?

    And Hillary has emails?

    In any civil suit there are demands for production of documents.

    This guy is getting away with murder because THE PRESS is not looking for evidence.

    I hate this guy. But I think that 'we' just hope he wins and then we might disclose his sins later on during the real campaign. hahahah


    What is barely mentioned, especially within the breathless media, is that 70+% of Republicans surveyed do not support him. Many that do are not committed to voting for him. I almost feel sorry for those who must be screaming into their TV's, "not me!", as their party is painted with a broad Trump brush. Almost - because they're still supporting one of the other ones.


    It's a sad spectacle, but the Republicans asked for it. GOP leaders have been courting xenophobia, attacking Washington, and complaining about American "weakness" for decades. Trump is the distilled product of their cynical populist machinations.

    That said, I agree with you that Trump will never break 30 percent of the GOP, and he is so hated by the rest that he won't be able to capture delegates from other candidates. The talk of a delegate plurality is silly.

    What's much more interesting is the question of whether he'll mount a third party bid. That's what the GOP is really worried about, and that's why they've been handling him with kid gloves.


    Now that he's signed "The Pledge", the question is whether that will change anything.


    Pledges were made to be altered.  Like debt convenants.


    I predict a newly coined word soon:  PLEDGERUPTCY

    And the Donald will be proud to own it!​

     


    I read a sharp New Republic piece on The Pledge:

    “I really got nothing,” Trump said at a Thursday press conference in New York, speaking about his meeting with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. “Absolutely nothing other than the assurance that I would be treated fairly…. I have no intention of changing my mind.”

    He got nothing, in other words, aside from an all-purpose and unchallengeable exception, which will force party officials to constantly police one another to make sure they don’t give Trump the excuse he’ll need to launch an independent campaign.

    Trump is now operating entirely from a position of strength.

    My emphasis


    What puzzles me is that Trump seems to get about 20% from every republican subgroup. He gets about 20% of evangelicals, moderate republicans, tea party, etc. But from some polling I've seen he doesn't get a majority of any of the subgroups. I have a guess. I'm not sure it's true and I won't defend it. I'm just tossing it out there. Most evangelicals aren't racist but about 20% of them are. Most tea party members aren't racist but about 20% of them are. Most moderates aren't racist but about 20% of them are.


    Weiner and Abedin are kind of perfect Trump targets because they feed the suspicion his supporters have that there are two sets of rules in the world and that they are in the wrong league.  Yes, Weiner lost his political career over... well... not, much, really.  But as I recall, he was going to lose his Congressional seat anyway as it was being redistricted.  At least he has retained some influence.  He appears on television.  He writes op-eds for The New York Times. He's still a special person.  I think a lot of guys look at his minor crime of tweeting stupid pics to strangers and realize they might wind up back at mom's, paying alimony and child support, for the same sins.  There's some jealousy that he got away with it. Not unscathed, but not ruined, either.  He is still married to an influential woman.  He is still a friend of the Clintons.  He is still connected and seemingly not hurting for money.  He still has prospects.

    They've been trying to take down Abedin forever.  Remember when she was supposedly a member of the Muslim Brotherhood?  Yet there she is, counseling one of the most consequential women in global politics.

    They're winning, see.  Trump supporters hate that. Ironically.

     

     


    I appreciate the Liberal angst, denial and paranoia that Trump's rise and growing popularity has generated but trying to rehabilitate the Weiner Man seems like a pitiful cause to pursue just because Trump correctly labeled him a perv. Before the internet his type could be found in city parks Flashing young women and while they were relatively harmless it was probably wise to not put them in positions of power or to rely on their wisdom.

    Reality in Amerika is getting quite bizarre with Muslim Kareem  writing a thoughtful attack aimed at Trump while supporting Zionist Sanders and defending Fox and Univision news media, the paragons of free thought and expression.

     


    Hey, you're on quite a roll today.  "Muslim Kareem"!  "Zionist Sanders!"  I'm not surprised nobody else has answered you.  But come on!  There are perversions and there are perversions.  Anthony's weiner flashing is nothing compared to the perverted notion that poor people, including those with kids, brought this on themselves and if they've got no boot straps, tough shit.  Or the perverted notion that God is telling those loonies that women shouldn't be able to control their own bodies, even to using birth control.  Or the perverted notion that everyone outside of the United States is a possible enemy and we should get ready to go to war.  Or the perverted notion that a county clerk is doing God's work by denying same-sex couples marriage licenses.  Or the perverted notion that global warming is hogwash put out there by people who don't like the rich.  Or the perverted notion that. . .

    Well, you get the idea.

    And Trump is a skunk.


    The perverted notions of much of our Ruling Class, Liberal and Conservative alike are certainly to be condemned but Weiner is still an individual public Perv.

    I was surprised to read that that noxious county clerk is a Democrat, who would have thought that possible.

    All politicians are, IMO, stinkers but Trump is a Strange Attractor from outside the political cesspool which is driving not only Liberals but also  establishment conservatives to distraction.

    I shouldn't take pleasure in other's pain but this 'Reality' show has produced more hysteria and strange, unsavoury alliances to avoid the humor in this circus.


    Just because Trump is coming, as you say, from outside the political cesspool doesn't mean he's not coming from a cesspool.  It just smells different.

    I'm surprised the clerk is a Democrat, too--not because Democrats are so perfect, but because religious bigots don't usually like Democrats.


    Trump is smelling like a rose these days even with all the caca that politicians and pundits are slinging at him. His short and concise rebuttals infuriate some people while many folks enjoy his uninhibited straight-talk.

     

     


    Peter, those rose-colored glasses have a crack in them.  You might want to replace them with clearer ones.  It'll be a whole new world out there when you do.  


    Not rose colored glasses. I picture peter with really dark sunglasses sitting at a desk with Mao's Little Red Book on it wearing a Weatherman t-shirt, with a Che Guevara poster on the wall and amerikkka written on it.


    Donald Trump will not be a problem in the general election. Trump has had his picture taken with Al Sharpton. Trump had meetings with Sharpton. Once Trump becomes the nominee, Sharpton will bring up his long friendship with the Donald. Sharpton will endorse Trump. The racists will abandon Trump in a heartbeat and Trump loses the election in a landslide.


    The Sharpton Window!


    It's a tough one. Trump gave money to the Clinton Foundation and every one knows that if someone gives money to the Clinton Foundation they have bought the Clintons. Trump could call in his marker and demand that Hillary endorse him. Trump loses because everyone hates Hillary. But then again Trump has expressed admiration for Hillary. He could endorse her which would be the kiss of death. Hillary loses. Of course  Hillary could endorse Trump and Trump could endorse Hillary. Then who would the dumb asses vote against? There's just no telling how that would play out.


    Trump didn't buy HRC or her disbarred hubby he just rented her for his wedding. Smart Plutocrats don't own politicians when leasing or renting them has better tax benefits and keeping them dancing for donations is more entertaining. The important point is that parasites such as HRC are always available for a price and Plutocrats will pay when their services are needed often in advance.


    Excellent observation.
    I have some confidence that Sharpton won't be endorsing Trump in this lifetime but I am reminded of that dieting maxim:

    Once on the lips, forever on the hips.


    I just watched par of Lawrence O'Donnell where the pundits all laughed about why Trump doesn't need to spend any money to run for president because the press gives him tons of free press.  They said this and laughed about it.  Our media has become a joke much like our democracy has become an oligarchy.


    I'm sure most will agree that much of the media is sensationalism with little substance. Two points though. The media gives the people what they want. (famous star's) side boob pic gets a lot more clicks than any politician's policy views. And while Trump gets more than his share of press due to his sensational statements the media has to and is right to cover the politician polling far ahead of the others in the field.


    The audience drives the media, no doubt, yet the opposite is also true. When you see nothing but coverage of one person, and are told he's the favorite, you tend to believe it. You tend to go with the flow, to buy in to what's apparently important enough to be everywhere at once. If he's not "it", then why all the coverage? The only air time other Republican candidates get is when they're asked about Trump's latest whatever.

    Of course, the majority of coverage for democrats is about Hillary's emails - which polls have shown aren't really that important to voters. Will it take viewers going en masse to The Food Network to convince cable news that we don't need 24/7 Donald?


    Yeah, it's a vicious cycle, a downward spiral, and I don't know what can be done about it. But if newspapers were getting more clicks for articles about the different policies of Bernie and Hillary instead of clicks for articles about the differences causing the latest fight between Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift we'd get better coverage of Hillary and Bernie.


    Generally, I think most folks that are attracted to Miley/Taylor articles know the difference between them and political coverage. Most on-line sites that feature both subjects differentiate fairly well - and base market decisions accordingly.

    Trump is the greatest thing that could have ever happen to the Democratic Party - he reflects the GOP's character perfectly.  Trump's doing what the Democratic Party should be doing but lacks either the courage, or common sense, to do - laying out exactly who the Republicans are to the American people. To have someone like him at the very top of the Republican polls speaks volumes. 


    Fascinating. You may have heard about Hugh Hewitt's interview with Trump, in which Donald accuses the radio host of asking "gotcha questions". But it's his follow-up interview with Carly Fiorina that I find more interesting. Hewitt intentionally had her on the show before the pre-taped Trump interview aired, for the sole purpose of asking similar questions to defend himself against the charge. It worked.

    How might this affect the upcoming debate since Hewitt will be a moderator? I see a preemptive excuse in the works for Trump should he do poorly.


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