RickJay:
But why does that matter to Donald Trump?
I mean, if we were talking about the first two months or the Presidencies of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, or… well, anyone else who’s ever been President, this would be an interesting point.
But we’re not; we’re talking about a very different President. You cannot view his actions thro7ugh the lens of the logic you applied to Obama and Bush and Clinton and on and on, all of whom were certainly egotistical but who also
Wanted to improve the United States and the welfare of its citizenry,
Wanted to improve the position and influence of their political parties, and
Wanted to create a positive historical legacy.
These things do not interest Trump. Trump doesn’t care at all about the USA or its populace. Trump’s primary goal is to enrich himself by looting the government and using its policies to make himself money (or pay off debts to Russia, which is effectively the same thing.) His secondary goal - well, maybe less a goal and more of an overriding theme, as it were - is to enrich his ego. That is, incidentally, why he held that rally in Florida. It made him feel nice inside. It also props up support among Trumpists, which ensures future rallies will draw thousands of Trumpists to cheer for him.
So far he is succeeding, except when something mean about his is said on the news, which is what makes him send angry/distracting tweets. But his plan is generally working; he’s the President, and the opportunities for graft are limited only by his imagination. If something like the Muslim Travel Ban fails, that doesn’t really “harm” Trump in the slightest. Trump doesn’t make money from that. He’s doing it solely to mollify the ultra-right-wingers in Congress and make dull-minded Americans happy. If the ban is struck down in court, or goes through but is an operational fiasco, it doesn’t matter at all. If it’s struck down Trump still looks like a hero to racists. IF it fails to accomplish anything, that’s irrelevant; he did it, and every day there isn’t a terrorist attack he can say it’s working, and the Trumpists will believe him and cheer for him.
The only thing that could harm Trump is something that could actually remove him from office early. (I am not convinced he wants, or needs, a second term; he can steal most of the money in the first four years.) As long as he’s President, he can gobble up taxpayer money; it makes no difference at all what happens to the country, or to the Republican Party, or anything at all, as long as he gets lots of money and adulation; his policies can be total failures but as long as he doesn’t start a war bad enough to go nuclear and ruin his wealth, he’s good. What would harm him is removal from office - which is why he plays ball with the Republicans as much as he does. If he keeps enough Republicans happy, he can’t be impeached, and the gravy will continue to flow.
Hmmm… This makes me pine for “President Pence” all the more (which, of course, really ain’t much)! Trump’s downfall and removal would make me so happy! Make it as humiliating as possible. Oh, yeah…
I wish I still believed in God, because this is what I would pray for…
Don’t overdo it.
ThelmaLou:
Not to mention physically fit with a killer body, athletic prowess [those pics of Obama windsurfing must have fried Donnie!], classy, charming, confident, well-spoken, not a breath of any kind of scandal, with a gorgeous, super-intelligent wife who clearly adores him… I would imagine DJT would be fairly consumed with envy, if he would let himself think about it-- which he clearly can’t-- too painful to compare himself.
There can be no doubt that the orange jackass suffers from a deep sense of self loathing and inferiority. It’s the reason he acts out and tries to overcompensate for the fact that virtually everyone he envies (secretly admires) is a far better person than he can ever be. It’s what keeps him up nights, panic tweeting when he’s most alone. Because in absence of love and respect, attention is the only thing he can generate. That need for attention is a bottomless hole he will never fill.
He’s an empty, vapid, unlovable, desperate, empty shell of a man.
RickJay:
But why does that matter to Donald Trump?
I mean, if we were talking about the first two months or the Presidencies of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, or… well, anyone else who’s ever been President, this would be an interesting point.
But we’re not; we’re talking about a very different President. You cannot view his actions thro7ugh the lens of the logic you applied to Obama and Bush and Clinton and on and on, all of whom were certainly egotistical but who also
Wanted to improve the United States and the welfare of its citizenry,
Wanted to improve the position and influence of their political parties, and
Wanted to create a positive historical legacy.
These things do not interest Trump. Trump doesn’t care at all about the USA or its populace. Trump’s primary goal is to enrich himself by looting the government and using its policies to make himself money (or pay off debts to Russia, which is effectively the same thing.) His secondary goal - well, maybe less a goal and more of an overriding theme, as it were - is to enrich his ego. That is, incidentally, why he held that rally in Florida. It made him feel nice inside. It also props up support among Trumpists, which ensures future rallies will draw thousands of Trumpists to cheer for him.
So far he is succeeding, except when something mean about his is said on the news, which is what makes him send angry/distracting tweets. But his plan is generally working; he’s the President, and the opportunities for graft are limited only by his imagination. If something like the Muslim Travel Ban fails, that doesn’t really “harm” Trump in the slightest. Trump doesn’t make money from that. He’s doing it solely to mollify the ultra-right-wingers in Congress and make dull-minded Americans happy. If the ban is struck down in court, or goes through but is an operational fiasco, it doesn’t matter at all. If it’s struck down Trump still looks like a hero to racists. IF it fails to accomplish anything, that’s irrelevant; he did it, and every day there isn’t a terrorist attack he can say it’s working, and the Trumpists will believe him and cheer for him.
The only thing that could harm Trump is something that could actually remove him from office early. (I am not convinced he wants, or needs, a second term; he can steal most of the money in the first four years.) As long as he’s President, he can gobble up taxpayer money; it makes no difference at all what happens to the country, or to the Republican Party, or anything at all, as long as he gets lots of money and adulation; his policies can be total failures but as long as he doesn’t start a war bad enough to go nuclear and ruin his wealth, he’s good. What would harm him is removal from office - which is why he plays ball with the Republicans as much as he does. If he keeps enough Republicans happy, he can’t be impeached, and the gravy will continue to flow.
I agree with you on what fundamentally motivates Trump: Avarice and self-aggrandizement. He will never change or become self aware in any way.
I’m suggesting that his narcissism will lead to his downfall because sooner or later (I hope, sooner) he will be caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And no amount of cozying up to republicans will save him because I don’t believe there is any loyalty there. They will gladly let him drown to keep him from dragging them down with him.
I think the truth is simpler and more disturbing:
He actually believes Fox News and the right-wing fake news machine. Hook line and sinker. Its what informs his opinions on Obama, his policies, his beliefs about Sweden, Guantanamo, immigrants, China, the TPP, the lot.
There really is no more to the man.
I agree. He believes the lies peddled by Fox et al because it serves to ease his feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. He maligns that which he cannot live up to.
“No puppet. No puppet! YOU’RE the puppet!”
jayjay
March 7, 2017, 10:45pm
28
Congressional GOP doesn’t care about liabilities to the country. It’s only when he becomes a liability to the PARTY that they’ll act.
QuickSilver:
He’s an empty, vapid, unlovable, desperate, empty shell of a man.
And knows it.
There’s an acronym in there somewhere.
I watched the entire speech and, at the time, was thinking about what a bullshitter he was and then, the next day, I was seeing exactly what DataX is talking about. I certainly don’t get it.
