[Trinidad]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 11:11, said:

Do you feel good about doing good? Then you are pursuing self-interest.

But Trump isn't in the White House to feel good about doing good. (In fact, he basically hasn't done anything at all and I think that right now he is not feeling that good either.)

He has one reason to be in the White House:

"Look, everybody! I am in the White House!"

So far, he hasn't been able to get much further than that. But I fear that the next step will be: "Hmm, I would be crazy if I wouldn't totally use this to my advantage. And I was elected bigly, so the voters are okay with that."

Rik

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 13:51, said:

Well, certainly. Wouldn't you do the same if you were in his position? Do you really expect Trump to admit to any mistakes/errors that he doesn't absolutely have to? Would you realistically expect that of anyone else?

Only the grown-ups.

[ldrews]

 Winstonm, on 2017-February-18, 13:59, said:

Only the grown-ups.

OK, name a grown up politician who would do so.

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-17, 22:35, said:

Actually I believe that Trump, like everybody else, primarily has his own interests at heart. That is how humanity seems to work. The trick is to get his interests lined up with my interests and let him pull the wagon. This seems to be happening.

The only people who profess not to have their own interests primary, like you, are the real con men.

But please do console yourself with the Russian conspiracy bit. It is very entertaining.

You seem to equate self-interest with something other than self-satisfaction. Looking out for other peoples' interests instead of your own can be very rewarding; helping others out of times of need and despair can be rewarding; living life by the creed that society is more important than any one individual want helps elevate all lives, including your own.

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 14:03, said:

OK, name a grown up politician who would do so.

President Obama

Quote

But during an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Obama took a moment to reflect on his biggest mistake while Commander in Chief.
Speaking to host Chris Wallace, Obama said: 'Probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya.'

[PassedOut]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 13:51, said:

Well, certainly. Wouldn't you do the same if you were in his position? Do you really expect Trump to admit to any mistakes/errors that he doesn't absolutely have to? Would you realistically expect that of anyone else?

You can't be serious. That's childish -- not adult -- behavior.

Like most honest folks, I prefer to shed mistaken notions and am grateful when folks point them out (even though it can be embarrassing at times). That's one reason why I try to state my opinions as clearly and directly as possible.

Trump repeatedly makes statements that are clearly demonstrably false and then gets angry at those who point that out. He cozies up to those who make a living peddling falsehoods (as he has done himself).

The government is not a nursery school and the White House is not a baby's play pen.

[PassedOut]

On the entertainment front:

Quote

Earlier in the week, Trump invited Chris Christie to a lunch at the White House. While everybody else at the table got to pick what they wanted to eat, the president made Christie order meatloaf. “It’s emasculating!” cried a talk-show host to whom the governor of New Jersey — for some reason — reported the tale.

“No it’s not,” Christie responded, rather weakly. “It is the president.… And the meatloaf was good.”

Even better than the sh*t sandwich Trump made him eat last time.

[ldrews]

 Winstonm, on 2017-February-18, 14:07, said:

President Obama

Right! Retiring from the position, no plans for further political position, no need for political power. You are right. Now name an active grown up politician who wants to be re-elected.

[ldrews]

 PassedOut, on 2017-February-18, 14:20, said:

You can't be serious. That's childish -- not adult -- behavior.

Like most honest folks, I prefer to shed mistaken notions and am grateful when folks point them out (even though it can be embarrassing at times). That's one reason why I try to state my opinions as clearly and directly as possible.

Trump repeatedly makes statements that are clearly demonstrably false and then gets angry at those who point that out. He cozies up to those who make a living peddling falsehoods (as he has done himself).

The government is not a nursery school and the White House is not a baby's play pen.

And you can't be that naive! Politicians are primarily interested in getting re-elected and exercising power. You are right, government is not a nursery school and the White House is not a baby's play pen. You might stop trying to use kindergarden rules to evalute their inhabitant's behavior.

[Cyberyeti]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 13:51, said:

Do you really expect Trump to admit to any mistakes/errors that he doesn't absolutely have to? Would you realistically expect that of anyone else?

The problem with this as Mrs May has found out, is that if you admit your position was wrong, and change it, you're accused of performing a U-turn as if this was worse than continuing with something that was never going to work.

[PassedOut]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 14:37, said:

And you can't be that naive! Politicians are primarily interested in getting re-elected and exercising power. You are right, government is not a nursery school and the White House is not a baby's play pen. You might stop trying to use kindergarden rules to evalute their inhabitant's behavior.

Compare this press conference of Kennedy's after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion with Trump's recent performance: The President's News Conference April 21, 1961

Quote

There's an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan ... Further statements, detailed discussions, are not to conceal responsibility because I'm the responsible officer of the Government ...

In fact, you might want to read the whole transcript as a reminder of how responsible, experienced politicians communicate: no whining, no shifting the blame to others, and plenty of factual information. In fact, Trump's performance at his press conference looks terrible compared to that of every president I've seen, democrat or republican.

To my conservative way of thinking, accepting personal responsibility for one's actions is the adult course. Although he's clearly in over his head at the White House, Trump's childishness is what really creates a dangerous situation for all of us.

Trump is a guy who spits on McCain and kisses Putin's butt. He seems to think that exclaiming "Not good!" after every Russian provocation will persuade Putin to back off. Weak, weak, weak! No wonder Putin wanted Trump in office.

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 14:32, said:

Right! Retiring from the position, no plans for further political position, no need for political power. You are right. Now name an active grown up politician who wants to be re-elected.

Quit moving the goalposts. I answered your question. It is too bad you don't like that the answer isn't consistent with your bias. Besides, you can't have it both ways. Trump is either the businessman outside or he is a politician, so you can't claim he is simply acting like another politician when he claims himself to be a non-politician.

[Al_U_Card]

 Winstonm, on 2017-February-18, 16:50, said:

Quit moving the goalposts. I answered your question. It is too bad you don't like that the answer isn't consistent with your bias. Besides, you can't have it both ways. Trump is either the businessman outside or he is a politician, so you can't claim he is simply acting like another politician when he claims himself to be a non-politician.

There's the rub. Trump is NOT a politician so comparing him to them is fruitless. Flim-flam man? Blustering buffoon? Savvy sociopath? Or just a guy on a mission that a lot of pundits and punters are unable to fathom.
Seasoned businessmen are used to cleaning out the deadwood and shaking down the fruit from the tree, so maybe he is a shakedown specialist?
It appears that he is used to more acquiescence from his charges than he is receiving from the installed appointees that are dead-set against his announced agenda. Ross Perot and Ralph Nader were other "fringe" candidates that didn't get the chance to set the ship of state on a new course. Perhaps 3rd time is a charm?

[cherdano]

Trump: "I won with the biggest electoral vote margin since Reagan." (Not true, unless you ignore Bush senior, Clinton and Obama.
ldrews: "What do you expect Trump to say - admit that he won by a small margin in the electoral vote, and despite losing the popular vote by 2%"?

Trump fanboys are really something.

[cherdano]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 13:38, said:

Since I feel that significant changes are needed in the US culture/policies to ensure survival/prosperity, I continue to support Trump because he seems to be attempting to make changes.

What significant changes do you want to see?

[ldrews]

 cherdano, on 2017-February-18, 17:47, said:

What significant changes do you want to see?

In my lifetime (not all that much time left):

Significant reduction in military presence around the world
Renunciation of being the policeman for the world
Significant improvement of opportunities for the middle/working class
Significant improvement in the plight of inner cities
Significant improvement in control of our borders
Significant improvement in our educational system

Each and every one of these areas is held hostage by the existing status quo and invested stakeholders. It seems to me significant change will not happen by playing nice. So, although I agree that Trump is a juvenile, he is at least kicking over the apple carts. Had Clinton been elected I would bet my last dollar that no significant change in these areas would occur.

[ldrews]

 cherdano, on 2017-February-18, 17:45, said:

Trump: "I won with the biggest electoral vote margin since Reagan." (Not true, unless you ignore Bush senior, Clinton and Obama.
ldrews: "What do you expect Trump to say - admit that he won by a small margin in the electoral vote, and despite losing the popular vote by 2%"?

Trump fanboys are really something.

Well, Trump did win the election. So there must be a lot of Trump fanboys. Enough that they are really something, as you say. And unless the anti-Trump fanboys get their act together, he will probably win again. The anti-Trump fanboys show no signs of doing so.

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 18:48, said:

In my lifetime (not all that much time left):

Significant reduction in military presence around the world
Renunciation of being the policeman for the world
Significant improvement of opportunities for the middle/working class
Significant improvement in the plight of inner cities
Significant improvement in control of our borders
Significant improvement in our educational system

Each and every one of these areas is held hostage by the existing status quo and invested stakeholders. It seems to me significant change will not happen by playing nice. So, although I agree that Trump is a juvenile, he is at least kicking over the apple carts. Had Clinton been elected I would bet my last dollar that no significant change in these areas would occur.

It may really surprise you that I agree with your list. Your method of getting there is suspect.

What you will get instead is a dismantling of the social safety net, a massive increase in military spending, and a trade war. There is no way to restructure the old manufacturing jobs and bring them back. Retraining, free educational access, and a progressive tax system is the only way to help the middle class. A middle class must be created; it is not the automatic result of unbridled capitalism.

How you think your list is something that will happen is truly beyond me. I agree that Clinton would not have done much of what you want. But to support Trump is to abandon reason for a belief in magical thinking.

[mike777]

Many posters seem to believe that trump will dismantle the social safety net. If dismantle means reduce to zero or something close to zero I thing they are very misguided. \\

I expect over the next 4 years the total money spent on the social safety net from all sources will increase...not decrease...not fall to zero.

If by dismantle posters mean they want to spend even more...fair enough but a poor choice of words.


Trump does not come across as a small government advocate. Trump does not come across as a guy who wants total spending on the social safety net to decrease or fall to zero.

[cherdano]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-18, 18:48, said:

In my lifetime (not all that much time left):

Significant reduction in military presence around the world
Renunciation of being the policeman for the world
Significant improvement of opportunities for the middle/working class
Significant improvement in the plight of inner cities
Significant improvement in control of our borders
Significant improvement in our educational system

Each and every one of these areas is held hostage by the existing status quo and invested stakeholders. It seems to me significant change will not happen by playing nice. So, although I agree that Trump is a juvenile, he is at least kicking over the apple carts. Had Clinton been elected I would bet my last dollar that no significant change in these areas would occur.

Other than empowering CBP agents to make life miserable for immigrants that look non-white, none of this will happen under Trump.