But even if we look at recent times... Obama's presidency was similarly marked by the internet and intensely rapid delivery of a constant news stream - yet he handled his opposition with grace, diplomacy and realism. Trump, as a narcissist, views opposition as personal rather than political. But I'll grant him one thing. I doubt any president has used Twitter the way he does. Since the Twitter-verse is a giant echo chamber, it's not surprising that he gets an overwhelming amount of noise coming back at him.
This post was edited by inky at June 21, 2019 7:17 PM MDT
I was astounded when he claimed to have graduated with good marks from a good university. I checked it out, and it turned out to be exact - a degree in business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania - widely considered one of the best for business.
However, people can easily forget what they learned at uni if they don't keep researching and learning after they leave their formal education. Also, a business education leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the qualifications required of an elected representative in a democracy - or a president.
I think those who first put him forward for the job figured they'd be able to manage him like a puppet - and then got a rude shock.
I was under the impression that he ordered the college not to reveal his marks. I'm sure those with C averages also received degrees, but if I were hiring, I'd want the A or A+ student which I'm sure he was not.
Like civility, ethics, and modern science, history is completely friggin alien to Mr Trump, who conjures up his reality as he goes along. He also lacks the temperament (and I argue the acumen) to listen, read, or learn any.
Last I heard was just yesterday when he said that the Queen of England (many are saying this) has never had a better time with anyone than she did with Donald Trump.
That was after he said: He would look at suspect foreign material and actually just confessed that he was guilty of offering his allowance of assistance by Russia
That was after he said McCabe WAS WRONG ABOUT THIS
He's an idiot. He forgets that the Queen has been a professional diplomat since she was 25. All royals are raised to it from the cradle. While the Queen is known to prefer conservative politics, she does not personally prefer populists and demagogues. Her role demands that with Trump she must play the role of a convivial host and Head of State entertaining her equal in official status. She must even tolerate his breaches of etiquette - like when he laid his hand on her back. Yuk! Can you imagine what it would take not to squirm or jolt away? Not to call the guards and have him escorted out of the room for a pep talk?
This post was edited by inky at June 19, 2019 11:48 AM MDT
IMAGINE HER EVER UTTERING SUCH A BANAL, COMMON, MORONIC description of anyone, much less such a clownish boor like that maniac.
I bet Adolph Hitler said the world over adored him as well. In their own minds, they are glorious legends. The world burns and they stand in the mirror and play the violin like Nero when Rome burned.
This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at June 18, 2019 12:45 PM MDT
Speaking to Fox and Friends on June 13th about his time with the Queen, Trump said, "I have such a great relationship, and we were laughing and having fun. And her people said she hasn't had so much fun in 25 years...Then I got criticized for it because they said we were having too much fun."
When CNN asked Buckingham Palace for a response to Trump's comments, they were told it was “not something we would comment on”.
Everyone who meets the Queen is coached on protocols and etiquette. Trump breached this advice on numerous occasions.
A royal's life is as constrained as that of a Queen bee. The role forbids the Queen any personal relationships outside her immediate family. Even English Prime Ministers, whom she gets to know well on a professional level, never know her private persona.
For scores of years, people have said of the Queen that she's very good at being friendly but never anyone's friend. She can't be. She must be above cronyism and corruption. Trump may have mistaken a friendly demeanour for actual friendship and "fun."
Part of the job of Buckingham staff job is to shield the Queen's privacy, hence never to say anything about her feelings. No one was sacked. Therefore we can be reasonably confident that "her people" would not have said, "she hasn't had so much fun in 25 years."
Staff cannot say that the US President lies or is in error because that would be unpardonably rude. Their only recourse is to say, “not something we would comment on.”
But Trump is not one for subtleties. It seems he doesn't realise that others can recognise lies. This instance is funny because it's so trivial, but the issue of lies becomes serious when it concerns national security or interference in democratic and legal processes.
This post was edited by inky at June 19, 2019 11:49 AM MDT
The Prez thought that when he and the Queen laughed together it meant that she was having fun, "such a great time together." He clearly doesn't realise that she's a consummate actor, easily as good as Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall, able to laugh when diplomacy requires it, whether something is funny or not. She may even have been genuinely amused by something he said - though as you say, probably not for the reasons he imagines.
Now that he's starting his campaign for the next election, how do you read the mood of the nation? Are enough of the electorate sick of him yet? Will the Democrats put forward really good candidates? Will the Dems put the right tactics and effort into their campaign? And will more Democrats not take the outcome for granted and come out to vote?
This post was edited by inky at June 19, 2019 8:55 PM MDT
Kittigate 