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NanceGreggs

(27,814 posts)
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 09:59 PM Jan 2018

The Beauty of "Fire And Fury"

The more Republican spokes-whores and WH insiders dismiss Fire And Fury as gossip-laden pulp fiction, the more interest there is among the citizenry in reading it.

The fact is that many people who normally eschew “political” books will read one that is described as being full of salacious tidbits about the people they see and hear on a regular basis – especially given that those people are still part of the current administration. That has been proven true over decades; if it weren’t a fact, Hollywood gossip tabloids would have ceased to exist long ago.

Given that Trump is a proven liar, and his administration and toadies have regularly blurred the lines between what is fact and what is fiction on his behalf, the truthfulness of Woolf’s book has been rendered almost irrelevant. The American public is going to eat it up, one way or the other – and speculation about what actually IS factual and what is embellishment or the imaginings of the author will have little impact on the discussions that will be taking place at office water coolers and elsewhere across the nation.

From what I’ve seen thus far of the book’s excerpts, Woolf’s “insider accounts” of what took place in the WH mesh seamlessly with what we’ve seen of the public Trump and his sycophants – along with what we’ve learned to date from Mueller’s investigation. We have all witnessed the pattern of behaviour of an out-of-control “pResident”, and the infighting between those jockeying for positions of influence within his sphere, and their willingness to back-bite those they see as competitors for Trump’s favour.

In other words, there is nothing in Woolf’s version of events that doesn’t at least “ring true” – and for many, that’s enough thruthiness to make it wholly believable.

Trump’s outrage at the publication of Fire And Fury is just another self-inflicted wound. Had he and his WH cohorts simply laughed it off as implausible fiction, at least some of the damage would be under control. But as we’ve seen over and again, Trump can’t resist being his own worst enemy and, in this case as in others, his outrage serves to pour gasoline on what could have been dismissed as an inconvenient fire.

I’ve no doubt that Woolf knew with certainty that Trump would blow his stack, and counted on the fact that his predictable reaction would catapult book sales – and he has been proven correct in that assessment.

If we know nothing else about Trump, we do know this: If you put a gun in his hand, he will aim it at his own head first – while telling his perceived enemies to be very afraid, because he’ll be aiming at them next.

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Beauty of "Fire And Fury" (Original Post) NanceGreggs Jan 2018 OP
K&R n/t mobeau69 Jan 2018 #1
I guess there IS bad publicity underpants Jan 2018 #2
The Barbra Streisand Effect. Drunken Irishman Jan 2018 #3
It's almost like he is a ghostwriter for Steve Bannon... kentuck Jan 2018 #4
The Dotard communications team mcar Jan 2018 #5
it might have been D_Master81 Jan 2018 #20
a [more?] sober assessment of this book. . . Stargleamer Jan 2018 #6
They referenced Maggie Haberman kcr Jan 2018 #17
My predictions for this book. KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2018 #7
This book will not help remove Trump from office. NanceGreggs Jan 2018 #8
This is the kind of stuff askyagerz Jan 2018 #13
Poking the bear, as they say. nt KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2018 #19
"The author will sell a gazillion copies" Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #12
No need askyagerz Jan 2018 #14
Don't you just love trailers for films Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #24
Or show all the best jokes askyagerz Jan 2018 #25
Isn't there a path for them to get royalties even from downloads? KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2018 #16
"royalties even from downloads" Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #23
If somebody doesn't want me to see something for no other reason than I won't pay for it... hunter Jan 2018 #31
Nothing's being stolen Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #32
I disagree, strongly. hunter Jan 2018 #37
Reported for abuse. Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #39
So the author and publisher shouldn't be compensated? N/t TexasBushwhacker Jan 2018 #34
He has been Liberalagogo Jan 2018 #36
They are getting money from me - I'm downloading it to my iphone from Audible womanofthehills Jan 2018 #21
Think of the #45 misadministration as a ship, and the book as a waterline cannon shot. VOX Jan 2018 #15
you wish Skittles Jan 2018 #18
If it gives him heartburn MFM008 Jan 2018 #26
K&R. Same here! KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2018 #27
Ahahahahaa sweet poison. forgotmylogin Jan 2018 #9
If the book IS full of lies, then it truly is about Trump. keithbvadu2 Jan 2018 #10
I wish wed had a book like this in the early years of the Reagan administration oxbow Jan 2018 #11
I just pre-ordered it right before midnight. joet67 Jan 2018 #22
Another great post Nance Gothmog Jan 2018 #28
I will be buying this book Gothmog Jan 2018 #29
k and r niyad Jan 2018 #30
There are reviews on Amazon mentioning censorship TexasBushwhacker Jan 2018 #33
Kick/rec Tipperary Jan 2018 #35
Best comment on it - Patton Oswalt robbedvoter Jan 2018 #38
Great closing sentence. Great JDC Jan 2018 #40

kentuck

(111,089 posts)
4. It's almost like he is a ghostwriter for Steve Bannon...
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 10:30 PM
Jan 2018

It seems most of the material, including stories of others, came directly from Steve Bannon?

mcar

(42,307 posts)
5. The Dotard communications team
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 10:36 PM
Jan 2018

apparently allowed the access because they thought the book would be positive.

Most incompetent administration ever!

D_Master81

(1,822 posts)
20. it might have been
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 12:25 AM
Jan 2018

Wolff likely would've written a positive piece if it wasnt such a clusterf*** in the WH. I doubt he set out to write a hit piece, maybe so. But if the material isnt there, the story isnt there. And knowing these people they probably thought they would and were doing a good job and would receive favorable treatment from Wolff.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,490 posts)
7. My predictions for this book.
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 10:49 PM
Jan 2018

1. The author will sell a gazillion copies of it and use the money to support right-wing causes and candidates, and maybe buy a yacht. Most likely, the majority of sales will be to liberals and other Trump-haters.
2. Mainstream Repugs and Trumpsters will throw shade and projection all over this thing, as they discredit fine points and use the "he said/she said" argument to cast doubt on many parts of it.
3. Faux News will use it as an example of false narrative created to discredit their beloved pResident.
4. Republicans will have another massive distraction from their corrupt governance.
5. After that, anytime a liberal makes reference to it - that reference will be declared false narrative.
6. By early spring, all who bought the book will have another door stop.

PS: I hope I'm wrong and the book somehow helps to remove this scum from office.

.................

NanceGreggs

(27,814 posts)
8. This book will not help remove Trump from office.
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 10:56 PM
Jan 2018

And no one is suggesting that.

However, the WH's reaction to the book is not doing Trump any good. It's just another case of protesting too much, as per usual.

As they say, it's the hit dog that yelps.

askyagerz

(776 posts)
13. This is the kind of stuff
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 11:31 PM
Jan 2018

That would keep someone like Trump up at night. Just us knowing his vanity secrets might crack him before Mueller does. This looks like a big everyone point at the Trumps and laugh book. It will not sit well with the king. His ego let this book happen. Let's hope its big enough to crush the cockroach

 

Liberalagogo

(1,770 posts)
12. "The author will sell a gazillion copies"
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 11:25 PM
Jan 2018

Not if you know where to download it.

The book may be trash or truth, but no one's going to get any $$$ from me for it.

askyagerz

(776 posts)
25. Or show all the best jokes
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 01:11 AM
Jan 2018

A movie will get plenty of advertisement by word of mouth if it's actually good. No need to spoil it

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,490 posts)
16. Isn't there a path for them to get royalties even from downloads?
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 12:14 AM
Jan 2018

Like you, I would not pay anything for it. We already know the degree of asshole tRump is.

Many Republicans will just vote for and fund a different Republican.


hunter

(38,311 posts)
31. If somebody doesn't want me to see something for no other reason than I won't pay for it...
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 05:20 PM
Jan 2018

... I always respect their wishes.

Channels for pirating things give those things an artificial aura of value.

If somebody is stealing something, it must be valuable, right?




 

Liberalagogo

(1,770 posts)
32. Nothing's being stolen
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 06:13 PM
Jan 2018

Just like when you give friends a book to read or check it out from a library. There's no theft.

hunter

(38,311 posts)
37. I disagree, strongly.
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 07:39 PM
Jan 2018

Most of my own work is Creative Commons, free with attribution and non-commercial use, or Open Source.

But fuck you if you steal anything I choose to copyright or patent.

Nevertheless, I do think copyrights and patents are often severely abused by giant corporations who can afford the most bad-ass lawyers.

A long time ago, when I was young and naive, my partner sold some of my work to the defense industry. I'm a pacifist, religiously so. I was not happy. We eventually separated when I jumped out of her moving car in Berkeley, but not especially for that.

My ex was so pissed off with me I couldn't use her as a reference. I did a few times before I figured it out, once with a place that manufactured polysiloxanes. I breezed through the first interview, but when they called me back for a second interview they'd talked to my ex, and they were suddenly very concerned that I'd reject the small amount of work they did for military contractors, which was purely commodity shit.

I dunno, maybe they had some secret military contract and I was not their guy, but I don't think so. I didn't get the job. It all turned out for the best, me finding work in medicine and education, and meeting my wife.

The Open Source and Creative Commons universe is huge. There's no good reason to pirate anything.

If I'm not willing to buy the book I won't read it, unless someone who has bought it gives it to me. Same with movies, software, and everything else.

 

Liberalagogo

(1,770 posts)
39. Reported for abuse.
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 08:10 PM
Jan 2018

And welcome to ignore.

Please try to keep your hateful commenting to yourself and disagree respectively.

But when you are in the wrong, that's all you can do I guess.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
15. Think of the #45 misadministration as a ship, and the book as a waterline cannon shot.
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 12:07 AM
Jan 2018

In itself, the book won’t likely sink it. BUT... it does provide Mueller with a valuable research tool; more immediately, it acutely stresses #45, where he’s likely to wander farther off course, which helps the opposition.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,490 posts)
27. K&R. Same here!
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 05:30 AM
Jan 2018

Of course, a few Trumpsters will buy and use it as a "Guide for Proper Living", LOL.


forgotmylogin

(7,528 posts)
9. Ahahahahaa sweet poison.
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 11:06 PM
Jan 2018

The more they scream about it and deny the allegations, the more people will want to read and discuss it!

Smart politicians know: The less mountain piled in defense of an "untruth", the less visible it is from a distance.

How much have we heard Hillary say about the stones lobbed at her?

keithbvadu2

(36,788 posts)
10. If the book IS full of lies, then it truly is about Trump.
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 11:06 PM
Jan 2018

If the book IS full of lies, then it truly is about Trump.

oxbow

(2,034 posts)
11. I wish wed had a book like this in the early years of the Reagan administration
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 11:14 PM
Jan 2018

The underlying message is about his cognitive decline. The gossipy parts are juicy but the real meat is about how he can’t remember people he’d met a year ago, how he repeats the same stories multiple times in the span of a few minutes. These are things that can be confirmed by anybody who has been in contact with him recently. Now we are hearing that members of Congress are taking his health more seriously, asking doctors from Duty to Warn to testify, and you see how knowledge is trickling up the chain.

The evidence for treason is already out there, both in mueller’s hands and for anybody else who is paying attention to see. *But the evidence of his cognitive decline (and the clear and present danger to us that comes with that) is the one thing that needs to be hammered home whenever discussing Wolff’s book.*

joet67

(624 posts)
22. I just pre-ordered it right before midnight.
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 12:41 AM
Jan 2018

I can’t wait to get it. Finally had a reason to use a B&N gift card my sister gave me a year ago at christmas 🎄😊

TexasBushwhacker

(20,185 posts)
33. There are reviews on Amazon mentioning censorship
Fri Jan 5, 2018, 06:18 PM
Jan 2018

People saying they bought the book BECAUSE Trump tried to have it suppressed.

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