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HipChick

(25,485 posts)
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 04:03 PM Apr 2018

"A President not in command of himself..seethes with rage and resentment for all the world to view"





This president is not in command of himself. He’s obsessed with his own problems. He seethes with rage and resentment for all the world to view—and those emotions are visibly distorting his decision-making. The consolation we’re offered for this broken presidency is that the president is not in fact truly in charge of it. Decisions about war and peace are not really being made by Trump, but by more judicious and responsible people behind the scenes
<snip>
The Syria operation was mostly a stunt: It sends a message of disapproval without altering the administration’s inward acceptance of Assad’s victory in the Syrian Civil War. Trump even tweeted notice of the missile strike 60 hours in advance, extending the Russians and Syrians time to ready themselves. The risk that this strike could escalate into something more serious seems vanishingly small.

But other and larger military decisions loom ahead: Iran, Korea, Afghanistan, and conceivably even confrontations with China. The person nominally in charge is in no psychic state for his office. His condition is deteriorating—and with that personal deterioration, there also deteriorates America’s security and standing in the world.
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"A President not in command of himself..seethes with rage and resentment for all the world to view" (Original Post) HipChick Apr 2018 OP
Exactly..scary times Demovictory9 Apr 2018 #1
Such behavior is known as nut case syndrome . Chickensoup Apr 2018 #2
He is a disaster of epic proportions. smirkymonkey Apr 2018 #3
Oh, but "trump is the dove".. Cha Apr 2018 #4
Oh yeah, that's right and "Benghazi"! smirkymonkey Apr 2018 #5
and ... UpInArms Apr 2018 #6
It's a wonder they didn't accuse her of.... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #19
Yeah all the ugly LIES Cha Apr 2018 #7
The lies didn't bring us Trump. Mr.Bill Apr 2018 #10
Well no, not Nugent but certainly Steve Bannon or Paul Ryan FakeNoose Apr 2018 #22
Sarah Palin Scarsdale Apr 2018 #35
I can't believe the GOP would make that mistake FakeNoose Apr 2018 #37
If Trump is like this now, when Mueller has scarcely revealed more than a few procon Apr 2018 #8
and his over-sized jacket gets tighter every day. japple Apr 2018 #9
I was just going to say - that jacket looks uncomfortably tight. PatrickforO Apr 2018 #26
He is Scarsdale Apr 2018 #36
A seafood diet mercuryblues Apr 2018 #42
I would see that orange Scarsdale Apr 2018 #43
And the American people are his punching bag Takket Apr 2018 #11
K&R orangecrush Apr 2018 #12
Meanwhile the cabinet will not use the 25 amend BigmanPigman Apr 2018 #13
tRump has been systematically firing all those who might 25 him. Why Sessions & Pruitt remain. . .nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #16
And Carson. BigmanPigman Apr 2018 #18
Top Turd in America! BlueJac Apr 2018 #14
Decision making? He reverses himself all the time, most recently after Macron & he talked re Syria. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #15
I wish I could write half as well as David Frum. DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #17
I wish the OP had the courtesy of crediting the writer & source. Thank you for doing so. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #20
Here's the entire article DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #23
Thanks. Good cogent read indeed. Short too. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #25
How does this saga end ? DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #27
It ends like a Shakespearean tragedy for the tRumps; but ultimately a win for the USA system Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #28
"Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad" DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #29
You're giving me visions.... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #34
He said (via Twitter)... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #21
"Even if hes offering to take you to church, you dont get into a car with a drunken driver.." DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #24
I like Frum's straightforward dialog and wit. KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #30
True to a point. BlueWI Apr 2018 #32
Yes, I have very limited admiration for anyone that... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #33
Tell us something we don't already know, Atlantic. Amaryllis Apr 2018 #31
Not fit to serve. Nuff said. Ferrets are Cool Apr 2018 #38
Not even fit to serve someone that is. BobTheSubgenius Apr 2018 #44
It's crazy, but you have to bring up someone as evil as Ferrets are Cool Apr 2018 #45
I Don't Care How Nice and Reasonable Frum Sounds Leith Apr 2018 #39
r'd poboy2 Apr 2018 #40
The man is a buffoon. Firestorm49 Apr 2018 #41
 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
5. Oh yeah, that's right and "Benghazi"!
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 04:25 PM
Apr 2018

And "E-mails". Sorry, I forgot just exactly how fiendish she was.


KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
19. It's a wonder they didn't accuse her of....
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:37 PM
Apr 2018

having bone spurs!

GOP hypocrisy never ceases to amaze.

........

Mr.Bill

(24,104 posts)
10. The lies didn't bring us Trump.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 05:14 PM
Apr 2018

The people stupid enough to believe those lies did. And after Trump is gone, those people will still be here.

They will vote for Ted Nugent in the next election if given a chance to do so. That is the real problem.

FakeNoose

(32,355 posts)
22. Well no, not Nugent but certainly Steve Bannon or Paul Ryan
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:42 PM
Apr 2018

... if either of them decide to run. I'd believe it for sure.
What about Rush Limbaugh? He'd win by acclamation.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
35. Sarah Palin
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 08:54 AM
Apr 2018

is willing to sacrifice herself again!! Of course, as long as the money is right, she will be ready, willing and still unable.

FakeNoose

(32,355 posts)
37. I can't believe the GOP would make that mistake
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 08:59 AM
Apr 2018

... but if they did, Palin would be the easiest opponent in a century.
Even with Russia "fixing" it, we'd still beat her by a landslide!

procon

(15,805 posts)
8. If Trump is like this now, when Mueller has scarcely revealed more than a few
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 04:44 PM
Apr 2018

obvious tidbits, and the investigating journalists have just began publishing some juicy findings, imagine what he will be like on the day of the Great Reveal when all the veils get ripped away.

PatrickforO

(14,516 posts)
26. I was just going to say - that jacket looks uncomfortably tight.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 07:00 PM
Apr 2018

LOL...I think Mueller's investigation is getting uncomfortably tight, too!

mercuryblues

(14,491 posts)
42. A seafood diet
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 10:26 AM
Apr 2018

he sees food and eats it. You had better hope he doesn't switch over to the Scarsdale diet. You would be toast.

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
13. Meanwhile the cabinet will not use the 25 amend
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:03 PM
Apr 2018

and the GOP won't pass legislation to protect the investigation or the country. We are screwed due to the GOP!

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
20. I wish the OP had the courtesy of crediting the writer & source. Thank you for doing so.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:40 PM
Apr 2018

I hadn't realized he wrote it because I hadn't chased down the tweet. I shouldn't have to.

Frum is very good. He wrote this very perceptive quote in a tweet (emphasis added):

"Regular reminder that Donald Trump’s core competency is not dealmaking with powerful counter-parties. It is duping gullible victims."

DemocratSinceBirth

(99,705 posts)
23. Here's the entire article
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:44 PM
Apr 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/unfit-to-command/558074/

A snippet:

But other and larger military decisions loom ahead: Iran, Korea, Afghanistan, and conceivably even confrontations with China. The person nominally in charge is in no psychic state for his office. His condition is deteriorating—and with that personal deterioration, there also deteriorates America’s security and standing in the world

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
25. Thanks. Good cogent read indeed. Short too.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:56 PM
Apr 2018

Note to readers of good writing: It takes longer to write something short.

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/04/28/shorter-letter/

Blaise Pascal was probably the first to write it down. But in 1857 Henry David Thoreau offered commentary about story length:

Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.


DemocratSinceBirth

(99,705 posts)
27. How does this saga end ?
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 07:00 PM
Apr 2018

I know Trump has a devoted base but I don't believe the rest of us can live with the lies, the criminality, the contempt for democratic norms and the rule of law. Something has to give. This level of chaos is unsustainable. It's as if this is a Batman sequel and a supervillain has taken control of Gotham. Trump almost has all the makeup.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
28. It ends like a Shakespearean tragedy for the tRumps; but ultimately a win for the USA system
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 07:07 PM
Apr 2018

The USA system needs improvement, however. The RepubliCons are failing to provide the Checks and Balances they must. It is in the hands of the "deep state": career professionals in many parts of the US government. Mueller is the flag bearer at this time.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
34. You're giving me visions....
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:48 AM
Apr 2018

of overnight, dozens of right-wing billionaires waking up one day and giving all their riches to the poor.....and paying a fair share of taxes.

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

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
21. He said (via Twitter)...
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:41 PM
Apr 2018

"The lives of Americans and the peace of the world are in hands you wouldn't trust with your beer money."

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

DemocratSinceBirth

(99,705 posts)
24. "Even if hes offering to take you to church, you dont get into a car with a drunken driver.."
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 06:47 PM
Apr 2018

Even if he’s offering to take you to church, you don’t get into a car with a drunken driver. That same caution should operate with Trump, even if you might otherwise approve any particular decision that emerges from his administration.


https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/unfit-to-command/558074/

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
30. I like Frum's straightforward dialog and wit.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 07:52 PM
Apr 2018

Certainly not a fan of his neo-conservative past, but he has since garnered a bit of moderation and common sense. The GOP certainly can use any voice of reason to counter the bat-shit crazy of recent years!

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)
32. True to a point.
Sun Apr 15, 2018, 11:32 PM
Apr 2018

Frum still supports most of the Trump tax cuts, deregulation, and free trade. Although as he put it recently in a speech, he wouldn't be in favor of kidnapping the opposition's children and holding them in ransom to get these results. In that limited sense, he's praiseworthy.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
33. Yes, I have very limited admiration for anyone that...
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:42 AM
Apr 2018

has in any way been affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute and Shrub Bush. Although I share his disdain for Trump, we can bet he's quietly applauding the destruction of our government structures and regulations.


BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
44. Not even fit to serve someone that is.
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 07:52 PM
Apr 2018

I find it hard to name a world leader that is less qualified...less a punchline to a sick joke.

Ferrets are Cool

(21,063 posts)
45. It's crazy, but you have to bring up someone as evil as
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 07:59 PM
Apr 2018

Idi Amin or Pol Pot to conjure up a more despicable human.

Leith

(7,802 posts)
39. I Don't Care How Nice and Reasonable Frum Sounds
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 09:54 AM
Apr 2018

He did more than his fair share for decades to get us where we are today. Don't forget that he's still a rethug. Once IQ45 is gone, Frum will go back to his old "cut taxes, screw the poor, throw money at military" and all the other BS that the reichwing spouts ad nauseum.

He is not with us. He is with them.


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