General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"This is all Donald Trump has left" Amazing summation of Trump's character
All Trump wants, all he has ever wanted, is to be able to keep doing and taking and saying whatever he wants whenever he wants. He ran for president for this reason and this reason only.https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/this-is-all-donald-trump-has-left-1830329753
For someone who does it so frequently, Trump is not especially talented at lying. His dissimilations are all easy to see through; the things he heatedly accuses his enemies of doing are always things that he has done himself, is currently doing, or obviously aspires to do in the future. He is always desperate, in the way that selfish and needy people are always desperate. His fears transparently run the show, both the normal human fear of failing and the more specific ones he picks up on the cable news channel he watches, which splits its broadcast day between fulsomely flattering coverage of him and armchair generalship in a sprawling race war the network is imagineering out of rhetorical abstraction and into bloody existence. Watching hours of that every day would destabilize anyone; for Trump, who is very vain and very stupid and has always cared more about TV than anyone should, the result is equilibrium, or entropy.
Its so easy to see the shape of what Trump wants in the ways that he lies and lies about what isin the way he gooses crowd numbers, in the way he tells stories about strong men weeping at his feet out of fulsome gratitude for all hes done for this country, in the gap-intensive conspiracies and bizarre causal helixes that he invents to explain away his failures. Whats most striking about Trumps lies, beyond their overwhelming volume and bombast, is how they reflect his own monomania. So Many Are Saying various things that somehow all wind up being about him; theyre Saying It More And More because there is nothing else and no one else he could imagine anyone wanting to talk about. The metastasizing They that opposes him grows by the day, and cares about him every bit as much as he cares about himself. They will do, are always somewhere doing, whatever it takes to make him look like an idiot who fucks up and lies constantly. Nothing, certainly not the lives of any number of strangers or whatever is left of any national ideal, is more important than the survival of his most obvious throwaway fantasy.
Everything returns to him, sometimes along a longer arc than others, but always in good time. His obliterating vanity can sometimes give this a darkly comic aspect, as when he was hilariously and transparently jealous of the few days of theatrical bipartisan mourning that followed John McCains death, but it is generally too ghoulish to laugh at. Trumps engagement with the world is fundamentally an envious oneother people possess what should be his, everything that is not him is just getting in his way. This is why his response to the challenge of his office seems to top out at blustering and uncomprehending impatience. Those opiate deaths and wildfires and our fortnightly mass shootings are Quite Frankly So Tragic, but it is palpable that the only real response Trump has to them is that they distract from what everyone had been talking about before, which was and by rights should continue to be him.
----
Trump wont stop. He wont stop because hes never told the truth in his life and because this is all he has and all he has ever had. He wakes up every day to the mess hes made and says and does whatever he must, at whatever cost, to get through the day. Like many in his generation, Trump has mistaken the end of his life for the end of the world. He cant imagine, let alone care about, what will be left after he is gone, if only because no one who matters to him will be around for it. His politics, such as they exist, boil down to this: he is trying to hold on, and will spend the rest of his life trying not to be found out. Every day is like this now. He could do this foreverhe talks often about serving for longer than one more termbut thats mostly because he has so much invested in never stopping. He is over-leveraged as always; he can only ever do more.
JDC
(10,125 posts)Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)or "my wife did that" stories. It's all about him on a level I've never seen before. He can't even pretend to care about anyone else.
JDC
(10,125 posts)Never met a grandparent that didn't dote over and recite stories about their grandkids. Never. His self-absorption is absolute.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)one on his knees.
dawg day
(7,947 posts)for a moment like a proud grandparent- "She's learning mandarin!"
Then, like TRUMP, he said, "Say I love you, Grandpa! in Mandarin."
Even with the little girl, it's all got to be about adoring him-- even if he has to order it.
Javaman
(62,515 posts)he doesn't give a shit.
his children are commodities to him, nothing more.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)He is the epitome of a sperm donor.
Capperdan
(492 posts)How is Melanie today? Did Djunior do good today? How was Eric's dental checkup?
randr
(12,409 posts)SimpleC
(279 posts)Trump is my father...to the bone...
It's part of the reason I hate him...
I have horror stories that would shock most people...
trump's root issue from years of overcoming people like him...
I can say this with a certain amount of confidence... trump suffers from Narcissist Personality Disorder... it's in the DSM V manual.... read it...
It's a physchopathic disorder and he's not going to change...
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)"self-focused" is my term. He wasn't an a**hole like Trump, actually had a good heart but everything was about him. He'd yawn if the conversation ever became about someone else. It wasn't fun to be around.
mercuryblues
(14,530 posts)The reasons trump is worried about little Donnie getting indicted is not because it would be horrible for his son and grandchildren, but how it will reflect on himself. He is also scared that junior will rat him out to save himself and not protect daddy.
Donny 2 scoops taught those children the Art of the Steal well. Do anything to save yourself. Junior knows that daddy will turn on him in a heartbeat, so he may just beat him to it.
Wounded Bear
(58,639 posts)PatSeg
(47,390 posts)but minus the money and power. Without money, Trump would be that annoying know-it-all braggart at the end of the bar.
I'm so sorry you had to be raised like that. Such narcissistic fathers are far too common and can cause life long damage to their children. Glad you survived.
demigoddess
(6,640 posts)and I stopped falling for her manipulations. When she noticed that, she stopped contacting me. Stop falling for trumps lies and he will want to get out of the limelight.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)Name your poison. I'm sorry you had such a bad father, SimpleC. Thank goodness you grew up and could get away. If only we could escape. It's a challenge every day to block it out. I tried to trash the "t" word, here, on the site. Didn't work. I hope things are better for you now. Keep the faith.
♡ lmsp
vlyons
(10,252 posts)He has mistaken fame for acceptance by polite New York society. He craves desparately to be part of that society, to receive accolades for being a swell guy. But he's never going to get the Nobel Peace Prize. Even his Trump non-profit foundation is being scrutinized for fraud and self-dealing. He is a small, mean-spirited person. It never occurs to him to do something for the benefit and well-being of others. As a Buddhist, I feel very sorry for Donald Trump. There's a lot I could tell him about the true path to happiness, and the deceptive nature of ego. But he wouldn't listen. The scariest thing for Donald is the death of his ego, the death of the drama he tells himself about himself. One day we will all die, and the only thing that we will take with us is our mind -- and our habits good and bad.
So here we are in the 5 Act drama of Donald Trump. I figure the mid-terms were the climax, and we are somewhere in Act 4, the falling action. The denoument will come next Spring.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)lol... as we all will.
leftieNanner
(15,080 posts)This can never happen again here!
And, yes, I know that it probably could, but I'm sending out those positive vibes.
SimpleC
(279 posts)trump truly scares me... when cornered... he's going to lash out...
duforsure
(11,885 posts)I think right now he's very much like Bernie Maddoff was before it all crashed down onto him. Every day he's getting more and more desperate to keep the con going, and now knows he can't, and its almost over for him and his gang.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)all through his rise to become "the Donald" in the 90s, he kept the lie of the self made millionaire. during the run of the non celebrity apprentice, he had people begging to learn at this feet. The true secret of his success was the money from his father.
When the NY Times article came out, he made a little bit of noise but then shut up about it. Cuz he knows it's true.
Moostache
(9,895 posts)An indexed mutual fund investing that money from his old man would have outpaced the totals Donnie 2 Scoops lost by an order of magnitude...he literally could be in the Bezos/Gates/Buffett club by having done exactly NOTHING or the exact OPPOSITE of everything he did.
My solace is this - he is a man incapable of experiencing the slightest joy through the lives of others he positively impacts, and there is no greater feeling or experience on Earth than to see the gratitude or simple joy in the eyes of another and the knowledge that you helped put that there.
Donald Trump is a cautionary tale, a modern day Scrooge, but the beauty is there are no ghosts of Christmas arriving to redeem him, no actual love left in that burned out husk of a man-baby. He will die alone, in a bed with Big Macs, Filet o' Fish and KFC boxes strewn about...I just hope it happens with all haste so that he cannot do anything with nuclear weapons before he kicks.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)AZ8theist
(5,453 posts)I'm from back east. Worked in NYC in the early 80's. We all knew about Dotard back then and his money schemes.
Everyone knew he was a fraud. We all knew about the money from his father.
It's a damn shame that he had to be installed as president before the rest of the country found out....
mnmoderatedem
(3,724 posts)I've been saying it all along, he gets so much practice at lying, you'd think he would be better at it by now.
Of course the REAL problem is, his base supporters will believe his bullshit, no matter how obvious it is.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)except they didn't have a rich Daddy to buy them out of their fuck-ups. I categorize his supporters into basically 3 groups: Wall St greedy bastards, Evangelical dominionists, and red-neck dumbos. The Wall Streeters and evangelicals see Trump as a useful idiot, who will push their agendas. But they know Trump is a degenerate con man. The red-necks are the racist losers, who envy those with money, position, and power. The red-necks can only feel superior by means of racism and misogyny. Altogether a sorry lot. Decent people don't support Trump.
Capperdan
(492 posts)Look at their faces behind him at the podium, they often look confused, trying to figure out what he just said. So many young kids behind him too, it's just a weird crowd. And many leave before he's done, like they're over it already.
True Blue American
(17,982 posts)That jumps out. Those standing behind Trump are not even listening to what he says. They are looking around, at each other, half heartedly applauding. Gets worse all the time. Crowds wonder off, half filled Venues.
PatSeg
(47,390 posts)and I'm said the same thing often. Though he may be a prolific liar, he is a horrible liar. He doesn't even try to keep his stories straight, probably because he has rarely been held accountable throughout his life. Definitely a life lesson there for parents.
watoos
(7,142 posts)The big problem I have that you did not address, is that Trump never wanted to win the presidency. Trump's best achievement in his putrid life was the Apprentice. Trump wanted back in the TV limelight, not the presidential limelight. Whatever it was, Trump News or whatever, that's what Trump wanted. Being on reality TV would have enabled to say and do whatever his little heart desired. The problem is that once Trump got close to winning the presidency, Putin and his crony Republicans took over. This past election was in fact rigged. Trump and his crime family became doomed to being put under the microscope. Instead of Trump News, it became Donald Trump, come on down, "This is your Life.
Trump certainly does not want to hang on, he wants an out that does not embarrass him. Trump is scared shitless right now. Look at what he just did, he was like an alcoholic needing a drink when he scheduled those hate rallies one after the other, to prop up his ego.
Trump has been very good at using the corporate controlled M$M to push his narratives. He made a mistake by attacking the media, it helped him become president. Trump is starting to fail in controlling his narrative. He made a mistake by not going to that cemetery in France because it was raining. He made a mistake by not going to Arlington or to a hospital to visit the vets on Veterans Day. Trump has lost, is losing support from the military and that is unheard of for a Republican. I saw the stats 2 days ago and his support from the military was 50-50.
If I were Trump I would do something fast about this latest problem of our vets not getting their promised money from the GI Bill.
Trump finds himself and his crime family cornered rats. His friends who took care of his problems are being indicted and going to jail and good Lord, ratting on him. Trump finds himself in the position where his closest advisors; Sean Hannity, Steven Miller, Alex Jones, Steve Pieczernik can't make his problems go away. Democrats overwhelmingly winning back the House was a resounding defeat for his ego. Like what's his name? said in the movie, The Color of Money, when he started running the balls on the pool table, "It's a big nightmare, and it's only going to get worse."
vlyons
(10,252 posts)OK so Trump didn't want to stand in the rain. But he could have gone to a Vet hospital, rehad center, VFW club, wounded warriors meeting, any number of vet family support groups. Any of which easily would have been free good press. But no, Trump simply cannot imagine doing something of benefit for others without getting something back. Instead what did he do. He stayed in the WH sulking and feeling sorry for himself, watching Fox News to get his ego fix.
It won't be long before he can't go anywhere outside the WH without encountering protests. Remember when Jimmy Carter was trapped in the Rose garden?
watoos
(7,142 posts)is that Trump is a Narcissist, he needs adoration. I'm telling you, Trump is going to have a nervous breakdown. The first of January is fast approaching and the narrative is switching from pro-Trump to anti-Trump.
I look for Mueller to add to Trump's nightmare this week, indictments are coming. What will Trump do if he can't use his one defense, No Collusion, No Collusion, No Collusion?
July
(4,750 posts)Apparently, this is SOP for presidents.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)Not a peep. Hannity 2as busy making trump feel better by calling election a loss for dems. Dennis trager was doing his usual "libs ruin everything" schtick.
No mention of trump basically abandoning his presidency duties to pout in his room. Alternate universe
A HERETIC I AM
(24,365 posts)As I said in a post the other day, he is playing a part in a reality TV show of his own making.
He doesn't think of himself as President in the way Obama or Bush or any of the others did.
This is a reality show he is starring in, in which he gets to write the script, for the most part, do his own editing and can manage his own appearances.
I think the only reason he goes to some of these international events is because someone on his staff has convinced him that not going would look bad for him, and he hates the idea that he isn't perfect and might look bad.
tanyev
(42,544 posts)Lobbing grenades of criticism and sarcasm from the sidelines, mocking those who are in charge of things, with no sense that HE is supposed to be in charge of things.
hatrack
(59,583 posts)"Like many in his generation, Trump has mistaken the end of his life for the end of the world. He cant imagine, let alone care about, what will be left after he is gone, if only because no one who matters to him will be around for it."
Kind of like the overwhelming bulk of Bible-thumping fundies who support him so rabidly, and who just can't wait to get their Armagedd on.
Well said!
watoos
(7,142 posts)llmart
(15,536 posts)since I'm from that generation and my cohorts most definitely do NOT think like that in our senior years. We have grown children and grandchildren and many, many of us are on the front lines protesting and we are volunteering and sending money to democratic candidates, etc. etc. We aren't even doing it for ourselves because we know we've lived the majority of our years and we're doing it for our children and grandchildren.
So, that part I do not agree with. However, all the rest is spot on.
Fortinbras Armstrong
(4,473 posts)Indeed, that is one of the reasons I am so concerned about climate change -- I want a decent world for those who will be around after I am gone.
I have children whom I love, and unfortunately the one grandchild died shortly after his birth. I had a wife whom I loved and who loved me. I don't have Trump's money, and I have all sorts of problems, including PTSD from the war that Donnie dodged, but I think that my life is better than Trump's.
True Blue American
(17,982 posts)As a Metastastasizing Cancer.
Demovictory9
(32,445 posts)True Blue American
(17,982 posts)And I do agree with the Author.
samplegirl
(11,475 posts)With this!!! No details left out! Trump is a sick man that no doctor can cure either ego or greed!
Nitram
(22,788 posts)and lies about what isin the way he gooses crowd numbers, in the way he tells stories about strong men weeping at his feet out of fulsome gratitude for all hes done for this country..."
FailureToCommunicate
(14,012 posts)FakeNoose
(32,626 posts)Most of us can see Cheeto for what he is. He lacks the ability to see himself, or to see both sides of the coin. He can't put himself in another person's shoes, so to speak, and that's why he says and does these horrible untruthful things.
It's actually a symptom of mental illness, this inability to understand or sympathize with another person's point of view. In his own mind, he's not "lying" to us because he can't see himself for what he really is. Of course this completely disqualifies him from being POTUS but that's another issue.
world wide wally
(21,740 posts)malaise
(268,904 posts)It is nearly over
livetohike
(22,138 posts)to offend everyone and he will be all alone when the end comes. Cant wait!
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)What I'm trying to do is exorcise him out of my mind. Two years + is far too long!
Trying to not talk about him, not think about him. The writer was spot on when he said that there is no point interviewing him, in front of a helicopter or otherwise. That's a holdover from when Presidents actually had something to say. When they actually made news. It would be great if the media would take this into account and cover something or somebody else.
He will go down. He's been de-fanged. He's just holding the office and buzzing around having a good time doing and saying whatever strikes his fancy. But he's a paper tiger.
America will be done with him and heal. Hopefully sooner than later.
volstork
(5,399 posts)The comments at the link are also well worth the read.
Thanks for posting!
debsy
(530 posts)Very well written and covers so much that I think and say but have never written. Thank you, David Roth, for the truth. Now, all we have to do is pressure the media to stop engaging Dumpster and his minions in any conversation since all they spew are lies.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)It is the final word on who the dotard is and why he's not going to ever be anything more.
Now to exorcise him out of my daily thoughts and words, lol.
Since the midterms he's having his power curtailed, and since he's never going to say anything worth listening to, we just need to stop paying attention and stop listening.
The media has a job to do, but they can minimize focusing on the meaningless and cover more important things.
How about climate change, for instance. And health care. And the good people who are building our nation up.