TPM - "About the Press Conference". Josh Marshall nails it

[NRaleighLiberal]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/about-the-press-conference

By JOSH MARSHALL Published FEBRUARY 16, 2017, 2:40 PM EDT

This is that rare time when I think the cliched phrase is appropriate: That press conference speaks for itself. There's very little I can think to add. It all amounts to a confirmation of what most of us already know. This man is not emotionally or characterologically equipped to serve as President. He lacks the focus, the ability to commit to even a passable amount of work without immediate emotional gratification. Thus his decision to hold a campaign rally in Florida on Friday. (It's literally a campaign event, put on by his 2020 reelection campaign). Trump lacks the emotional resilience or toughness to deal with what is the inevitable criticism and difficulties of being President, which - lets be clear - are great.

These different deficits all feed upon each other. He lacks the steadiness for the job.

There are credible reports of Richard Nixon being in this sort of state in the final weeks of his presidency. But Nixon, to give him his due, was at the center of the greatest political scandal in American history, bearing down on him for months and pushing him toward the greatest political disgrace and humiliation in his nation's political history. He was overseeing the Vietnam War, witnessing various domestic civil disturbances, grappling with foreign policy blowups which neared superpower confrontations. There was a lot going on. Trump has been President for less than four weeks. Aside from domestic, media driven and other crises of his own making, virtually nothing has happened.

But the man who just appeared before the press for a free-ranging airing of grievances looked tired, sullen and half broken. His bracing insistence that everything is going perfectly in his White House sounded desperate and bizarre.

He's coming up on one month down and 47 to go.

[tblue37]

1. He claims his administration is "running like a fine-tuned machine." LOL! nt

[Angry Dragon]

2. No one kmow how much experience he has had with machines

just to be fair to him

[VMA131Marine]

6. I believe he said well-oiled machine....

Like the Deepwater Horizon

[tblue37]

7. I didn't see it--but I read "fine-tuned," so I went with that.

Thanks for the correction.

[VMA131Marine]

8. I've now seen it both ways so I'm not sue which is right.

[47of74]

20. More like fine turded machine

[Pachamama]

27. A fine tuned electric chair....

That image especially came to mind when he brought up an electric chair....right after mentioning "nuclear holocaust". Minutes before in his tirade....

It was truly fucking frightening listening him rant for an hour....

[tavalon]

28. Our coked up King mentioned nuclear holocaust?

Oh, fuck. My nuclear holocaust dreams have been back since November. But now, they are likely to be every day (I sleep during the day and wake up thinking "what did the lunatic do today?&quot

[Pachamama]

30. We must be meeting in our dreams...

Because I keep having this nightmare since November too....

Yes, he mentioned Nuclear Holocaust....I nearly threw up...

My intestines have been in a knot all afternoon after that crazy 75 minute rant...

We are living in a shared nightmare.

[tavalon]

31. I just got up about 30 minutes ago

I feel it's my duty to watch the shitstorm, but I'm a tad worried about my own mental health. Just hearing it second hand has me nauseous.

[Pachamama]

32. Take it only in controlled doses...

An overdose can have adverse effects on your health...

[alterfurz]

33. drivin' that train / high on cocaine...

Hey talk about a-ramblin'
He's the fastest on the line
It's that Orange Turd Blossom Special
Rollin' down the D.C. line

[get the red out]

3. What we have suspected

He cannot do this job, literally! No R will admit that publicly, but the have to know.

[Kittycow]

5. I doubt he's had work so many days in a row before.

Punch that time clock Donald!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. But remember:

they just need somebody to sign their (junk) bills. Trump would likely at least ensure that for as long as he's POTUS.

[CousinIT]

4. "his 2020 reelection campaign" - he registered as a 2020 candidate the day he was inaugurated

In order to take advantage of being a candidate ie:hold rallies and collect $$$ -- things that a public servant typically can't do unless officially a candidate.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. Is that a typical thing?

I've never heard of anybody elected POTUS registering for re-election so soon after being re-elected/inaugurated.

[CousinIT]

11. No. Not at all. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. Didn't think so

Just keeping with the extraordinary/atypical way things work with the Trump Presidency

[3catwoman3]

13. If his administration was, in fact, running...

...so smoothly, he wouldn't have to make any claims to that effect. It would be very obvious.

[world wide wally]

14. The fact that the GOP not only protects a crazy man, but goes out of their way to so so tells us

all we need to know

[Cosmocat]

18. Party of Trump

it is very important to never use any other name for it if at all possible.

[Liberal In Red State]

15. Keep the pressure on him! He will crack! He hasn't done a days work in years (if ever) and I don't

expect him to start now. Isolate him from the people he wants to be with - the stars, the celebrities - the nighttime talk shows are slaying it - he can't hit back. Don't let him off the hook - like when she said CBC in the press conference, I was positive he didn't even know what the CBC was - she needed to let him make a mistake and ask so he could be embarrassed. Obama needs to stick up for his staff and let him know they did not leave a mess - he is looking to blame others and we can't allow him do that. Persist Resist Fight!

[onethatcares]

16. but, but, but

he called Mexico.

[hibbing]

17. Contrast

President Obama, always projected confidence and was always so very very careful with his wording.

Peace

[Marthe48]

19. 6 year olds string better sentences together

They lie more convincingly also. To those who still think this feeble-minded-crazy-aunt-in-the-basement lunatic is believable, I have a 2002 Pontiac Montana van I want to sell you. It is in perfect condition, runs like a precision machine. You won't believe it, it's a steal at the price. And Mexico is going to pay for it.

[SunSeeker]

21. Josh Marshall has a lot of company--including among mental health professionals.

As the BBC is now reporting (yes, the BBC, because the world is just as freaked out as we are):

... the majority of mental health professionals have refrained from making public statements, following a self-imposed principle known as the "Goldwater rule", adopted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1973.
...
But now, some professionals have spoken out, including those who have signed a petition asking for Mr Trump's removal. It has now gathered more than 23,000 signatures.
...
In a letter to the New York Times, 35 mental health professionals warned that the "grave emotional instability" indicated in Mr Trump's speech and actions made him "incapable of serving safely as president".

They said experts had remained silent because of the Goldwater rule, but that it was time to speak out. "This silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38991171

[MontanaMama]

22. The leaks are real

But the news is fake! He is completely bat shit crazy.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

23. Excellent, substantial critique.

Thanks for posting!

[CanonRay]

24. "Airing of grievances"

Is it Festivus already???

[nadine_mn]

26. That's what Jake Tapper called it and it was awesome

I swear the media looked stunned today. Can you imagine what it must be like to contrast an Obama presser vs that?

[Liberalagogo]

25. "He's coming up on one month down and 47 to go." "

He's better get his but in gear if he wants to beat out William Henry Harrison. The clock is ticking.

[yardwork]

29. Trump acknowledged that the reports about his calls to Mexico and Australia were accurate.

I think that this is important. Trump is now on record stating that his conversations with the Mexican president and Australian president were reported accurately. In complaining that the leaks were "illegal" and that they calls were supposed to be "secret" he inadvertently admitted that the news stories were accurate. He really did say those insane things to the presidents of Mexico and Australia. Noted.

[gopiscrap]

34. agreed

[Cha]

35. K&R

[jimlup]

36. I think we may be seeing the greatest political scandal of our history to now

unfolding before our eyes. This Russia thing has legs.

[ornotna]

37. It's a fine tuned machine

Last edited Sat Feb 18, 2017, 01:18 AM - Edit history (1)