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highplainsdem

(48,959 posts)
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 10:58 AM Jun 2017

Jennifer Rubin on Trump's London tweets: He "acted like a clod, a heartless and dull-witted thug"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/06/04/with-his-london-tweets-trump-embarrasses-himself-and-america-once-again/


The stoic determination and decency of the British people and their leaders was on full display in the hours after the latest horrific terrorist rampage. The Brits fought back, launching drinking glasses and chairs at the savages who attacked them. The police acted with lightning-fast precision, killing the three assailants within eight minutes of the emergency call. And, God Bless him, a man returned to the bar where he experienced Saturday’s horror — to pay his bill and tip. Civilization is not going to be driven out of Britain by three or three hundred killers.

Meanwhile — and it pains me to write this — our president acted like a clod, a heartless and dull-witted thug in sending out a series of tweets. He — commander in chief and leader of the Free World — first retweeted an unverified, unofficial Drudge headline about the unfolding terrorist attack. Then he aimed to bolster his Muslim travel ban (which is not supposed to be a Muslim travel ban). “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough,” he tweeted. “We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” (Aside from the inappropriateness of President Trump’s tweet, he fails to grasp that the courts in these cases are reaffirming the our rights against an overreaching, discriminatory edict.)

After receiving blowback for that obnoxious missive, he tweeted out, “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!” But then he decided to slam the mayor of the city attacked, who had calmly warned his fellow Londoners: “Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed.” Trump took the second part out of context and responded viciously, “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!'” (The mayor, of course, was telling them not to be alarmed by the heightened police presence.) Trump was not done, however, inanely tweeting, “Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That’s because they used knives and a truck!”

One is prompted to ask if he is off his rocker. But this is vintage Trump — impulsive and cruel, without an ounce of class or human decency. His behavior no longer surprises us, but it should offend and disturb us, first, that he remains the face and voice of America in the world and, second, that his fans hoot and holler, seeing this as inconsequential or acceptable conduct. We wound up with this president because millions of Republicans could not prioritize character, decency and overall fitness to serve over their mundane and frankly petty partisan wish list (28 percent top marginal tax rate!). Self-appointed religious leaders fail to see that this soullessness — not the dreaded liberal elite who insist on saying “Happy Holidays” or refuse to countenance discrimination against gay customers — is a threat to the moral fiber of a democracy that requires a modicum of common sense and human decency to function.

-snip-
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Jennifer Rubin on Trump's London tweets: He "acted like a clod, a heartless and dull-witted thug" (Original Post) highplainsdem Jun 2017 OP
"without an ounce of class or human decency" dalton99a Jun 2017 #1
Or logic world wide wally Jun 2017 #28
He's been off his rockers for ages malaise Jun 2017 #2
Yes! Folks who act like this is some change fatigue me. LuckyLib Jun 2017 #35
Indeed malaise Jun 2017 #36
Exactly. lsewpershad Jun 2017 #3
Trump, is the GOP. The GOP loves him, it's what the GOP is made of. They want him in office. n/t RKP5637 Jun 2017 #4
Acted?? gibraltar72 Jun 2017 #5
no Jennifer, you wound up with president trump not because the republicans could not prioritize still_one Jun 2017 #6
She didn't seem to notice a problem until this election. deurbano Jun 2017 #21
Isn't that the truth still_one Jun 2017 #25
Then there's the 39.8% of eligible voters who decided not to participate Fritz Walter Jun 2017 #43
I think that number was more like 47% Fritz still_one Jun 2017 #46
"impulsive and cruel" treestar Jun 2017 #7
Chomping at the bit, foaming at the mouth, to Cha Jun 2017 #33
DURec leftstreet Jun 2017 #8
well the reason for that is mnmoderatedem Jun 2017 #9
No, Jennifer, that clod is NOT "leader of the free world" Goodheart Jun 2017 #10
He could not lead a boy scout troop! Kleveland Jun 2017 #14
K&R Scurrilous Jun 2017 #11
True words! Botany Jun 2017 #12
Vintage Trump for sure! Dustlawyer Jun 2017 #40
"The long term psy-ops to manipulate a large portion of the American public ,,," Botany Jun 2017 #42
He hasnt realiseed yet D_Master81 Jun 2017 #13
Trump is not the Leader of the Free World, he has given avebury Jun 2017 #17
Hardly the "leader of the free world", he is simply a tool of Putin's. world wide wally Jun 2017 #29
He should just Scarsdale Jun 2017 #15
Remember when President sent out press releases sending out statements? DK504 Jun 2017 #16
I remember when they would make the effort to make a verbal statement and be a calming force. kerry-is-my-prez Jun 2017 #19
In an interview after the 2016 election, Johan Galtun, Norweigian Sociologist and Mathematician avebury Jun 2017 #18
I think John Cooper Clarke had the perfect summation Myrddin Jun 2017 #20
"Twat" is a sexist slur for a woman's vagina.. whathehell Jun 2017 #47
In colloquial terms, so is the word 'Twinkle' Myrddin Jun 2017 #48
Thanks for the mansplaining whathehell Jun 2017 #49
These tweets should be saved. cab67 Jun 2017 #22
Still more penance to be done gratuitous Jun 2017 #23
Textbook Malignant Narcissistic Personality Disorder Mountain Mule Jun 2017 #24
Jennifer Rubin peggysue2 Jun 2017 #26
But her fellow so called conservatives are the reason malaise Jun 2017 #34
Steady drumbeat peggysue2 Jun 2017 #37
+1,000 malaise Jun 2017 #38
Ted Lieu:... riversedge Jun 2017 #27
I wonder who wrote the "WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS! tweet. Thirties Child Jun 2017 #30
K&R smirkymonkey Jun 2017 #31
Trump has a "reputation" to maintain Zambero Jun 2017 #32
Trumpy is who he is, unfit, corrupt and petulant. Thinkingabout Jun 2017 #39
Not acting. elecpencil Jun 2017 #41
He took way too many days to respond to the attacks in Portland and Kansas IronLionZion Jun 2017 #44
It wasn't an act. Orsino Jun 2017 #45

still_one

(92,116 posts)
6. no Jennifer, you wound up with president trump not because the republicans could not prioritize
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 11:27 AM
Jun 2017

character, decency and overall fitness, but because that is what the republican party is, and trump represents their ideology to a tee

Fritz Walter

(4,291 posts)
43. Then there's the 39.8% of eligible voters who decided not to participate
Mon Jun 5, 2017, 08:10 AM
Jun 2017

Too busy scrolling through Facebook pages, or waiting in line for coffee at Starbucks, or just not giving a fuck because they thought both parties are essentially the same.

The GOP took advantage of this (and possible technical support from Russia), and see what we're stuck with now!

Goodheart

(5,318 posts)
10. No, Jennifer, that clod is NOT "leader of the free world"
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 11:56 AM
Jun 2017

He's a joke who is not even leading THIS country much less the rest of the world.

Kleveland

(1,257 posts)
14. He could not lead a boy scout troop!
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:19 PM
Jun 2017

Now a girl scout troop.... that is an entirely different story.

Grabbing and all....

Botany

(70,483 posts)
12. True words!
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:07 PM
Jun 2017

"One is prompted to ask if he is off his rocker. But this is vintage Trump — impulsive and cruel, without an ounce of class or human decency."

Dustlawyer

(10,495 posts)
40. Vintage Trump for sure!
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 07:42 PM
Jun 2017

His supporters and Republican politicians like to speak of Family Values and being a Good Christian. How hollow are these words on their lips? The Religious Right voted (80%) for this vile human being who is the antithesis of everything they claim to hold dear. They are victims of the RW propaganda machine and the desire to win at any cost.

Instead of having an ideology they have a "team." They will overlook horrible things and support things that they themselves don't believe in for their team. There is usually very little dissension in the ranks of Republican politics. Whoever decides what talking points the RW media take up and the positions they take decides what the Republicans do. At least as long as the rest of what they do gives our tax dollars to their Donors, cuts the Donors taxes, and squeezes more out of the rest if us. They could care less about a damn Wall, but if it keeps the brainwashed masses happy they will dangle that shite for as long as they need to.

Donald Trump is a mentally ill, cheap con artist who has been in over his head, but cannot change who he really is. He cannot empathize with regular people because their desires are not important to him at all. Thus you see so many tone deaf reactions to things like what happened in London and the Paris Climate Agreement. His followers are too proud to admit they made a mistake and seem only to really want to see the rest of us Libtards punished. The long term psy-ops to manipulate a large portion of the American public has been as wildly successful as Putin's gambit that helped to install the worst leader of any major industrialized nation.

What do we do to change the equation?

Botany

(70,483 posts)
42. "The long term psy-ops to manipulate a large portion of the American public ,,,"
Mon Jun 5, 2017, 06:47 AM
Jun 2017

Yup!

Did you know that Hillary Clinton had Vince Foster murdered?

That Barack Obama copied somebody else's book when he wrote
his autobiography?

That John Kerry got himself wounded on purpose in Vietnam?

D_Master81

(1,822 posts)
13. He hasnt realiseed yet
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:15 PM
Jun 2017

he hasnt realised yet that he is the leader of the free world. he no longer is candidate trump, businessman/tv host trump. He continually says and tweets stuff that is basically rehashing fox & friends, rush, hannity, et al. Those people can get away w/ it cause only their base is watching and listening for the most part. But here he is, Pres of the United States, tweeting about travel bans and gun control, insulting the mayor of london, etc. after a terror attack in THEIR CITY! This is why his base loves him, b/c he says what is swirling around in their brains all the time.

avebury

(10,952 posts)
17. Trump is not the Leader of the Free World, he has given
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:43 PM
Jun 2017

up all rights to that title. He has done nothing but denigrate our allies and military allegiences (like NATO) since taking office. For someone who desparately wants a seat at the big table, he only deserves a highchair at best.

Angela Merkel is now considered the Leader of the Free World.

world wide wally

(21,740 posts)
29. Hardly the "leader of the free world", he is simply a tool of Putin's.
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 01:51 PM
Jun 2017

And soon this tool will be worn out and thrown away.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
15. He should just
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:21 PM
Jun 2017

keep golfing, it causes less humiliation for this country. Maybe first lady Ivanka could send her recipe for champagne popsicles over to the Brits?

DK504

(3,847 posts)
16. Remember when President sent out press releases sending out statements?
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:28 PM
Jun 2017

They were usually in full sentences and with proper grammar. His title of so called "Leader of the Free World" is a label we can no longer hold with this type of behavior, that of a child throwing tantrums over an unsecured phone. He and his sycophantic, bootlicking traitor enabling 'dear leader' cretins are ripping our status of our country.

avebury

(10,952 posts)
18. In an interview after the 2016 election, Johan Galtun, Norweigian Sociologist and Mathematician
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:47 PM
Jun 2017

predicted that the US would lose its position as world leader by 2020. It has not taken anywhere near that long for that to occur.

Myrddin

(327 posts)
20. I think John Cooper Clarke had the perfect summation
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 12:59 PM
Jun 2017

...in 1982.

This is for DJT - it was written for you.

(Sorry, American friends, if the language is a bit 'Mancunian' If you can find a a version with subtitles all the better, but the sentiment is pure Manc/Punk/Madchester and needs to be in it's original delivery form.)

I'm confident 'The Ferret' would appreciate the artistic quality??






Myrddin

(327 posts)
48. In colloquial terms, so is the word 'Twinkle'
Mon Jun 5, 2017, 11:49 PM
Jun 2017

Would you object to Twinkle twinkle little star?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twat

In this case, the inflection clearly alludes to the dictionary 'obnoxious / stupid person' definition, but I suppose you already knew that -"friend"?

Edited to 'lighten' things up

https://9gag.com/gag/aW8X29A/yes-frank-you-are-a-twat

whathehell

(29,060 posts)
49. Thanks for the mansplaining
Tue Jun 6, 2017, 06:50 AM
Jun 2017

Last edited Tue Jun 6, 2017, 07:26 AM - Edit history (1)

and the answer to your question is "maybe" -- if it became as well known a slur as "twat".

Yes, dear, I'm aware of the inflection, but it's no accident that, as with "cunt", women's genitals are so often equated to all things negative.








cab67

(2,992 posts)
22. These tweets should be saved.
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 01:15 PM
Jun 2017

You know how, every time there's a mass shooting somewhere in the US, the NRA and associated types will ask that we respect the gravity of the situation, let the victims' families mourn, before we try to "politicize" it?

I hope there's never another mass shooting in this country - but if there is, and if the gun nuts repeat this mantra, I'll be sending a copy of Trump's tweets in the immediate aftermath of the London incident as a reminder of their hypocrisy.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
23. Still more penance to be done
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 01:16 PM
Jun 2017

But Jennifer Rubin actually seems to be taking her role as a journalist seriously at last.

peggysue2

(10,828 posts)
26. Jennifer Rubin
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 01:31 PM
Jun 2017

has been consistently on the mark when it comes to the Trumpster. Though politically I'm 180 degrees from Rubin, I'm encouraged that there are conservatives out there who see the Trumpster for what he is--a thug posing as POTUS. David Frum, Rick Wilson, Evan McMullin and others have been sounding the alarm and disgust bell when it comes to this Administration.

So, Brava to Ms Rubin. These are odd times where despite our political affiliations, we're joined at the hip in our opposition to the Great Con.

Resist! It's the only position for decent, rational people.

And btw, I'm disgusted by the so-called Neoprogressives who are willing to embrace a 'Burn the House Down' stance. Ironically, they're joining hands with the Alt-Right and being played by RT saboteurs, who would like nothing better than lay waste to the Republic. The term 'useful idiots' comes to mind.

malaise

(268,885 posts)
34. But her fellow so called conservatives are the reason
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 04:47 PM
Jun 2017

he hasn't been impeached yet. The turtle and Lyin' Ryan are propping him up.

peggysue2

(10,828 posts)
37. Steady drumbeat
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 06:45 PM
Jun 2017

It's going to take conservative critics to keep the drumbeat going before the Congressional Repugs/Conservatives get the message. That and the Trumpster's falling poll numbers. Sinclair's quote coms to mind:

'It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.'

As long as the Republicans think they can get their toxic agenda through, pad their pockets while they're at it, they'll support DT. Once the man is perceived as a true albatross, Repugs will cut the line and pretend they never knew him. At least Rubin and the Never Trumpers have been honest in their opposition. Strange times make strange bedfellows. The major thing at the moment is kicking Trump and his alt-right cohorts to the curb. I'll take whatever help is out there.

As far as Ryan and McConnell? They knew of DT's Russian connection but pretended they didn't because money, money, money. They need to go, too.

riversedge

(70,182 posts)
27. Ted Lieu:...
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 01:35 PM
Jun 2017


Actually, Jennifer has been quite critical of Trump for several months. I used to NOT read her column--but have during the GE when she started to see the light (don't actually know when it started)


Ted Lieu? Verified account @tedlieu 2h2 hours ago

This article is from a conservative columnist. #LondonAttacks


Zambero

(8,964 posts)
32. Trump has a "reputation" to maintain
Sun Jun 4, 2017, 02:02 PM
Jun 2017

Daily report on the ongoing status of NO redeeming social value whatsoever: CHECK

IronLionZion

(45,410 posts)
44. He took way too many days to respond to the attacks in Portland and Kansas
Mon Jun 5, 2017, 09:29 AM
Jun 2017

when Terrorists killed Americans on US soil, even by stabbing them to death, he's so overcome with grief that he's left speechless.

And he tries to score stupid points about gun control in the UK. I'm glad the terrorists didn't use guns or it would have been much worse. He's too stupid to realize that he and his supporters are a few fries short of a happy meal.

Orsino

(37,428 posts)
45. It wasn't an act.
Mon Jun 5, 2017, 09:39 AM
Jun 2017

Oh, at some level he gets that his tweets are supposed to sound presidential, but he's a poor actor. He cannot come across as anythng more than a heartless thug, except briefly, when carefully scripted.

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