Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ashling

(25,771 posts)
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:58 AM Aug 2017

Why is DT so horribly witless about the world?

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-is-donald-trump-still-so-horribly-witless-about-the-world


“Trump has an appalling ignorance of the current world, of history, of previous American engagement, of what former Presidents thought and did,” Geoffrey Kemp, who worked at the Pentagon during the Ford Administration and at the National Security Council during the Reagan Administration, reflected. “He has an almost studious rejection of the type of in-depth knowledge that virtually all of his predecessors eventually gained or had views on.”

...

“The President has little understanding of the context”—of what’s happening in the world—“and even less interest in hearing the people who want to deliver it,” Michael Hayden, a retired four-star general and former director of both the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency, told me. “He’s impatient, decision-oriented, and prone to action. It’s all about the present tense. When he asks, ‘What the hell’s going on in Iraq?’ people around him have learned not to say, ‘Well, in 632 . . . ’ ” (That was the year when the Prophet Muhammad died, prompting the beginning of the Sunni-Shiite split.*)

“He just doesn’t have an interest in the world,” Hayden said.

...

“The sheer scale of his lack of knowledge is what has astounded me—and I had low expectations to begin with,” David Gordon, the director of the State Department’s policy-planning staff under Condoleezza Rice, during the Bush Administration, told me.
42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why is DT so horribly witless about the world? (Original Post) ashling Aug 2017 OP
He makes George W. Bush look like Isaac Newton. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #1
Not sure about that NewJeffCT Aug 2017 #10
I don't think he believes that- but he knows if he's ballsy enough to claim it - that in itself is bettyellen Aug 2017 #26
I believe he does honestly think he's always the smartest person in the room. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2017 #30
No way does he believe everything he says- he freely admitted he was just saying things while bettyellen Aug 2017 #32
I don't think he even cares whether stuff is true or not. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #39
Not caring is exactly right- I have a few relatives that are pure sociopath and everything they do bettyellen Aug 2017 #40
Trump is really, really bad, but... GetRidOfThem Aug 2017 #11
I agree. W was not the brightest bulb on the tree but.... Little Star Aug 2017 #21
well......he is a fucking dick........ dhill926 Aug 2017 #2
Someone should ask Frederick Douglass DFW Aug 2017 #3
not only that but it's just that ignorance which is what his supporters find so appealing JI7 Aug 2017 #4
They see his pro-active ignorance as a plus ashling Aug 2017 #5
... Rhiannon12866 Aug 2017 #7
They are just as witless and ignorant. secondwind Aug 2017 #8
Un petit bonjour du Hainaut syringis Aug 2017 #19
The hallmark of white trash. smirkymonkey Aug 2017 #6
Well, himself Scarsdale Aug 2017 #9
Bingo! Totally! Little Star Aug 2017 #22
His brain is like a roomba in a house of mirrors Donkees Aug 2017 #12
He is the epitome of conscientious stupidity. GreenEyedLefty Aug 2017 #13
You'd be surprised shanti Aug 2017 #34
Worse than that, large swaths of Americans are perfectly fine with his ignorance. LonePirate Aug 2017 #14
Not only are they perfectly fine with it, they're damn proud of it... Violet_Crumble Aug 2017 #18
*coarseness bettyellen Aug 2017 #27
And his acolytes continue to worship him for it Orrex Aug 2017 #15
A male.... mgardener Aug 2017 #16
Shiny... syringis Aug 2017 #17
without his inherited wealth the orange manece would be little more than... Javaman Aug 2017 #20
In a word: 'Privilege' apnu Aug 2017 #23
One word: Karma shanti Aug 2017 #36
That would be awesome. (nt) apnu Aug 2017 #41
He's a product of upper class coddling dreamland Aug 2017 #24
The world is his underling. Therefore, he doesn't care. kairos12 Aug 2017 #25
he's been insulated from it by his money Warpy Aug 2017 #28
He has never had to know anything Bettie Aug 2017 #29
There's actually a context to his ignorance, PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2017 #31
He's the 'Accidental President.' yallerdawg Aug 2017 #33
incurious and lazy...least prepared person on earth to be 'president' spanone Aug 2017 #35
Because the only world he cares about is the one that revolves around him. tanyev Aug 2017 #37
He is a Solipsist. maxsolomon Aug 2017 #38
Because he's a typical Fox & Friends viewer? JHB Aug 2017 #42

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
10. Not sure about that
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:13 AM
Aug 2017

but, Bush knew he wasn't the smartest guy in the room. Trump thinks he's smarter than the generals and knows more than them about ISIS and everything else.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
26. I don't think he believes that- but he knows if he's ballsy enough to claim it - that in itself is
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:12 PM
Aug 2017

Looked on favorably too by those who like him. It's not so much "tell it like it is" as "tell you how it's going to be". He's so obnoxious and litigious very few have the nerve to bother correcting the record. It's worked for him for a long long time, where he literally doesn't care if he's "found out" because he knows his supporters love the powerful illusions he spins. They can't admit it's bullshit, never will.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
30. I believe he does honestly think he's always the smartest person in the room.
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:26 PM
Aug 2017

He believes everything he says, at least when he says it. His willingness to say something completely different a day or an hour later does mean he's given thoughtful consideration to the first statement, just that he's decided to say something else.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
32. No way does he believe everything he says- he freely admitted he was just saying things while
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:35 PM
Aug 2017

On the campaign trail just to excite people- he admitted not caring about locking up Hilary or the Wall.
He's full of shit and knows it. I think he thinks it's useless to be intelligent - or to care about anything but it own bottom line, so I do think he thinks other people are wrong headed for wanting to do good or get involved in public service for any other reason except for Fred. That's the only way he sees himself as "smart"- is that he has plans to screw everyone else. But learning or caring are things he doesn't respect.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
39. I don't think he even cares whether stuff is true or not.
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:40 PM
Aug 2017

He's like some kind of weird psychological mutant we maybe haven't seen before.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
40. Not caring is exactly right- I have a few relatives that are pure sociopath and everything they do
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 07:45 PM
Aug 2017

And say has one of two purposes, to promote their own agenda, or to tear down anyone who doesn't like them. No lie is too big or small, and I don't think they stop to think about it at all. They try the charm offensive, like Trump and actually get super angry and vengeful when people don't go along with it. they really do enjoy getting over on people, running scams and manipulating them- it seems to be the only thing that gives them joy.

And they do get away with a lot of their bullshit because they're willing to repeat the lies over and over again- they wear everyone down. I've heard there's a common thread or clusters in families with other mental illnesses like schizophrenia, and it seems to be true in my family.

GetRidOfThem

(869 posts)
11. Trump is really, really bad, but...
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:15 AM
Aug 2017

... That does not make W look good. He was really, really bad too. Don't forget Iraq, wanting to privatize social security, etc..

Little Star

(17,055 posts)
21. I agree. W was not the brightest bulb on the tree but....
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 12:06 PM
Aug 2017

I think this dimwit is even worse, much worse. If there would have been no Cheney in W's admin I don't think there would have been a invasion of Iraq.

DFW

(54,055 posts)
3. Someone should ask Frederick Douglass
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 04:17 AM
Aug 2017

Maybe he knows?


At least as frightening is the fact that a couple dozen million of his supporters find nothing at all wrong with Trump's ignorance.

syringis

(5,101 posts)
19. Un petit bonjour du Hainaut
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 07:24 AM
Aug 2017
At least as frightening is the fact that a couple dozen million of his supporters find nothing at all wrong with Trump's ignorance.


Who said opposites attract ?

PS : Merci pour l'accueil chaleureux. Tant que j'y suis, ton néerlandais est probablement meilleur que le mien Je n'en garde qu'une bonne connaissance passive, faute d'avoir pratiqué

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
9. Well, himself
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:00 AM
Aug 2017

and his daughter Ivanka. Worst person to EVER occupy the WH. Overgrown child, simplistic in every way. Telling the British Prime Minister that he would postpone his visit until she can make the people behave was a classic. He honestly thinks he is KING of the world. I doubt that even Kelly will be able to rein this ass in. He is used to doing whatever pops into his tiny little mind, consequences be damned. The fact that the gop are supporting him is very telling. They will pay for this disaster.

GreenEyedLefty

(2,073 posts)
13. He is the epitome of conscientious stupidity.
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:21 AM
Aug 2017

He has had access to all the resources for learning that money can buy but instead he has carefully cultivated a steadfast and pernicious ignorance. I would even wager that he is astoundingly stupid when it comes to his actual wheel house - real estate.

My FB news feed has been quiet, mainly due to unfriending and unfollowing after the election. Last night I saw a friend of a friend who commented on a post with a picture that was ridiculously racist, so I went and looked at her profile. Not only rabidly racist but barely literate, and a big fan of Trump. It kind of confirmed my theory that it's the dregs of society who are sticking with Trump - the "poorly educated" that he loves so much.

shanti

(21,670 posts)
34. You'd be surprised
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:42 PM
Aug 2017

There are plenty of college-educated supporters of Chump. I know of two, both fundies, and sadly, family members, and their sole reason for voting for him was the issue of abortion. Thing is, they just don't care how stupid, racist, sexist (whatever) he is.

Violet_Crumble

(35,954 posts)
18. Not only are they perfectly fine with it, they're damn proud of it...
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 07:07 AM
Aug 2017

The level of ignorance and courseness is how they judge his success on the world stage. While rational folk are face palming, his mindless fans are cheering at the most uncouth and moronic crap he spouts on behalf of the US. Because somehow it's their way of telling the rest of the world that Donald and his minions are far, far more intelligent than the rest of the world and we all need to behave like he does. Urgh. I detest Malcolm Turnbull (the Australian PM), but I had a moment of pride when I read that transcript and saw him saying things like 'let me explain this to you' and not backing down from the childish bullying on the other end of the phone...

Orrex

(63,085 posts)
15. And his acolytes continue to worship him for it
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:58 AM
Aug 2017

Yes, we hear that his all-important base is shrinking, but the Trump supporters that I know will look at his catastrophic ignorance and say "that's what I like about him."

mgardener

(1,799 posts)
16. A male....
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 06:59 AM
Aug 2017

Sarah Palin.

How sad that Republicans believe that ignorance, hubris and obnoxious behavior belong in the White House.

syringis

(5,101 posts)
17. Shiny...
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 07:04 AM
Aug 2017
“The President has little understanding of the context”


It is the understatement of the century, if not of the millenium.

In comparison, Bottomless Trump's ignorance, makes the abyssopelagic looks as deep as an inflatable pool kids...

Javaman

(62,439 posts)
20. without his inherited wealth the orange manece would be little more than...
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 12:06 PM
Aug 2017

a failed college student who runs drug grifts to fun his cheeto habit.

apnu

(8,722 posts)
23. In a word: 'Privilege'
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 12:18 PM
Aug 2017

He's Male.
He's white.
He's straight.
He's rich.
He was born into money.
He's American.

He check every single privilege box there is. He has never known actual work or any kind of labor in his 71 years of life. He's never been in a position where his wealth and power can't solve every single problem he faces. Even his bankruptcies, his combined super privilege protected him. He doesn't have to confront anything or learn anything, he's got people to do that for him. He's a pampered prince who's never left his castle. He's in a more opaque bubble than W. Bush ever lived in.

dreamland

(964 posts)
24. He's a product of upper class coddling
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 01:45 PM
Aug 2017

So he's in tuned to nothing but himself because the world revolves around him.

Warpy

(110,909 posts)
28. he's been insulated from it by his money
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:17 PM
Aug 2017

He's not only ignorant of it, he's not even curious about it. No one can harsh his narcissistic mellow by trying to inform him, either, he knows everything.

Scary.

Bettie

(15,998 posts)
29. He has never had to know anything
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:17 PM
Aug 2017

He lives in a bubble and has never had to face regular people, never had to pay his debts, never had to take responsibility for anything he's ever done.

He has surrounded himself with people who tell him everything he does is wonderful...he's the kid who wishes people into the cornfield in the old Twilight Zone episode, only without the capacity to love anything outside of himself.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
31. There's actually a context to his ignorance,
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:30 PM
Aug 2017

and that is that many, perhaps most people in this country don't value any kind of learning or education. Not to mention that for the most part history is very badly taught in high school, which is the last time most people ever take a history class or read anything about what's happened in the past.

It doesn't help that newspapers and news media often present things without context, without giving any sense of what happened before, what led up to the current story. Not to mention they'd rather cover the latest celebrity nonsense instead of anything substantial.

So Trump, while an extreme example, fits in quite nicely with what passes for mainstream America.

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
33. He's the 'Accidental President.'
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 03:37 PM
Aug 2017

He never thought he could really win. He was all bombastic self-promotion and witless cruelty and ugliness. Even he had to wonder who the hell would vote for him?

The original numberless primary candidates eliminated each other through attrition and lack of desire.

The array of narrative forces thirty years in the making against his eventual opponent and a 'fluke' in our democracy leftover from our racist beginnings as a country all transpired to give him at least the "most improbable" victory of all time.

He was never supposed to be president, he never anticipated actually being president, he was never qualified or of a right temperament, he is merely a brand and brand-name and can't ever stop selling (campaigning).

We can fix what happened.

No one could have guessed what did. It was an accident.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why is DT so horribly wit...