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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 08:02 AM Sep 2016

What every New Yorker knows about Donald Trump - By Garrison Keillor

By Garrison Keillor September 21 at 3:26 PM

-snip-

A week ago, a panhandler in Times Square sat holding a sign reading, “Give me a dollar or I’ll vote for Trump,” and people laughed and reached into their pockets. His bucket overflowed. He stuffed the bills into his jacket, and other panhandlers looked at him with admiration. The man could’ve sold franchises and retired to Palm Beach.

The panhandler knows what every New Yorker knows, which is that the biggest con job since the Trojan horse is taking place in our midst. Millions of Americans are planning to cast their votes for a man who has lived his life contrary to all of their most cherished values. They are respectful, honest, generous, loyal, modest, church-going people with no Mafia connections and good credit records who try not to spout off about things they know nothing about.

His followers out on the prairie were brought up to be wary of slick-talking New Yorkers but here they are, falling right into line behind the biggest braggart ever to hit the sawdust trail. It’s going to be an education for them, watching him cut taxes while expanding the military and building a wall and deporting 11 million people. In America, you can’t send gendarmes through the streets to round up people in trucks and load them on boxcars and ship them away. There is a judicial process. Lawyers are involved. People have certain rights.

His boast after the Manhattan pressure-cooker bombing Saturday night was revelatory. “I called it!” he cried on Fox News, as he had after the Orlando nightclub shooting. It would’ve been classier for him to have congratulated New York’s Finest but instead he took it as a personal coup. What the bombing showed was the courage and smarts of the NYPD, arriving on the scene in time to defuse a second bomb, identify a suspect and track him down Monday morning. “We’ve got to be very, very tough,” cried the candidate out in Colorado, but back in New York, the work was being done by people who know how to do it.

Ah, chutzpah! There was once a mayor of New York who overruled the NYPD and the Secret Service and put the city’s Emergency Command Center on the 23rd floor of the World Trade Center, and whose emergency plan for the towers led to massive confusion and miscommunication, with some desperate people directed to climb up and others told to stay put, as the mayor stood in the streets below and urged residents to be calm, and thereby became a national hero and started his own security consulting company. This is like the captain of the Titanic, had he survived, writing a book called “The Art of Navigation.” The mayor is now a close Trump adviser.

-snip-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-biggest-con-job-since-the-trojan-horse/2016/09/21/a8354d9e-8023-11e6-8327-f141a7beb626_story.html?utm_term=.8b631a8f3980&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What every New Yorker knows about Donald Trump - By Garrison Keillor (Original Post) DonViejo Sep 2016 OP
Serious question: Can "homeless" people register to vote in all States? Ghost Dog Sep 2016 #1
For the most part yes, but it's really state by state. Agschmid Sep 2016 #2
Keeping up the fight......... MyOwnPeace Sep 2016 #3
I would have given that man a dollar too. :) n/t Zing Zing Zingbah Sep 2016 #4
It's amazing that so Americans are suckers. Cary Sep 2016 #5
Marked to read later liberal N proud Sep 2016 #6
this is a great article .. . .n/t annabanana Sep 2016 #7
I love that fucking guy in the park. lonestarnot Sep 2016 #8
The whole article is great JDC Sep 2016 #9
I think people are catching on.... Historic NY Sep 2016 #10
It is not New England I worry about viguy2016 Sep 2016 #13
This is awesome. yardwork Sep 2016 #11
I love Garrison K, but his premise here is flawed The Polack MSgt Sep 2016 #12
Yeah, and another thing.... Wounded Bear Sep 2016 #14
Some of Trump's supporters are as you say. viguy2016 Sep 2016 #15
welcome to du. and you have that pretty accurate for many of drumpfy's supporters. niyad Sep 2016 #17
Thanks for the reply The Polack MSgt Sep 2016 #20
Welcome to DU, viguy2016! calimary Sep 2016 #26
Sadly, you're correct. nt awoke_in_2003 Sep 2016 #22
Yes, most of them aren't truly nice, but merely cowards radius777 Sep 2016 #33
But the people you describe... Beartracks Sep 2016 #34
everyone sees that themselves as the good guy in their own story. The Polack MSgt Sep 2016 #35
k and r niyad Sep 2016 #16
Standing ovation here. I'm a native NYer rivegauche Sep 2016 #18
Had misfortune to meet him when we were both young HockeyMom Sep 2016 #25
put EVERYTHING you know out here! sounds like you have lots of info to share. you Gabi Hayes Sep 2016 #27
Worked in the Rockefeller Center area HockeyMom Sep 2016 #41
OMG YES. All of that. He's just filth. nt rivegauche Sep 2016 #38
You summed it up perfectly for me, rivegauche spiderpig Sep 2016 #29
That's the thing - he never cared about philanthropy. rivegauche Sep 2016 #40
I know exactly how you feel ProfessorPlum Sep 2016 #37
Exactly. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN. rivegauche Sep 2016 #39
Many can not see past tv trump. Tikki Sep 2016 #19
i met a trumpeter last july i think. he told me RUMP is rich, so he can't be bought. pansypoo53219 Sep 2016 #21
Trump lives large but he has a mountain of debt TexasBushwhacker Sep 2016 #32
"give me a dollar or I'll vote for Trump"....... Jade Fox Sep 2016 #23
K&R n/t lupinella Sep 2016 #24
key graph from the oped for me: Gabi Hayes Sep 2016 #28
Rudy has physically devolved into a frightening vision of his true self spiderpig Sep 2016 #30
har.......google image his name+vampire.....I've pasted them many times here. so have others Gabi Hayes Sep 2016 #31
Rudy also had trouble acknowledging that proper police procedure... JHB Sep 2016 #36
 

Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)
1. Serious question: Can "homeless" people register to vote in all States?
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 08:23 AM
Sep 2016

How do they establish place of residence?

MyOwnPeace

(16,926 posts)
3. Keeping up the fight.........
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 08:32 AM
Sep 2016

Garrison's doing a great job after entering "retirement!"

Wish Jon Stewart would do the same - can you imagine what he would be saying,,,,

Historic NY

(37,449 posts)
10. I think people are catching on....
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 09:59 AM
Sep 2016

I spent the weekend in New England saw a couple Trumps signs. When in groups, an apparent Trump aficionado, would mention him and other people would just laugh and crack jokes about his wall etc. I think it was the "Stop laughing at me", that made them shut up. If your from NY you know he's an asshole, braggart, loud mouth.

The Polack MSgt

(13,188 posts)
12. I love Garrison K, but his premise here is flawed
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 10:20 AM
Sep 2016

I know the Prairie Home Companion's whole conceit was simple quiet decent people living their lives with both quiet dignity and low key absurdity.

I've lived out in the corn covered flat lands for almost 20 years now and yes, there is a strong vein of truth to that story line. Regarding Trump though? Nah, that is not what is at play out here.

So I have to take exception to this - this right here:
"They are respectful, honest, generous, loyal, modest, church-going people with no Mafia connections and good credit records who try not to spout off about things they know nothing about."

This. Is. A. Lie.

It is a whitewash and deflection that attempts to hide what else we are on the prairie - Racist close minded hateful little people willing to cause suffering for others "for their own good"

Peace

Wounded Bear

(58,648 posts)
14. Yeah, and another thing....
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 11:01 AM
Sep 2016

"small town" people do tend to be nervous and closed to outsiders, especially if those outsiders are somehow obviously different.

People with that mind-set find the idea of a "wall" to be a good one.

 

viguy2016

(47 posts)
15. Some of Trump's supporters are as you say.
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 11:31 AM
Sep 2016

But most of them are as Garrison said, but they are afraid. They see a changing world and country and they are afraid. The TV is their window into the world, and the violence and hate they see on it does not paint a pretty picture. It is not what is, it is what is perceived as being which is accepted as truth. They are afraid for themselves and more so for their children. They see change as threatening their way of life and they want to prevent it, while we on this site welcome change that will improve the lot of people. Fear makes people conservative or reactionary. "Make America great again" is their dream to return to a time in the past that did not really exist. A time of Mayville and "Leave it to Beaver' and "Father Knows Best". Trump know the anxiety they feel and bases his whole campaign on maximizing that fear.

The Polack MSgt

(13,188 posts)
20. Thanks for the reply
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 02:29 PM
Sep 2016

And welcome to DU.

I may be overly harsh in my assessment of all Trump backers... MAYBE.

But if after more than a year of listening to this clown you still feel he is the better choice, I can't be sympathetic to you and your "fears"

calimary

(81,225 posts)
26. Welcome to DU, viguy2016!
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 09:05 PM
Sep 2016

I struggle with this realization all the time. I think your characterization and analysis are both quite accurate. They see a changing world, and a changing country, and they don't feel comfortable. Change is jarring, just ANYWAY. But change is INEVITABLE. So it seems to me the best way to deal with change is to try to roll with it and figure out where your place is in it.

radius777

(3,635 posts)
33. Yes, most of them aren't truly nice, but merely cowards
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 01:25 AM
Sep 2016

who live vicariously through 'strongmen' like Bush/Cheney, the Tea Party and now Trump.

It's about time these people are called out for what they are, because after all, it is they who are voting in all of these right wing politicians.

Beartracks

(12,809 posts)
34. But the people you describe...
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 01:51 AM
Sep 2016

... see themselves as the people Keillor describes. And that would help them tune into his message, should they happen to read his essay.

It's an important literary choice: always compliment your reader.

==================

rivegauche

(601 posts)
18. Standing ovation here. I'm a native NYer
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 01:26 PM
Sep 2016

although I moved to the southwest a few years ago. But I remember VIVIDLY the disgusting behavior of that orange pile of dogshit for my entire life. I've tried to tell people out here in the glorious west what an asinine, lying scumbag he is, and there are literally countless examples of it. He has NEVER given one microbial shit about working class and middle class people. He evicted thousands of working families so he could build his gaudy-ass luxury towers. He busts unions IN HIS OWN HOTELS. He openly ridiculed poor people for fucking decades. And all that is aside from his criminal activities and stiffing his own contractors.

I hate him, and have hated him for a very long time. He's the most appalling, despicable creature I can think of. This election season, for me, has been so shocking, so outrageously appalling that I haven't had a decent night's sleep in months.

 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
25. Had misfortune to meet him when we were both young
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 06:37 PM
Sep 2016

Everything you said, and more. Build a wall around Mexico? If he could find a way to deny Puerto Ricans US Citizenship, he would do that too. "No Spics will ever live in my buildings". He said that almost 40 years ago, and I will never forget his words. I won't even get into his "lines" to women. Who the hell do you think you are? Get LOST.

We Native New York Women, who have met him throughout his life, could write a book.

 

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)
27. put EVERYTHING you know out here! sounds like you have lots of info to share. you
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 09:54 PM
Sep 2016

owe it to the world (and me, mostly!) to share every detail! please......I'll pay you!

 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
41. Worked in the Rockefeller Center area
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 02:58 PM
Sep 2016

as a young woman. On my lunch break. Passed the opening of some building which I do not remember. Big crowd around it so I stopped by to look. A man came up to me and asked me if I wanted a personal tour. Why? Who are you? I am Donald Trump and own this building. Ok, heard of him, but big deal. I can't afford this so why would I want a personal tour? That is when he started on about "Spics" living in his buildings. How did he know I myself wasn't one of "those people"? Just because I did not have an accent?

No thank you I have to get back to work. I will call your boss and tell him you will be late. When I tell him my name and why you will be late, he won't say anything. Really? Ever consider that I don't WANT a personal tour of your building with YOU? Goodbye, Donald. You are CREEPY and I do not care about your money and how much influence you might have with my boss.

Native New York Woman. We know from a very early age when men, especially RICH Men, are trying to do a number on us.

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
29. You summed it up perfectly for me, rivegauche
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 11:17 PM
Sep 2016

I've been aware of his creepy self for decades and he's always exuded sleaze.

With all of his so-called wealth and self-aggrandizement, I have not heard one word about a charitable action or a kindly act toward a single soul.

He is vile and disgusting, and it appalls me that he's accrued enough of a base to run a viable campaign.

(Insert name of human rights trailblazer) weeps.

rivegauche

(601 posts)
40. That's the thing - he never cared about philanthropy.
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 11:38 AM
Sep 2016

NEVER. Any "charitable" endeavor by him was always and only to enrich HIMSELF, how do people not see that? Do you remember back in the 90s, he gave an interview with People Magazine (when he was a Dem, barf) and he said that if he were ever to run for POTUS, he would run as a Republican because the base is stupid and gullible. He really said this, and now look where we are. I swear I'm getting an ulcer.

ProfessorPlum

(11,256 posts)
37. I know exactly how you feel
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 08:42 AM
Sep 2016

and thank you for putting it so accurately into words.

I simply can not believe what is happening.

rivegauche

(601 posts)
39. Exactly. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 11:35 AM
Sep 2016

I truly believe that this is that grifter's biggest con yet. He is only running to see if the can do it, to see how many suckers he can con. It kills me that he's getting away with all his scumbaggery, and people want more! WTF!

Tikki

(14,557 posts)
19. Many can not see past tv trump.
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 02:24 PM
Sep 2016

Last edited Sun Sep 25, 2016, 10:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Their life becomes the entertainment on tv. trump was yelling at people, something many tv trumps would like to do.
Politics are cumbersome and not very flashy to these folk and their preachers says Hillary is the demon
in this picture.

These are neighbors, co~workers and, gulp yes, friends.

My granddaughter, age 8, sings a trump wall song...until I showed her the video of trump
mocking a disabled man...she has a disabled friend.

I asked her how she would feel if her daddy mocked her friend?

She doesn't sing that song or watch that video any more.

Tikki

pansypoo53219

(20,974 posts)
21. i met a trumpeter last july i think. he told me RUMP is rich, so he can't be bought.
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 03:57 PM
Sep 2016

i finally thought of a good response. no, he does the BUYING.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,185 posts)
32. Trump lives large but he has a mountain of debt
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 12:43 AM
Sep 2016

Much of it to Russia, China and the Saudis. It's not an issue of whether or not he can be bought. He has already BEEN bought.

 

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)
28. key graph from the oped for me:
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 10:01 PM
Sep 2016
Ah, chutzpah! There was once a mayor of New York who overruled the NYPD and the Secret Service and put the city’s Emergency Command Center on the 23rd floor of the World Trade Center, and whose emergency plan for the towers led to massive confusion and miscommunication, with some desperate people directed to climb up and others told to stay put, as the mayor stood in the streets below and urged residents to be calm, and thereby became a national hero and started his own security consulting company. This is like the captain of the Titanic, had he survived, writing a book called “The Art of Navigation.” The mayor is now a close Trump adviser.


RG is far more repugnant to me than even DT


spittle faced shitslinger.......

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
30. Rudy has physically devolved into a frightening vision of his true self
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 11:22 PM
Sep 2016

In his latest appearances supporting Trumpler, he actually looks like the silent version of Nosferatu.

 

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)
31. har.......google image his name+vampire.....I've pasted them many times here. so have others
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 11:56 PM
Sep 2016

Bernie kerik forever!

JHB

(37,159 posts)
36. Rudy also had trouble acknowledging that proper police procedure...
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 07:20 AM
Sep 2016

...never involves plunger handles.

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