Trump, Politico, and the West Point story
And what of Donald Trump? He Jumped right onto ye olde Politico bandwagon, unlike the other Republican candidates:
WOW, one of the many lies by Ben Carson! Big story,” Trump tweeted, the latest in a string of attacks on Carson by the business mogul.
And then there was this:
IS CARSON HALLUCINATING? NOW LIES ABOUT WESTPOINT?
Just another reason to love Donald Trump, right?
I haven’t seen any walkback on the accusations from Trump yet, either. I’d say the odds are very poor that any will ever come.
Now, let me just say that it’s possible that some real dirt will be unearthed on Carson, something that will be important and verified, a material lie or something else that matters. But so far that’s not happened, and Trump is being opportunistic and cynical in seizing on Politico’s story without any sort of critical eye—despite the fact that Trump himself denounced Politico roundly about six weeks ago, when he tweeted the following:
@Politico, which is not read or respected by many, may be the most dishonest of the media outlets— and that is saying something.
The failing @politico news outlet, which I hear is losing lots of money, is really dishonest!
Not so dishonest that they can’t be treated as extremely trustworthy when they’ve got a hit piece on your main opponent, right?
I’m wondering what Trump’s defenders say about all of this. They have a few choices. One is to ignore it and pretend it’s not happening. Another is to say he’s right and Politico is right, and the evidence is compelling that Carson is a lying liar who lies. That shows an ability to ignore evidence and logic that would seem worthy of a leftist, and that’s not a compliment. A third option is to say it doesn’t matter because Trump is the only candidate who (fill in the blank with the praise of your choice).
As for me, it only strengthens my dislike of Trump and my conviction that he would be a terrible terrible president, and that he is no conservative either, and cannot be trusted. It is also possible, as some have asserted, that he’s actively working for the election of Hillary Clinton if he himself doesn’t make it as president. His attacks on his rivals have certainly had more force and repetitiveness than any critiques he’s made of her.
neo writes, “as for me, it only strengthens my dislike of Trump and my conviction that he would be a terrible terrible president, and that he is no conservative either, and cannot be trusted,” and I agree much more than I disagree.
A question for neo: and if it comes down to President Trump or President Hillary, who is worse?
Trump’s a loose cannon in a china shop [I know I’m mixing metaphors] in deed as well as in word. It becomes the unknown evil versus the known evil, and who does the most irrecoverable damage the fastest.
Actually, I think I can predict neo’s response: something to the tune of “I don’t have to contemplate that choice yet, and so I can defer contemplating it until and in the event that it comes to pass.” Maybe I’m wrong in projecting that on neo, but that’s the way I’m approaching it for now.
[ * shudder * ]
M J R:
I don’t have time to look for it now, but that’s pretty much what I wrote somewhere on the blog when asked.
However, I really really really hope it doesn’t come to that. I think I do know what I probably would do, but I can’t stomach thinking about the dilemma. It almost literally makes me sick to my stomach.
Last paragraph, first sentence, is exactly right.
We have NO idea what Trump would do if elected.
And Hillary can beat him.
Her oppo research team is drilling into a Trump gold mine of stuff right now.
“I don’t have time to look for it now, but that’s pretty much what I wrote somewhere on the blog when asked.”
Guess that’s a leading reason why I thought I could predict neo’s response! Carry on . . .
I originally liked the fact that Trump jumped into the fray for all the obvious reasons (but not because I actually wanted him to be President), but at this point he’s committed so many unforced errors that I’m starting to get tired of him.
Didn’t Trump exaggerate his own military background, pretending that a miltary HS was real training? I can’t stand the man. He is a braggart, and he thinks you can measure the value of life by the size of your wallet. He is also ugly. There are so many pictures of him with a scowl on his face. There is never an eye-twinkling smile. I hope the Trumpsters catch on to him someday. If I need to scream or raise he** about something, I can do it myself.
Trump, in his chosen profession, is experienced, practiced, and facile in jumping on the opportunity. The truth of the matter, had it mattered, had it been to his advantage, would have had a hearing. Who would ever have expected Oxford Union Society rules of engagement? Had he been politically nimble instead of art of the deal facile he would certainly have ignored the facile and deftly moved in on:
Ben Carson announced Friday his support for the White House’s and GOP/Cons Establishmentarian’s TPP Trade Deal.
Third option is to say it doesn’t matter because Trump is the only candidate who will put his opponent on the defensive. Something a conservative had not seen done in Presidential politics since… when… Reagan?
If it turns out he’s actively working for the election of Hillary Clinton if he himself doesn’t make it as presidential candidate, I shall forthwith resign myself to macramé and will never again be heard from.
I wouldn’t cast a vote for Hillary on moral grounds, but if it were a choice between her and Trump, I would prefer her. I say that as someone with an unblemished record of supporting conservative candidates through my votes, donations, working phone banks, stuffing envelopes, et cetera.
http://www.voxday.blogspot.com/2015/11/politico-admits-carson-didnt-lie.html
The anti Left wants to put into power a US President that focuses on Fortress America, because many of them don’t even live in the US and they would prefer that America’s foreign adventures stop, allowing people to focus on fighting the Leftist alliance.
But many of them were absorbing Leftist propaganda for god knows how many decades, so their ability to detect propaganda and resist it is down, since they want Carson to be ousted, so they often believe deception because they wanted it to be true.
Trump seems to be the anti Left’s favorite candidate at the moment, for various reasons. There is a network, a sub economy if you will, on the internet. One that isn’t very obvious to people who only pay attention to celebrities and credentialed authority in offline.
https://ymarsakar.wordpress.com/2015/11/07/internet-economy/
For more details, you can read about it here. VoxDay has its own independent publishing house, which he probably owns a majority share control in, and is economically tied to publishing sci fi and fantasy novels, that aren’t accepted by Leftists.
I consider him a useful weapon and tool, in the war against the Leftist alliance. But he will get less useful if he is so weak as to believe in Leftist propaganda, whether he likes it or not. The older generation of cuckservatives or conservative “bipartisan” people, I expect to fall for cons, but VoxDay makes his “authority” online and economically, as being hostile to SJW mind control.
That’s 2 for Trump now, right?
http://neoneocon.com/2015/10/16/bush-derangement-syndrome-left-right-and-trumpian/
Cornhead Says:
November 7th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
We have NO idea what Trump would do if elected.
And Hillary can beat him.
Her oppo research team is drilling into a Trump gold mine of stuff right now.
&&&
I have to ditto that.
Trump shoots from the lip — and commonly walks back from and or abandons positions.
That’s actually optimal behavior for a real estate negotiator.
But it’s a mis-match for any American President.
Our ship of state is not a sailboard.
Flip flopping all over the place has been seen before:
Bill Clinton.
So don’t assume that it’s a critical flaw.
For me, it’s still Cruz all the way. He’s a natural born leader.
The Clinton oppo research squad has to be terrified of him.
For me, it’s still Cruz all the way. He’s a natural born leader.
Hhmmm… The womyn. They like bad boys. TWICE!
Cruz, but he’s so short and has a squeecky voice she said.
Of course she’s now out of my life, all her money, achievements and supposed conservatism notwithstanding.
Bitch!
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/132667328016/the-upside-of-ben-carson
G6loq:
I read your blog.dilbert link and find its author embarrassingly short of synapses. The link is rooted in ignorance and misconceptions. And it is not funny. Does the author do that vapid cartoon strip? The one for the cretins? I remember it from, Oh, 20 years ago.
Ymarsakar: “The anti Left wants to put into power a US President that focuses on Fortress America, because many of them don’t even live in the US and they would prefer that America’s foreign adventures stop, allowing people to focus on fighting the Leftist alliance.”
I’ve noticed they tend to be pro-Putin and align with Russian worldview propaganda.
Add: I support “focus on fighting the Leftist alliance”; however, it’s often not clear whether the “anti Left” motive is actually developing competitive advantage via cultivation of American disadvantage for the geopolitical contest.
If you go by what he said a couple years ago, Trump is the second most freedom hating candidate running (after Sanders). Ted Cruz is the most freedom loving (Ben Carson is 2nd or 3rd but very close).
If you go by what he says now, Trump is only the most freedom hating Republican running.
So in the course of the year, and assuming he’s telling the truth he’s (barely) leap frogged Hillary. What an accomplishment.
> A question for neo: and if it comes down to President Trump or President Hillary, who is worse?
If it comes down to picking between two incompetent Democrats, I’m going third party and considering moving to Idaho.
The first thing that came to mind when I heard Trump was running but before I knew what party he was running for was:
“Wait, he’s too left wing for the Democrats. He must be going for the Green Party nomination.”
That reaction was based on his known political views. He’s the ultimate insider but from the other side; the briber not the bribee.
Trump should be running for the Democratic nomination. He fits those jerks to a tee. If he wins, he’ll be running around in a bhurka before the year is out and Obama will become only the second worst president ever.
He’s also a cry baby. (more so even than Obama)
“A question for neo: and if it comes down to President Trump or President Hillary, who is worse?”
My opinion; in terms of immediate policy, Hillary is worse. In terns of long term consequences, Trump is worse. Because he is a fake Republican, he will sully the cause of freedom in a way that Obama or Hillary or Sanders can not.
The best Trump can be is a dictator, but people think his election will save them because they need a Savior.
Irregardless, civil war is inevitable. When all you got is Dictator A, B, and C, well, tyrants aren’t necessarily going to live long. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves from Southern Democrat captivity and forced lack of education, and pardoned the Confederate military. They killed him for that, so even if someone thinks you’re a tyrant, you might not last very long.
I’ve noticed they tend to be pro-Putin and align with Russian worldview propaganda.
It’s a way to counter balance American adventures, since they assume Putin’s power projection is too limited. Whereas America’s logistics allows our power to project very far, which means the evil or good in the Seat of the Presidency tends to magnify the world population’s desire to “vote in our elections”.
Much of it was based on Soviet and Leftist propaganda as well, which turned people against America, making them anti America. Well some people are more anti American than the Left’s anti American.
Some of them live in Paris, VoxDay lives in Italy or thereabouts. The invasion of Europe is something they are concerned most about, and the Islamic Jihad is their secondary priority, apart from the SJW totalitarians online they fight with all the time. Internal domestic disputes in America have no real effect on them, and what they know of it comes from Facebook or prior Leftist propaganda. Few ever Awakened before 2008, for example, to the Leftist alliance and various gray/black operations which I know of, but others do not.
Heck, Snowden lived in the US, but now where is he? That kind of independent roam around, is classic of the anti Left. I can’t even call them an alliance or a coalition yet, they haven’t matured to that stage. They are getting there though. Cuckservatives, conservatives, patriots, there’s a lot of factions in this war, on top of the Left’s 1000+1 internal factions.
@ M J R
The problem with your rhetorical question is that nobody knows the future, and that affects the perception severely. For example:
If things would’ve been okay, but Hillary is elected, this would represent a loss of a great opportunity.
But what if there’s going to be another Great Depression-sized mess due to all of the governmental interference in the markets for the last 10 years, and nothing Trump does will stop it?
What if it happens, and the GOP is blamed even though none of it was our fault? (just like GWB got blamed for the housing crisis when most of the seeds were sown in the Clinton era)
Besides which, I have surrendered to the futility of trying to save an electorate which insists on acting stupidly and irresponsibly. If they elect Hillary after 8 years of Obama, there’s nothing anyone can do to save them from themselves. Not even Trump.
“It is also possible, as some have asserted, that he’s actively working for the election of Hillary Clinton if he himself doesn’t make it as president.”
I thought about that too. He definitely would not be doing anything different if that was true. However, I’m not sure Trump is smart enough but…others might be manipulating him in that direction.
it’s often not clear whether the “anti Left” motive is actually developing competitive advantage via cultivation of American disadvantage for the geopolitical contest.
Their primary motive has to be economic independence. Without economic independence, they cannot do whatever they feel like doing. If the Left is your boss, you are kind of screwed.
So while the majority of people on the internet are afraid of SJWs and Leftists, because they will get called a racist and then fired, the minority of leaders are the tribal independents. And by tribal, they actually have a kind of feudal or economically linked network of supporters. This is an actual organization, rather than a mere description of their behavior.
So their politics will align very closely to their economic model, which is liberty based or internet based, and not SJW or monopoly based. But other than that, they probably have no clue of their own. Their job is or was to sustain themselves, not to train themselves to become warriors or killing machines.
For the latter… you would need to talk to other people, specialized sorts.
“another Great Depression-sized mess
Whoa. What’s coming may be a lot worse than that. Think of the catastrophe of 1200BC
“I have surrendered to the futility of trying to save an electorate which insists on acting stupidly and irresponsibly.”
Start from scratch. Try to work on their world view. If we can’t save civilization maybe we can at least set the seed for a future revival. Assuming the Muslims don’t win of course; that would be 1984 deja vu in spades.
I’ve also given up on backing any one candidate (though I have a private favorite). There are only two lists: who would I vote for, and who would I never vote for.
I will not vote for Trump.
However, I’m not sure Trump is smart enough but…others might be manipulating him in that direction.
It’s little different from HRC accepting a cabinet level position after she lost to Hussein. Even if Trump loses, he knows that his money can still buy political leverage, from anyone really. Anyone that can be bought.
Trump’s reality tv patina of “authority” makes him popular amongst the usual sorts. But the number is vast, as a result of that mainstream product market penetration.
Basically he’s like a celebrity, and has more than just name brand recognition. And when those people get angry enough at the Leftist alliance… well, interesting things can happen.
“Starting from scratch” means taking the children away at age six and teaching them what Evil is and how to fight it.
Are people doing that in elementary school? No, then they have lost without realizing it. And of course home schooling Will Be the Left’s next highest priority. Once they consolidate their territorial gains and mobilize the rest of their strategic reserves.
Trump, if he is the nominee which is unlikely, could never win 11/16. The Bern could beat him, O’Malley could beat him, and hrc could beat him. The convention could draft pelosi and she would beat him, or reid and he could beat him. But that’s all beside the main point. Trump is a spoiler for hrc, stomping in puddles to muddy the water. You trumpsters have been duped and need to take up macrame as a hobby.
😉
You trumpsters have been duped and need to take up macrame as a hobby.
That may be an interesting prophecy, but time remains to verify the end.
Yep, I’ve pretty much come to the same conclusions, regarding Trump.
@Cornhead
“Her oppo research team is drilling into a Trump gold mine of stuff right now.”
I hope she’s changed her research team. They did sh*t in 2008 and there was gold out there just waiting to be mined.
Ymarsakar,
Trump’s apparently uncritical adoption of the transparently false BDS-Left narrative plus his support from the “anti Left” makes me wonder how many opinion makers of the “anti Left” were BDS-Left propagandists while Bush was president then switched hats when Obama became president in order to continue their anti-establishment, anti-American competitive mission.
“You trumpsters have been duped”
It is apparently lost on many that we now live in the age of the duped; and that we may all, in our turn, play that victim. Were not those who were for GWB duped? Were not those who were for Obama (not the mentally incapacitated but the regretful) duped? Are not those who pledge affinity to Rubio dupes in the making?
Corollary to the Trump phenomenon (populist attraction) is the Rubio Conundrum (cover boy attraction). I remain as puzzled about Rubio’s popularity as just about anything in the political arena. I recall those who professed having seen through Obama immediately he set foot upon the stage. I was one of them. Now, again, I’m left to wonder — WTF? What is there to Rubio that is not faé§ade? What is there to Rubio that is not superficial? How does one so obviously all exterior and no interior (like a movie studio set piece meant to pass as what it is not) get this much traction? How does an obvious GOP/Cons Establishmentarian beguile conservatives who will not let the opportunity pass that would allow them to vent that they’re fed up with Establishmentarian ways of losing elections or running the country — on the off chance an Algore shows up to make such a thing possible. Mr Rubio is every bit the Establishmentarian — his feud with Jeb notwithstanding. Those supporting him (not the money men) are dupes.
If I am duped, I shall have been duped by trying something different than swallowing the same old shit with the expectation that the next dose, for sure, will lead to recovery.
Those frightened of being duped have already been duped – into thinking the steady course, the safe course, is the only course. In defense of a nation, its citizens, its borders, its middle class, I’ll risk being thought the fool rather than play it safe, again and again and repeated, again — and remove all doubt.
Were not those who were for GWB duped?
The Leftists and their fake anti war sentiments were certainly programmed to think so.
I’ll risk being thought the fool rather than play it safe, again and again and repeated, again — and remove all doubt.
If Pal here was going to have Trump’s power or wealth leverage, that kind of judgement would have some worth. Once you attach your cart to some rising star or tyrant, you don’t get much say about much of anything.
Independence of will and movement, of economy and martial power, doesn’t depend upon Dear Leaders, of any sort.
Eric, if you are implying or suggesting that agents are involved in infiltrating or co opting these mini organizations, I would say that their membership would more closely fit your description. But the actual community leadership have so far been legitimately anti Left rather than pretending to be, because the culture, their own culture I mean, has certain ways of filtering out infiltrators and suborned agents.
Their de centralized bottom up hierarchies actually made it unlikely that they would back a leader, since these independent tribal leaders like to exercise their own authority, rather than surrendering it to political masters.
Some of them were self educated or educated by the internet, outside of the Leftist occupied institutions of higher ed. It is not a result of taking over those institutions so much as there being a hidden alternative that some have taken advantage of. Zucker and Facebook or Amazon, are the more notable success stories of the internet face economy, but there are also various smaller communities that tie into the greater network. Because they have to use the internet for their business, it is relatively easy for intel analysts to use open source data mining and check their records. Since it won’t be based on credentials, it cannot be “sealed” as they did with Hussein.
Ymarsakar,
How is it Leftists’ sentiments find their way into your consciousness but Rightist sentiments never do. By any measure of the Right, including the measure of Bush’s own campaign talking points, the Bush presidency was a failed one. Domestically, he made more excuses for Islam, spent more money than any predecessor, supported, and signed into law more statist legislation, from welfare to surveillance/security than anyone had ever done. Leftist sentiments were not behind the disillusions with Bush, Rightist sentiments were.
And Ymarsaker,
“Once you attach your cart to some rising star or tyrant, you don’t get much say about much of anything.”
Who precisely gets much of a say about much of anything now? Is it the GOP/Cons Congress (who had not attached themselves to Obama but rail, ineffectually against him)? The people, the majority of whom had been against ACA? The producers, i.e., taxpayers, i.e., the middle class, who support both the indolent natives and the entitled illegals?
And:
“Independence of will and movement, of economy and martial power, doesn’t depend upon Dear Leaders, of any sort.”
Incalculably wrong. Or are you unaware of what Obama had wrought, what SJW brown shirts had coerced, what politically correct thinkers had dismissed, what the educational rackets had calculated to create? You may be immune to it all but millions have fallen for him and for it all. And another Alinskyite awaits her turn. If what you contend were true then why all the consternation over the election and the playactors?
Ymarsakar,
For the Vietnam War protests, enemy propagandists in the guise of the Left exploited American social fissures by adapting, widening, and leveraging them in order to advantage America’s international competitors and disadvantage America in the geopolitical contest.
Watch for enemy propagandists applying the same method except now in the guise of the “anti Left”.
It’s an effective method because the issues that enemy propagandists don inside the social fissures they exploit are legitimate issues. The Marxist-method Gramscian march by the Left – largely unobstructed because of the self-conscious choices made by an activist-averse Right – is a legitimate problem.
However, enemy propagandists aren’t motivated by healing America and making us a stronger nation. They’re homewreckers motivated by defeating America in the geopolitical contest by widening social fissures and playing off Americans against each other in order to weaken the nation.
For America’s sake, the solution to unchecked Left activism and the resulting GOPe inadequacy isn’t Trump. The necessary solution is “mainstream” conservatives collectively adopting Marxist-method activism and committing to a Gramscian counter-march across the social spectrum, rather than self-limiting to facially insufficient electoral politics.
Then as now, enemy propagandists disguised as a strident Left or “anti Left” aren’t against war or American hegemony in general for our sake. They’re advocates for our competitors; the north Vietnamese and/or the Soviets then – Saddam’s Iraq, Iran, and/or the Russians now.
they now admit it was all a fabrication:
http://thefederalist.com/2015/11/06/politico-admits-fabricating-a-hit-piece-on-ben-carson/
Or are you unaware of what Obama had wrought, what SJW brown shirts had coerced, what politically correct thinkers had dismissed
When you think power comes from raping, looting, and coercing others to do your bidding, no wonder Pal here thinks Hussein is his model to hitch a ride on for Trump.
That’s not self mastery, that’s mastery of slaves. Different issue at hand.
Watch for enemy propagandists applying the same method except now in the guise of the “anti Left”.
Your warning, Eric, is well taken. Although I’ve already seen such ops on the Libertarian and Republican camps. The anti Left is relatively new, the only Leftist branch that would be targeting them would be Amazon, big 5 publishers, or MPAA. And they don’t necessarily have the logistics base to support a counter propaganda effort just yet.
Right now they seem to be cleaning up the Social Justice Whores in their various fronts. But they may not realize this yet, but SJWs are the parasites and discards of the Leftist alliance. The Left has heavy hitters they haven’t brought in yet. If the SJWs fail to co opt or take territory, the Leftist alliance may escalate matters, Eric, via what you described.
By any measure of the Right, including the measure of Bush’s own campaign talking points, the Bush presidency was a failed one. Domestically, he made more excuses for Islam, spent more money than any predecessor, supported, and signed into law more statist legislation, from welfare to surveillance/security than anyone had ever done.
The critical difference is that you aren’t dealing with some puppet or political worshipper, so my standard for success or failure isn’t based on Bush II or the GOP’s platforms.
I had my own reasons and goals for Operation Iraqi Freedom and what it should accomplish for America and other people. Killing ragheads and keeping that population down so America has an extra gen to practice H2H and harden up all those schools, was only One Goal. Not the only goal.
Not everyone supports goals because they bought the Kool Aid of their political masters. That’s more like a zombie or a slave mentality.
Yea, like the mentality that you only get “power” if you do what Hussein does, and become a slave owner. Certainly that is the easiest way to get power, but not the only way to acquire mastery of self or others.
“Independence of will and movement, of economy and martial power, doesn’t depend upon Dear Leaders, of any sort.”
Still the stupidest thing I’d heard this year. Call off the elections, Ymarsaker has been attending motivational speaker seminars.
Most of whats traded around is what the left says, and has always said on him. there have been several articles that pointed this out, as there is always very little press from a non left source… yet we forget this.
does it matter if we are this confused anyway?
Trump’s conservative critics frequently highlight his supposedly left-wing positions in order to essentially call him a fake Republican.
Here’s that portion of his book, word-for-word:
Says a lot about Trump’s character. I was glad Trump was in this to barrel his way through the field, taking out RINOs and Media dummies, but now, his piling on WITH the Media to attack his rival??? Now it’s time to move towards Ted Cruz. Rubio is exposed for his illegal sympathies. His lost votes will go to Cruz and so will Ben Carson’s if he slides downward, not that I give the media shyte any credence for their slander. That said, I’d vote for Lindsay Graham while barfing in a bag before I’d let Hillary get my vote or neutralize mine by staying home.
I believe it is time for everyone to go to their media of choice and pop in Fahrenheit 451.
Here’s what Trump said about Carson:
Carson responded to Trump with an attack on his fitness to by CIC.
I don’t think the barbs they are trading are anything more than one would expect from rivals.
It also appears that Dr. Carson’s eo is a match for Mr. Trump’s.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2015/nov/07/ben-carson-house-homage-to-himself-in-pictures?CMP=share_btn_tw
oops! “eo” = “ego”.
PatD:
Do you really think that, for a guy like Carson, who came up from nothing and reached tremendous heights of achievement, his life loaded with testimonials and honors to his work helping other people, that putting the plaques on the walls means he’s an egotist? The people I’ve known who’ve gotten honored by various charities and organizations (and that includes my grandmother and my parents, who were quite far from being egotists), as well as philanthropists, have put their plaques and honors on the walls. It’s just that Carson got more of those honors than most people.
And sports figures with trophies? Do they ordinarily hide them in a closet? Would you think more of them if they did?
Carson has a right to be proud of his accomplishments in helping others, and to put them on display. As for the painting of him with Jesus—certainly not to my artistic or aesthetic tastes, but I don’t think it expresses egotism. I actually think it expresses his religiousness and humility. Seems to me what it’s saying is that Jesus is his help and his rock.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, could have nothing but the best art on his walls, and nary a testimonial in sight, and he would still be an egotist. You know why? Almost every word out of his mouth is loaded with his egotism and narcissism. I, I, I, me, me, me (same for Obama, but Trump is actually worse). His lifeswork, unlike that of Carson, is not doing for others. Yes, in the process of what Carson does, he makes money and he gets awards (which yes, he puts on the wall!!). But the work itself is all for others. Trump’s work is to make money, although in the process he does hire people. But his work is his trophy and the tower he raises to his own egotism.
Trump Tower. Literally. Ever seen it? Take a look.
And this. And this. Etc.
PatD:
I am not criticizing the fact that Trump criticizes Carson as a rival.
I am criticizing the way he did it—by swallowing the leftist hit piece about Carson whole, and parroting it back, despite the fact that Trump himself had previously said that Politico was full of lies. But he seems to think that, when it lies about Carson’s lies, it’s telling the truth.
Do you not perceive what’s wrong with that?
Artfldgr:
The left-leaning things that Trump says that I’m referring to are things he himself has either said verbally or written in his own books.
His own quotes, that is: for example, some of the things I listed in this post and in particular this one, his views on single payer, and his views on eminent domain and Kelo (which are probably the most leftist of all his views).
Indeed, there’s everything wrong with believing the liars when they tell you lies you want to hear. That’s exactly where the media gets its power to completely control public dialogue, and nobody, not even myself, is immune to it.
The only defense is to repeatedly and intentionally seek out the information you don’t want to hear, however painful it may be. It’s just as likely to be a pack of lies as the things you want to hear, but in repeatedly challenging yourself to poke holes in arguments you disagree with, you learn to see the same flaws in the arguments you do agree with, and sometimes that’s enough to make you realize you’re being conned by people pretending to be your friends.
Neo writes:
We already have a terrible president and a country so stupid that they voted him in, twice. The fact that the GOP nominated tired old re-runs both times didn’t help.
Trump’s published positions, as posted on his web-site, and expounded in his new book, seem pretty conservative to me. I’ve skimmed though his book on Kindle and I’m not seeing a progressive. On education, he writes:
Maybe that’s why we have such a stupid country.
The accusation that Trump is not a conservative is a bit rich when one looks at the GOP critters us conservative dupes sent to Congress in 2010 and 2014. They may as well have been Democrats for all the opposition they have provided to Obama’s lawless ways. Ted Cruz is a noble exception, and look how the “conservative” GOP vilifies him.
Trump has two attributes that are important in a CIC. He knows how to negotiate and he knows how to delegate. You don’t build the empire he has built without those skills. He also appears to be better informed than the current President. I thought his chapter on energy shows that he is thinking strategically about the importance of energy to the economy and the foolishness of Obama’s green energy policies.
Here’s what he wrote in “Crippled America”. He takes on the green lobby head-on.
Name me another candidate with that command of the energy policy.
The reason he is doing well, so far, is that he has outwitted the GOP elites; you know, the guys who gave us Dole, the Bushes, McCain and Romney. The GOP elites wanted to ram Jeb Bush down our throats. Trump, and, to a lesser extent, Carson, have foiled that plan. Calling Jeb “low-energy” was a master-stroke.
PatD:
Did you read this comment of mine, and the links in it?
Plus, I actually don’t trust Trump to be consistent about the positions he espouses now, were he to become president. He has been the ultimate flip-flopper (see this and this; there are many more examples I could list).
Do you really trust a man who’s said the things I list here? He’s been all over the place, and sounds exactly like a leftist suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome as well. I don’t really care what he says today on energy or on any other issue; the man is untrustworthy, and he changes what he says to meet the prevailing winds. Right now he’s telling you what you want to hear.
Neo: I agree that Trump jumped the gun on the West Point story and should apologize. What Carson wrote implied more than it should have, and I posted a defense of Carson at Gateway pundit.
As to Carson’s ego, I was not being critical. I was just saying he had one to compete with Trump’s.
Your comment about their lifeswork has me a little perturbed.
It makes you sound like an anti-capitalist. The greatest virtue of free markets, capitalism and private property is that they harness self-interest to the greater good. I learned this from William Bradford’s diary. Trump creates jobs and wealth and he has rejuvenated important historical landmarks with some of his projects along the way.
In fact, if he was as bad as you say he is, then he would never have foregone millions of dollars to run for the worst job in the world.
PatD:
You write of Trump: ” Calling Jeb “low-energy” was a master-stroke.”
Trump said that about Jeb Bush on September 2: “He’s doing very poorly in the polls, he’s a very low-energy kind of guy and he had to do something…”
Well, I guess I’m a master, too. Or maybe Bush reads neo-neocon (unlikely). Because back on June 11, I wrote this [emphasis mine]:
Master stroke? Hardly. Just stating the obvious.
PatD:
You misunderstand me. I’m not anti-capitalist. I’m not anti-Trump either—except as a candidate for the presidency. He can go and make as much money and build as many towers as he likes. I don’t think you’ll find me being critical of those endeavors. However, the way he goes about it (putting his name on them all, making it about himself) is part of his egotism. Only a part, but it’s symbolic of what he’s about: egotism. His constant bragging and need to put other people down in the crassest of ways (a practice of his that began long, long before the campaign, and is a habit of his that has nothing to do with the campaign, although he’s used it in the campaign) are also examples of his egotism.
He’s an egotist. We were discussing egotism. I was pointing out that plaques on the wall don’t mean someone’s an egotist. Building large buildings doesn’t mean a person’s an egotist, either. But Trump is, for the reasons stated.
How much money has Trump spent so far on his own campaign, do you think? See this. A very very very small percentage of his wealth it turns out.
Plus, are you kidding? “The worst job in the world?” The very very very very BEST, for an egotist. The most powerful, the most famous, the ultimate—it’s HUGE!!!
@Neo: The positions of a businessman doing deals in a blue state like New York a decade ago are not necessarily his personal views. Had he come out publicly and said he was anti-abortion and pro 2nd amendment, the activists would have screamed blue murder and killed any chance of him doing any deals in Manhattan.
He has attacked illegal immigration head-on. Even Cruz balked on that. He has also stripped away the masks that hide the corruption and dishonesty in the media. and political class. Here’s what he says in “Crippled America”.
Although Trump’s WrestleMania following will be loyal to the bitter end, the rest of us see admirable qualities in several conservatives in the race whom he has viciously maligned. He must think he can somehow win us over if he wins the nomination.
Speaking only for myself, The Donald’s juvenile bullying has only inspired the desire to see him defeated.
Bill Clinton enthusiastically encouraged Trump to run early on. After hearing Democrat talking points and attacks coming from Trump, it is easy to see why.
@Neo: You know, the bragging is rather tedious. Gotta agree with you on that. Putting his name on his buildings is not. His name on a building is supposed to suggest luxury, exclusivity and quality. No different from fashion designers or any other entrepreneur. Branding is all. In photography, Zeiss is a big name. So. everyone wants Zeiss branded lenses on their cameras.
One of our leftist friends surprised us by saying he was looking at Uruguay as a retirement option and an escape hatch. I actually looked at Trump’s property in Uruguay. I checked the floor plans. I did due diligence. The apartments were very well designed and the building looked fabulous. I couldn’t find any prices but I’m suspecting seven digits. I already live in a fabulous penthouse with sunset views over Lake Erie, so I know fabulous.
“Worst job in the world” is accurate, no matter your ego. I think we can agree that President Obama is doing the worst job ever of the “worst job in the world”, despite his incredible ego. Whereas Obama says he is smarter than all of his advisors, Trump says he is going to hire the smartest people to negotiate for America.
The worst job is the one where all responsibility devolves to one person. Eisenhower had the worst job possible when he gave the D-Day order. The weather was bad and time was running out. He had a speech prepared for failure. If the Nazis had stopped the landings, he knew what he had to say.
My father-in-law was the first skipper of an LCT to land his tanks on Utah beach. He didn’t have to hear that speech.
George Bush had the worst job in the world on 9/11. How he handled it defined his presidency. His decision to invade Iraq may or may not have been correct, and I’m open to debate on that, but he allowed the Left/Progressives/Communists to frame a media narrative that destroyed his reputation and paved the path for President Obama. Remember “Bush lied, people died”.
I’m sort of torn between whether Trump is doing this as an ego trip or because he actually cares about America. I’m coming down on the “cares” side. Looks like you are on the “ego” side.
Only 7% of journalists are Republican!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/8/republicans-media-bias-claims-boosted-by-scarcity-/
Still the stupidest thing I’d heard this year.
Actually, some of that came from attending Target Focus Training, because it was an obvious conclusion from the material I absorbed and used.
It’s on the other side of the motivational speaking, but I don’t expect someone with minor experience such as Pal, to know what that is.
It’s nice that you gave up on trying to understand and argue with this subject, Pal, since this is beyond you. As I said before, you’re 10 years too early.
I’m open to debate on that, but he allowed the Left/Progressives/Communists to frame a media narrative that destroyed his reputation and paved the path for President Obama. Remember “Bush lied, people died”.
Bush II refused to wage war, propaganda or otherwise, on his fellow countrymen. That was his singular flaw, when it came to fighting traitors and terrorists, oversea or otherwise.
Also, if people with their Facebook propaganda posters and other memes existed back in 2003, it wouldn’t be the job of the President to wage propaganda war against internal traitors. That would be the Youth Brigade and the people’s job. But the people thought it was the President’s job.
There’s a distortion of duties and hierarchies there, which was merely a symptom of American corruption and decadence.
Before WWII, the Left had not entirely eradicated certain aspects of American culture, which is now sub mainstream and/or lost. The idea that each individual American had a duty to act, on their own initiative, is what powered FDR’s war machine. It wasn’t the other way around, FDR wasn’t what motivated people to sacrifice.
Yes, a brand is a brand. But he chose his name as the brand. How many other real estate developers have done that and branded their names onto huge skyscrapers in big cities? Hotels, maybe (Hilton, for example). But office (or multi-use) buildings? I don’t recall ever seeing it till Trump came along.
I don’t care what the style of his buildings is; that’s not my criticism at all. Nor do I care that he has a brand that he promotes; of course he does. I’m talking about his choice of brand, way back when that sort of thing (putting the developer’s own name in huge letters on office buildings) wasn’t ordinarily done, as far as I can recall.
Again, you miss my point about the presidency as the “worst job in the world.” That may indeed be accurate as a general job description if you look at it in terms of stress and responsibilities. But to an egomaniac (any egomaniac, be it Obama or Trump or any other of the world’s egomaniacs), there’s nothing “worst” about that at all. Stress and responsibility? They thrive on it, love it, seek it out, because they think they are superior to all other humans in their ability to handle it and to make decisions of great wisdom. Also, they love power, and they love having people kiss their butts and tell them how great they are. There is no downside whatsoever for them, except criticism. But their egos insulate them very well from that: those who criticize them are just plain wrong and stupid and need to be destroyed, either by their power or by their withering insults.
In addition, you write:
Nope, wrong again. I don’t see this as an either/or proposition. I think Trump loves and cares about America. So do a lot of people, but that doesn’t mean they should be president. Trump also (as I’ve said quite a bit) is a narcissistic egotist, a fact that doesn’t weigh on whether he loves America or not, but on whether he is capable of acting in her best interests, in making the right decisions, in choosing the right people, in dealing with his adversaries, in dealing with people in general, in just plain having wisdom and integrity. That’s where narcissism gets in the way, probably big time. We have plenty of other candidates who love and care about America, and they have much more of those other things I’ve just listed.
Lastly, you write that the bragging is rather tedious. It’s that, but much worse than that is it’s a tell, a tell about something that conservatives used to say they cared about: character.
Carson, et all have refuted all charges, as best I can tell. Hi mosther verifies the knife story. The claim of a phony “scholarship” offer from West Point has been vitiated by Carson pointing to the fact that on their web site, they call the appointment benefit being a “scholarship.” And Carson has rebuked ABCs George Stephanopolous, etc.
Amazingly, the Columbia Journalism Review has come down on the side of Politico!
Polls show Republicans are satisfied, but Democrats now think Carson is a liar (but Hillary is not).
The Democrat media has don it’s Preatorian Guard duties to keep the LIV-shlubs suitably malinformed. ALL must have “success” because Truth is a capitalist construct. Yea.
CORRECTION – “Columbia Review of Juournalism.”