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More broadly, I have wondered, though I think I know the answer, whether trump came into office aiming to destroy what he could or if he acted opportunistically. Was he smart enough to have a plan or did he willingly fall prey to people who recognized his weakness and manipulability? I had not thought he was smart enough to plot the evisceration of the government, but now I wonder if he’s some kind of idiot savant.

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No way, Marcy. tRump has never worked with his own brain, but relied on others to do the smart thinking for him. He is surely an idiot, but not "savant."

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No he is not a smart anything. It was Steve Bannon’s idea from the beginning to destroy the institutions. And with tRump being such a narcissist, all those close to him have to do is stoke his anger at rejection and tell him all the ways that he can “get even”. Then tRump gleefully goes along and executes the plan.

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That has a ring of truth for me. Recalls the term Useful Idiot. trump strikes me as a shark, powerful and dangerous, but cruising on instinct, not thoughtful analysis. Other, smarter people see the opportunity he presents and lead him where they want with a little chum in the water.

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The idea was not original to Bannon, he just picked up the ball and ran with it.

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My thoughts as well. Bannon is still pulling strings.

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I finally received and read Mary Trump's book about her family just after the election. While she does write about other family members, the focus is on her uncle Donald and how his father, Fred, raised him to be the tool of smarter and wealthier men. Look for the money and intelligence behind the "throne".

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