Most of the oxygen in the world of American news media today has been taken up by last night’s story about Trump’s contempt for the military, which said, among other things, that Trump called soldiers “suckers” and dead service members “losers.” Today, the story was confirmed and expanded by the
I’m waiting for the story to break that Trump thinks his own supporters are suckers and losers. It seems likely that Trump considers his MAGA-hatted crowds to be just a bunch of marks that he can con into cheering for him. How can a reality TV star not have contempt for his audience, when he knows the whole thing is an act? When do we get to hear what Trump says about all the people who cheer him on, in private?
My thoughts exactly. I see the occasional post from FB who are Trumpers, but so far it's been crickets about the disdain for the military. His supporters are the true suckers.
Did you mean to post a different link? This one doesn’t have anything about Trump disparaging his supporters, just about Howard Stern disparaging Trump supporters.
He's right...this is not unique to high-ranking Republicans...but among Republicans there is so much more of it, and it is so blatant...and Trump is the worst among them, and more vocal about it.
I’d like to start this post with a great big thank you to this group and to everyone who replied to my post from yesterday. I was truly shell shocked from the FB wars where I found inane and divisive responses to what I had said there in a measured manner. You encouraged me to come here for R&R and gave me a proverbial hug. I appreciate it so much.
As to the news we are all talking about, we will never convince those who refuse to believe the truth. No matter how many verifications come about, people will not believe. So don’t spend your precious time trying to change minds. Use it to drive up the vote. Get your young grandchildren and your senior friends to vote. I’m connecting with my nephew to work on a social media campaign to get his friends out in November.
I am having a similar experience on Facebook. All I did was post a news article - the Atlantic article on him bashing the troops. Then I posted an article that said that even Fox had verified the story. Now a trump supporter is fighting with several folks about whether the Fox article is true or not. And has resurrected articles from his non-visit to Belleau Wood and defending him by saying the weather wouldn’t allow him to fly and it was too short notice for a motorcade. I haven’t actually said *anything* myself. Amazing how this has taken on a life of its own on my own Facebook page! And this trump supporter is an educated person with a PhD in one of the sciences. Unbelievable.
I share your pain, Karen. That was one of the articles I put on my FB page too. I had all kinds of nutty responses, scattershot diatribes. Then they also started getting into FB "fights" with my brother and friend who posted separate articles to support what I said. And today I had another friend, a very successful former corporate executive who I knew as intelligent and discerning say she didn't believe any of it.
Did you see the video of Pete Buttigieg on Fox (!) yesterday? If not, look it up. It was great. Something that stood out was the fact that Kelly and another dignitary drove to the cemetery so if tRump had really wanted to go, he could have gotten there.
In Donald Trump's world there is only "I" and never "WE". Others exist only in as far as they play the role that HE assigns them in the theater of HIS personal aggrandisement, in the projection of HIS munificence characterised by his allowing them to be of service to HIM; they do not exist in themselves. Everyone is thus totally expendable the moment they nolonger serve HIS interests, don't appreciate the "grandeur"of HIS vision of HIMSELF, have no role to play in serving HIM or do not think and act exactly like HIM. It is hardly surprising that HE should thus treat the military in this way.
What is equally important however is that HE considers and treats the NON-military people of the world.....US....in exactly the same way. To HIM we are all "sucker" and "losers" because we are not HIM and we don't yet have a particular role assigned by HIM other than to marvel at HIS revealed superiority!.
With this in mind, those close to HIM should be aware that their significance in HIS scheme of things is limited and when HE's done with them they no longer exist.....Trump doesn't share! We at least have the chance to be rid of HIM if we care to take it....they are lost for ever!
A truly perverse narcissist target's individual victims as they need to project the worst aspects of their non-unified personality on the other in order to retain only the best aspects for themselves and build up their own confidence. They seperate the victim from their friends and ruin her (or more rarely, his) reputation while appearing virtuous themselves. They reduce the victim to a state of psychological disarray from which they can take years to recover with help once they have escaped. Applied to the masses, this technique loses somewhat it's force as there is not the direct and constant individual denigration reducing the people to submission, inculcating the common belief that HIS view of them is justified and thereby justifying his optimal vision of HIMSELF. The chaos and disruption which HE substitutes generates anger, opposition and dismay in the multiple victims.....and glee in the more degenerate of course.....and not a distruction of our collective personality. Then not even mega$ can hack it .....only force is left.
HE is merely a small boy; a very spoiled brat, existing in a disfunctional family and in the shadow of HIS terrifying father. HE never grew up to be an adult and unfortunately for HIM, HE is afraid of everybody and thus must constantly disparage everyone to shore up HIS own confidence in the persona that HE has substituted for a real personality.
So.... Perverse Narcissist description is insufficient to describe the case......as the perverse part is not succeeding very well. Other pathologies need to added in such as meglomania, paranoia.....a very borderline personality if ever there as one. I trust they have some very good psychiatrists in HIS prison.....or perhaps HE'll be let off as HE was not "responsible" for HIS acts at the time ...and all HIS life before and afterwards! Another "temporary bone spur"?
A lot of his base are just like HIM, which means they will fail to--more likely REFUSE to--recognise his many flaws reflected in themselves. There are a LOT of effed-up people in this country.
You have described him exactly. In psychological terms, he's a classic NPD (has a narcissistic personality disorder). Other than his "unseemly" relationship to Ivanka, other people only exist for how they can serve HIM in HIS world. Beyond that, others have no value to HIM. Even though HE's the president, it's not HIS responsibility to help solve the Covid19 problem. HE can't be bothered to marshal the Federal Government's resources to attack the virus. The pandemic only matters to HIM because it makes HIM look bad. 187,000+ dead from C19 - it's like missing a 3-foot putt.
I think this is a perfect clinical description. Another aspect of this phenomenon is how the Republican party as whole has dealt with him. The party itself has been more about stopping change and keeping the status quo than moving us forward as a diverse nation. It’s been trying to hold the ship full of scared white folks together. They were having a harder time before Obama was elected and after Obama was in office, it scared the living hell out of many conservative folk. This is what created their opportunity, which was borne through Trump running. The republicans have used Trump as much as he has used them. The planks of their ship have come loose and they are using a sledgehammer on the nails when a hammer should do. It will, in the end, do more damage than good for them. I cannot see many of the Republican candidates or office-holders embrace Trump after he is gone. The base will always fervently love him, but the crafty politicians will likely shun his help, advice or association. I mean, seriously...outside the Trump Twighlight Zone Effect, who would ever view our President as someone to look up to? When he is done (hopefully soon) he will be a political pariah precisely because of all the behavior listed above. When The Republicans don’t need him, he will likely vaporize from America’s consciousness. Thank God.
“[The Atlantic] story is not true. It has become a very dangerous time when anonymous sources are believed above all else, & no one knows their motivation. This is not journalism - It is activism. And it is a disservice to the people of our great nation.”
I've got a fiver that says this was a Steph Grisham tweet, not Mel's words.
It’s interesting that they’re using Melania like this. Do they think she has any credibility? Or is it just that there’s no one else in the White House that anyone trusts?
The Administration is using her origin country as her source of credibility. By implying that someone from Slovenia would be expert on "anonymous sources are believed above all else, & no one knows their motivation.".
But her husband turned the US into that kind of country.
*BINGO*...ding ding ding ding..."we have a winner!!" OF COURSE she didn't write that...there are some big words in there that I'm sure are beyond her grasp. Somebody else wrote it, she signed on to it. They're pulling out ALL the stops and trying EVERY angle to deny this article. Major damage control mode now. Expect a statement from Barron next...
Wow, thank you Heather! I have so many words in my mind, but there are too many to write here. I feel sad that this must be so hurtful to military families, but if this article is the tipping point, along with the tanking stock market, perhaps we can endure the pain if we can vote successfully to remove him and his enablers.
On another topic, yesterday I received an email from an old friend, a lawyer, who is an avid trump fan. After some pleasantries, he suggested I send him my signed mail-in ballot so he can relieve me of the task! Thank you AG Barr!
Tanking economy, rising violence at demonstrations, rising racism/fascism, rising deaths due to an unchecked pandemic, stripping our health care, destroying our environment, associated with a pedophile ring... It’s about time something take him down!
That lawyer attempting to destroy your vote should be disbarred! Unacceptable! You should reveal his name at the very least. They can’t win unless they cheat. Time to stop the cheaters!
My (Democrat) son said our friend was joking and he got the same in an email. My friend knows that I am not feeble and I don't need help with my ballot. I think some Republicans want to push the "fraud" idea in mail-in votes, hence my reference to the WaPo article "AG Barr claims a man collected 1,700 ballots and filled them out as he pleased. Prosecutors say that’s not what happened." Joke or not, I was shocked that my friend of 45 years would stoop so low towards me.
I am so tempted to, but it's complicated. He is doing some legal work for a family member. I keep thinking of replies and not sending them, yet! But I plan to respond, certainly, always better for me if I'm not angry or upset.
I would ask him if he was suggesting you help him do something illegal and if that wouldn't get him dis "Barred". And end with, you have too much respect for him to help him self destruct like that.
I always thought of him as the staunchest of friends, but my ballot is mine - my right and my duty and no joking matter! I am fortunate that I can walk to the Town Office in my village and hand in my completed, signed ballot there. I also personally know both postmen who are outraged at what has been done to the USPS.
I have no tRump supporter "friends." If they are that deluded, then I cut them off like I did a 15-year co-worker "friend" and a half-brother in Mississippi.
I have very few trump supporter friends, some of whom I have cut off, such as one who posted on FB that immigrants on the southern border are "human cattle". I believe I have to try to have conversations with some of them if the country is going to work towards more unity.
Thanks to all who have commented! My intention was to point out that I don't think this is isolated. This "send me your signed ballot" is an idea that a lot of Republicans could be encouraged to do as they get more desperate before the Election.
I'm surprised that the public discussion on this issue (at least what I've read) fails to mention Trump's belittling of military leaders in a summer 2017 briefing. He referred to them as "dopes" and "babies" who "don't know how to win anymore." This story was widely reported after being mentioned in the book "A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America", by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. Now would be a good time for such evidence in support of the recent Atlantic article to resurface. See https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/01/17/trump-blasted-top-military-generals-as-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-according-to-new-book/
Not really much one can add to HCR's letter...I'll just say that the article in The Atlantic is yet one more of the many chips that we have to keep chiseling away from the stone monolith that is this man and all he represents. This article was admittedly a really BIG chip and really does seem to have opened up even more "chiselers". Fine. Keep chipping away bit by bit. That is about all we can do now. We have to hope that every chip can eventually, collectively, be sufficient to rid us of this horrid man and his disgusting regime. THANKS, Heather! Keep on keepin' on! We're with ya every step of the way!
Bruce. In Our Republic he was elected. He may be horrible in which case he can be voted out. My question to you and Heather is what are you getting? What does the aspirational character of obfuscated substance named Joe stand for? Yesterday Joe actually stated he would be shot if he actually said what his economic plan was...Funny joke no? As for the Atlantic article, do you believe it? Do you think for one second that the author is not 100% behind Joe? Chiseling away. What might have been the context? Unnamed sources...but absolutely but without attribution confirmed...Ed Murrow would be thrilled. And as for Collectively? Who will tell "us" when this collective takes power? Seems to me this Progressive coalition called the Democratic Party runs from the Godless, race crazed, Marxist far left to the everyday person hoping for Jimmy Carter. Who will it represent? I wonder who takes control of the "Collective" so hoped for...What then? Of course in a collective everyone is equal, except for the few who tell you, and me what to do and what we get. For this bit of comfort we trade our freedom. Who might they be? Will you be with her or them every step of the way... then? Wonder. I too always hope and dream for a better way. That said I am naturally skeptical... there is a lot to think about here?
I do not share your skepticism, nor your cynicism. You believe what you believe, or don't. Fine. I believe in this country and I believe in its people. I believe in what it has always stood for. We have to try and get back on a track to realising our ideals. E pluribus unum, and all that. I believe we'll get there in our own lumbering fashion, but the road may be bumpy. Biden is hardly a shining knight on a mighty steed come to save us all--far from it--but we have to start SOMEWHERE to try and clean up the mess. You sound like you don't believe ANYBODY and that's okay, but don't chide others for trying to sift through it all to find some truth. You sound like Giuliani: "What is truth?"
Specifically, The Atlantic article's author cannot reveal his sources, nor should he. It has long been a tenet of the free press in this country that reporters DO NOT have to reveal their sources. Some have gone to jail defending that right. That assurance of anonymity is what enables people to speak freely. Trump HATES that kind of thing. Trump hates "snitches". He only wants fealty. His way, or the highway. It's a quasi-Mafia-esque mentality. Our government doesn't operate that way--unless he can pad all the posts and department heads with his own loyalists, which is what he is/they are trying to do. Trump is the personification of this "collective" version you seem to keep banging on about. We are all to worship him and only him, and he will tell us what to do and think, and he might throw us a crumb every now and then. And do you seriously think that Biden and the Democratic party is more of the same??? Sorry, but that is patently ridiculous. Believe it if you want. I think you are wrong, but hey, it is what it is...
Two points not yet spoken of in the comments I’ve managed to read so far: One, that Heather seemed to touch on (or near) with her observation about Republican use of the epithet “commie,” is the suddenly striking parallel between Trump’s absurd denigrations of servicemembers and McCarthy’s bridge-too-far accusations in the 50s that the Army was riddled with communists. “Have you no sense of decency?” wouldn’t work today exactly, against someone who’s well known to have none, but it’s likely to work today in it’s own way nonetheless. The court of public opinion can convict someone and oust him from office for non-criminal activity with a power that even impeachment (or censure, in McCarthy’s case) doesn’t have. The parallel between the two bullies and their downfall seems worth making.
The other is the shift in accepted popular views of the military, its members and activities, from the Vietnam-era “why did you go” attitude, which had the war resisters as heroes and those who “succumbed” to the draft as cowards, to the “our soldiers were betrayed” and “support our troops” mantra of Reagan’s groundswell and his era—which of course has some painful truth to it like its predecessor, but which was used as cover for an enormous military build-up—to today, when this shift to admiration of our combat forces and their sacrifices, the view we had during World War II, comes full circle and is able to topple a president when seemingly nothing else would. But we shouldn’t forget that FDR used that admiration to urge a “second bill of rights” to make his “freedom from want” a national expression of gratitude to our returning GIs, an effort that shriveled in the postwar, post-FDR anti-communist mania to just the higher education assistance that’s nevertheless still known as the “GI Bill.” Today, even as the military’s own values of “one for all and all for one” are coming to the fore again, as illuminated in another of Heather’s wonderful observations (tying that view to the advent of women in the military and in civilian power via Tammy Duckworth’s stirring story), there’s far less room for that FDR communitarian conception of our economy and society, the one he was trying to use the country’s wartime solidarity to build on when he died. I weep for the death of that project, as for the still-unfinished work of Lincoln (“It is for us rather to be here dedicated, to that unfinished work” and “with malice toward none . . let us strive on to finish the work we are in”), and of MLK (the Poor People’s Campaign and its integration with the racial equality and anti war movements).
Some excellent thoughts, Steve. Nothing to add, really. Don't forget in your lumping "the two bullies" together, that the line that connects them is Roy Cohn. Trump worshipped at the altar of Roy Cohn, and by extension, J. Edgar Hoover. Amazing how all these sleazy greasy globules always manage to clump together somehow, idnit?
I consider myself to be a "Dove", however I have a lot of respect for our military. This story just disgusts me. To add insult to injury, I was catching up with a friend who is a physician. I had not wanted to bother her, because I knew she was probably very busy. She practices near a "hot spot". Yesterday, she called me to catch up. She told me her mother passed away from COVID-19 earlier in the Spring. My friend also had COVID-19. Add this to the memorial service held over six weeks ago in my small hometown, an asymptomatic relative came up for the service. The grandparents got COVID-19 and died within days of one another. They were a lovely couple. They owned a small business who employed a lot of people in the community along with being community leaders. Another relative from the gathering was still in the hospital last I heard. Right now all I have is rage.
Sharon, Your experience of personal loss is painful to hear about (much less than to live the pain as you must). I offer my sympathy and prayers for healing.
I guess this latest story sheds a little more light on Trump's refusal to address the Russian bounty situation. I mean, not only is it Russia, but why would you care if bounties were placed on "losers" and "suckers?" I don't think this story is likely to go away anytime soon...at least, I hope not. And it may be the thing that finally sways his Christian nationalist supporters; if they turn on him, he's done.
Me neither, Jean. It always makes me, as a Christian, bristle when ALL Christians are somehow lumped together into one seething mass of hatred and bigotry. I urge people, when they can, to PLEASE qualify what kind of "Christian" one means. Like other faiths, we have a wide variety of different "flavours" too, but we are most definitely NOT all the same. Some branches have turned their version of Christianity into what is nothing but a cult, exhibiting all the trappings of cult behaviour. But, some of us out here are most decidedly NOT that. Christ represented one thing, and one thing only: love. Unconditionally. We are exhorted to do likewise. That's it. Treat everyone as you would be treated. Love as you would be loved. It's not rocket science. All we can do is try to practice this, though God knows it is not easy this day and time. Some of my closest and dearest friends are atheists and agnostics...that is totally fine. I still love them all the same. We're all on this journey together and we all ask the same questions together. Live. Love. The more you give, the more you get. Not complicated. Peace, y'all.
I know, and I finally had to stop trying. It was making me nuts. But I'm thinking of a line from Hamilton, after the Reynolds Pamphlet is made public: "Jefferson" says, "You ever see somebody ruin they own life?" We've been watching it happen all along, but I fervently hope this will wake at least some of them up.
Shelly, I'm really hoping that's not true (but I concede that it probably is). I just know that my evangelical church in the deep red south is jam-packed with Trump supporters who could be poster children for Christian nationalism, but many of them are former military or have family members who served, or are currently serving. Unless they just completely blow it off as fake, which will be hard to do since FOX confirmed it, however reluctantly, this story might topple that pedestal they've placed 45 on.
My favorite photo of Joe Biden pictures him saying goodbye to his son Beau who leaving to serve in Iraq. It’s so intense with love and worry and hope for a safe return. I’m a dove who still longs for a President who respects our military and can command their respect. Not an imPOTUS without a shred of empathy and emotional IQ. When I visited The Wall on Father’s Day 2019, my heavy heart found it hard to accept who was in the White House in the distance. Let’s begin The Restoration with Biden/Harris 2020 on November 3rd. Thank you, as always, HCR for lending the day’s news some historical perspective. ❤️🤍💙
As I scrolled through Facebook last night it was an endless stream of military pictures. Each with posts similar to "This is my father/brother/mother sister. Not a sucker. Not a loser." Someone also shared a tweet about a retired Marine neighbor at 2 AM, removing his Trump sign from his yard and throwing it in the trash. 45 is learning the meaning of "chickens coming home to roost".
Same with Twitter. I couldn't get through all the photos. There must have been thousands and thousands. It was an incredible statement from Americans and I loved it.
Great letter, Heather! Thank you. I wish all this came out in October. This will likely be forgotten in a couple of weeks.
I hadn’t heard Trump tried to shut down Stars & Stripes. What petty little creep. I hope someone out there puts together a complete list of Trump’s petty reactions (plus proof). I think collectively it would be shocking.
and saying nothing when a Russian military truck hits an American military vehicle in Syria last month, injuring U.S. soldiers and Trump said nothing, just kept on with his cozy secret chats with Putin.
This issue (troops as losers) has come up repeatedly in various forms since T's first candidacy. Treated as a clown not to be taken seriously, then excuses to try to explain it away. Then it started to grate. This time the circumstances were so egregious, and people are now questioning a great deal more of what Trump is. I don't think it is going away this time.
Heather, thank you. Your recap of a blistering situation brought forth by Trump is spot on. His response was exactly as I anticipated it would be, deny, disrespect and denigrate. Yesterday I watched Facebook fill with posts from people who had family members that Served this Country. These wonderful people were not losers, contrary to Trumps labeling of them.
Just for reference: Stars & Stripes News costs $15 million for worldwide coverage for our troops. One (1) military drone costs $123 million and $15,000 an hour per flight. Killing Stars & Stripes would amount to approximately 0.000019% of the military budget.
I feel convinced that when Trump hates or disparages something or someone it is generally the person or thing that he most deeply envies.
I’m waiting for the story to break that Trump thinks his own supporters are suckers and losers. It seems likely that Trump considers his MAGA-hatted crowds to be just a bunch of marks that he can con into cheering for him. How can a reality TV star not have contempt for his audience, when he knows the whole thing is an act? When do we get to hear what Trump says about all the people who cheer him on, in private?
My thoughts exactly. I see the occasional post from FB who are Trumpers, but so far it's been crickets about the disdain for the military. His supporters are the true suckers.
Now that is something that might tip the scales.
Did you mean to post a different link? This one doesn’t have anything about Trump disparaging his supporters, just about Howard Stern disparaging Trump supporters.
He's right...this is not unique to high-ranking Republicans...but among Republicans there is so much more of it, and it is so blatant...and Trump is the worst among them, and more vocal about it.
Correct, but it was discussed by Stern and I located the topic through Howard Stern.
I’d like to start this post with a great big thank you to this group and to everyone who replied to my post from yesterday. I was truly shell shocked from the FB wars where I found inane and divisive responses to what I had said there in a measured manner. You encouraged me to come here for R&R and gave me a proverbial hug. I appreciate it so much.
As to the news we are all talking about, we will never convince those who refuse to believe the truth. No matter how many verifications come about, people will not believe. So don’t spend your precious time trying to change minds. Use it to drive up the vote. Get your young grandchildren and your senior friends to vote. I’m connecting with my nephew to work on a social media campaign to get his friends out in November.
Atta girl!! Get back on that horse!
I am having a similar experience on Facebook. All I did was post a news article - the Atlantic article on him bashing the troops. Then I posted an article that said that even Fox had verified the story. Now a trump supporter is fighting with several folks about whether the Fox article is true or not. And has resurrected articles from his non-visit to Belleau Wood and defending him by saying the weather wouldn’t allow him to fly and it was too short notice for a motorcade. I haven’t actually said *anything* myself. Amazing how this has taken on a life of its own on my own Facebook page! And this trump supporter is an educated person with a PhD in one of the sciences. Unbelievable.
I share your pain, Karen. That was one of the articles I put on my FB page too. I had all kinds of nutty responses, scattershot diatribes. Then they also started getting into FB "fights" with my brother and friend who posted separate articles to support what I said. And today I had another friend, a very successful former corporate executive who I knew as intelligent and discerning say she didn't believe any of it.
Did you see the video of Pete Buttigieg on Fox (!) yesterday? If not, look it up. It was great. Something that stood out was the fact that Kelly and another dignitary drove to the cemetery so if tRump had really wanted to go, he could have gotten there.
Stacey Abrams has a great list of What To Do against voter suppression, as well as a great “monster movie” on this topic:
https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1302023135567532033?s=21
https://twitter.com/nprpolitics/status/1302324880465997824?s=21
In Donald Trump's world there is only "I" and never "WE". Others exist only in as far as they play the role that HE assigns them in the theater of HIS personal aggrandisement, in the projection of HIS munificence characterised by his allowing them to be of service to HIM; they do not exist in themselves. Everyone is thus totally expendable the moment they nolonger serve HIS interests, don't appreciate the "grandeur"of HIS vision of HIMSELF, have no role to play in serving HIM or do not think and act exactly like HIM. It is hardly surprising that HE should thus treat the military in this way.
What is equally important however is that HE considers and treats the NON-military people of the world.....US....in exactly the same way. To HIM we are all "sucker" and "losers" because we are not HIM and we don't yet have a particular role assigned by HIM other than to marvel at HIS revealed superiority!.
With this in mind, those close to HIM should be aware that their significance in HIS scheme of things is limited and when HE's done with them they no longer exist.....Trump doesn't share! We at least have the chance to be rid of HIM if we care to take it....they are lost for ever!
A truly perverse narcissist target's individual victims as they need to project the worst aspects of their non-unified personality on the other in order to retain only the best aspects for themselves and build up their own confidence. They seperate the victim from their friends and ruin her (or more rarely, his) reputation while appearing virtuous themselves. They reduce the victim to a state of psychological disarray from which they can take years to recover with help once they have escaped. Applied to the masses, this technique loses somewhat it's force as there is not the direct and constant individual denigration reducing the people to submission, inculcating the common belief that HIS view of them is justified and thereby justifying his optimal vision of HIMSELF. The chaos and disruption which HE substitutes generates anger, opposition and dismay in the multiple victims.....and glee in the more degenerate of course.....and not a distruction of our collective personality. Then not even mega$ can hack it .....only force is left.
HE is merely a small boy; a very spoiled brat, existing in a disfunctional family and in the shadow of HIS terrifying father. HE never grew up to be an adult and unfortunately for HIM, HE is afraid of everybody and thus must constantly disparage everyone to shore up HIS own confidence in the persona that HE has substituted for a real personality.
So.... Perverse Narcissist description is insufficient to describe the case......as the perverse part is not succeeding very well. Other pathologies need to added in such as meglomania, paranoia.....a very borderline personality if ever there as one. I trust they have some very good psychiatrists in HIS prison.....or perhaps HE'll be let off as HE was not "responsible" for HIS acts at the time ...and all HIS life before and afterwards! Another "temporary bone spur"?
What a great post! A fine description of HIM. Wish we could get the base to understand how sick HE is.
A lot of his base are just like HIM, which means they will fail to--more likely REFUSE to--recognise his many flaws reflected in themselves. There are a LOT of effed-up people in this country.
"HE is merely a small boy; a very [dangerous] spoiled brat... "
You have described him exactly. In psychological terms, he's a classic NPD (has a narcissistic personality disorder). Other than his "unseemly" relationship to Ivanka, other people only exist for how they can serve HIM in HIS world. Beyond that, others have no value to HIM. Even though HE's the president, it's not HIS responsibility to help solve the Covid19 problem. HE can't be bothered to marshal the Federal Government's resources to attack the virus. The pandemic only matters to HIM because it makes HIM look bad. 187,000+ dead from C19 - it's like missing a 3-foot putt.
I think this is a perfect clinical description. Another aspect of this phenomenon is how the Republican party as whole has dealt with him. The party itself has been more about stopping change and keeping the status quo than moving us forward as a diverse nation. It’s been trying to hold the ship full of scared white folks together. They were having a harder time before Obama was elected and after Obama was in office, it scared the living hell out of many conservative folk. This is what created their opportunity, which was borne through Trump running. The republicans have used Trump as much as he has used them. The planks of their ship have come loose and they are using a sledgehammer on the nails when a hammer should do. It will, in the end, do more damage than good for them. I cannot see many of the Republican candidates or office-holders embrace Trump after he is gone. The base will always fervently love him, but the crafty politicians will likely shun his help, advice or association. I mean, seriously...outside the Trump Twighlight Zone Effect, who would ever view our President as someone to look up to? When he is done (hopefully soon) he will be a political pariah precisely because of all the behavior listed above. When The Republicans don’t need him, he will likely vaporize from America’s consciousness. Thank God.
GREAT POST!!
“[The Atlantic] story is not true. It has become a very dangerous time when anonymous sources are believed above all else, & no one knows their motivation. This is not journalism - It is activism. And it is a disservice to the people of our great nation.”
I've got a fiver that says this was a Steph Grisham tweet, not Mel's words.
That was written by Melania's GRU handlers.
Doesn't sound like words she would use, does it.
I thought the same
Absolutely. Further evidence that they are panicked about this article and pulling out every option to deny it.
It’s interesting that they’re using Melania like this. Do they think she has any credibility? Or is it just that there’s no one else in the White House that anyone trusts?
How about that Blonde Joke McInane, giving a quick denial of all the facts then walking away without taking any press questions
She is at least as toxic as Kellyanne Conway.
Worse. She has that smug, better than thou contempt on her face all the time.
The Administration is using her origin country as her source of credibility. By implying that someone from Slovenia would be expert on "anonymous sources are believed above all else, & no one knows their motivation.".
But her husband turned the US into that kind of country.
*BINGO*...ding ding ding ding..."we have a winner!!" OF COURSE she didn't write that...there are some big words in there that I'm sure are beyond her grasp. Somebody else wrote it, she signed on to it. They're pulling out ALL the stops and trying EVERY angle to deny this article. Major damage control mode now. Expect a statement from Barron next...
My fav:Stephanie Grisham
@StephGrisham45
·
Sep 2
Compliance with the law has always been a priority for
@FLOTUS
@MELANIATRUMP
👇🏼
Unlike the "@ realDonaldTrump" hers is tagged differently:
Melania Trump
@FLOTUS
US government account
This account is run by the Office of First Lady Melania Trump. Tweets may be archived. More at http: //wh.gov /privacy
Wow, thank you Heather! I have so many words in my mind, but there are too many to write here. I feel sad that this must be so hurtful to military families, but if this article is the tipping point, along with the tanking stock market, perhaps we can endure the pain if we can vote successfully to remove him and his enablers.
On another topic, yesterday I received an email from an old friend, a lawyer, who is an avid trump fan. After some pleasantries, he suggested I send him my signed mail-in ballot so he can relieve me of the task! Thank you AG Barr!
Tanking economy, rising violence at demonstrations, rising racism/fascism, rising deaths due to an unchecked pandemic, stripping our health care, destroying our environment, associated with a pedophile ring... It’s about time something take him down!
That lawyer attempting to destroy your vote should be disbarred! Unacceptable! You should reveal his name at the very least. They can’t win unless they cheat. Time to stop the cheaters!
Re: your friend’s request for your signed ballot.... Wow. Just wow.
Do you mean your lawyer friend was intending to destroy your vote?
My (Democrat) son said our friend was joking and he got the same in an email. My friend knows that I am not feeble and I don't need help with my ballot. I think some Republicans want to push the "fraud" idea in mail-in votes, hence my reference to the WaPo article "AG Barr claims a man collected 1,700 ballots and filled them out as he pleased. Prosecutors say that’s not what happened." Joke or not, I was shocked that my friend of 45 years would stoop so low towards me.
Have you “in a similar, joking fashion” told him where to take and place his ballot?
I am so tempted to, but it's complicated. He is doing some legal work for a family member. I keep thinking of replies and not sending them, yet! But I plan to respond, certainly, always better for me if I'm not angry or upset.
I keep trying to come up with some sort of joke on disbarring Barr so Bill Barr would become just Bill, no last name.
I would ask him if he was suggesting you help him do something illegal and if that wouldn't get him dis "Barred". And end with, you have too much respect for him to help him self destruct like that.
I like that suggestion, thanks!
If you were wondering if your friend valued you, or Trump, more - now you know! There’s that...
I always thought of him as the staunchest of friends, but my ballot is mine - my right and my duty and no joking matter! I am fortunate that I can walk to the Town Office in my village and hand in my completed, signed ballot there. I also personally know both postmen who are outraged at what has been done to the USPS.
I have no tRump supporter "friends." If they are that deluded, then I cut them off like I did a 15-year co-worker "friend" and a half-brother in Mississippi.
I have very few trump supporter friends, some of whom I have cut off, such as one who posted on FB that immigrants on the southern border are "human cattle". I believe I have to try to have conversations with some of them if the country is going to work towards more unity.
Agreed. Fake friend who has been conned.
Thanks to all who have commented! My intention was to point out that I don't think this is isolated. This "send me your signed ballot" is an idea that a lot of Republicans could be encouraged to do as they get more desperate before the Election.
I'm surprised that the public discussion on this issue (at least what I've read) fails to mention Trump's belittling of military leaders in a summer 2017 briefing. He referred to them as "dopes" and "babies" who "don't know how to win anymore." This story was widely reported after being mentioned in the book "A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America", by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. Now would be a good time for such evidence in support of the recent Atlantic article to resurface. See https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/01/17/trump-blasted-top-military-generals-as-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-according-to-new-book/
Not really much one can add to HCR's letter...I'll just say that the article in The Atlantic is yet one more of the many chips that we have to keep chiseling away from the stone monolith that is this man and all he represents. This article was admittedly a really BIG chip and really does seem to have opened up even more "chiselers". Fine. Keep chipping away bit by bit. That is about all we can do now. We have to hope that every chip can eventually, collectively, be sufficient to rid us of this horrid man and his disgusting regime. THANKS, Heather! Keep on keepin' on! We're with ya every step of the way!
Bruce. In Our Republic he was elected. He may be horrible in which case he can be voted out. My question to you and Heather is what are you getting? What does the aspirational character of obfuscated substance named Joe stand for? Yesterday Joe actually stated he would be shot if he actually said what his economic plan was...Funny joke no? As for the Atlantic article, do you believe it? Do you think for one second that the author is not 100% behind Joe? Chiseling away. What might have been the context? Unnamed sources...but absolutely but without attribution confirmed...Ed Murrow would be thrilled. And as for Collectively? Who will tell "us" when this collective takes power? Seems to me this Progressive coalition called the Democratic Party runs from the Godless, race crazed, Marxist far left to the everyday person hoping for Jimmy Carter. Who will it represent? I wonder who takes control of the "Collective" so hoped for...What then? Of course in a collective everyone is equal, except for the few who tell you, and me what to do and what we get. For this bit of comfort we trade our freedom. Who might they be? Will you be with her or them every step of the way... then? Wonder. I too always hope and dream for a better way. That said I am naturally skeptical... there is a lot to think about here?
I do not share your skepticism, nor your cynicism. You believe what you believe, or don't. Fine. I believe in this country and I believe in its people. I believe in what it has always stood for. We have to try and get back on a track to realising our ideals. E pluribus unum, and all that. I believe we'll get there in our own lumbering fashion, but the road may be bumpy. Biden is hardly a shining knight on a mighty steed come to save us all--far from it--but we have to start SOMEWHERE to try and clean up the mess. You sound like you don't believe ANYBODY and that's okay, but don't chide others for trying to sift through it all to find some truth. You sound like Giuliani: "What is truth?"
Specifically, The Atlantic article's author cannot reveal his sources, nor should he. It has long been a tenet of the free press in this country that reporters DO NOT have to reveal their sources. Some have gone to jail defending that right. That assurance of anonymity is what enables people to speak freely. Trump HATES that kind of thing. Trump hates "snitches". He only wants fealty. His way, or the highway. It's a quasi-Mafia-esque mentality. Our government doesn't operate that way--unless he can pad all the posts and department heads with his own loyalists, which is what he is/they are trying to do. Trump is the personification of this "collective" version you seem to keep banging on about. We are all to worship him and only him, and he will tell us what to do and think, and he might throw us a crumb every now and then. And do you seriously think that Biden and the Democratic party is more of the same??? Sorry, but that is patently ridiculous. Believe it if you want. I think you are wrong, but hey, it is what it is...
Two points not yet spoken of in the comments I’ve managed to read so far: One, that Heather seemed to touch on (or near) with her observation about Republican use of the epithet “commie,” is the suddenly striking parallel between Trump’s absurd denigrations of servicemembers and McCarthy’s bridge-too-far accusations in the 50s that the Army was riddled with communists. “Have you no sense of decency?” wouldn’t work today exactly, against someone who’s well known to have none, but it’s likely to work today in it’s own way nonetheless. The court of public opinion can convict someone and oust him from office for non-criminal activity with a power that even impeachment (or censure, in McCarthy’s case) doesn’t have. The parallel between the two bullies and their downfall seems worth making.
The other is the shift in accepted popular views of the military, its members and activities, from the Vietnam-era “why did you go” attitude, which had the war resisters as heroes and those who “succumbed” to the draft as cowards, to the “our soldiers were betrayed” and “support our troops” mantra of Reagan’s groundswell and his era—which of course has some painful truth to it like its predecessor, but which was used as cover for an enormous military build-up—to today, when this shift to admiration of our combat forces and their sacrifices, the view we had during World War II, comes full circle and is able to topple a president when seemingly nothing else would. But we shouldn’t forget that FDR used that admiration to urge a “second bill of rights” to make his “freedom from want” a national expression of gratitude to our returning GIs, an effort that shriveled in the postwar, post-FDR anti-communist mania to just the higher education assistance that’s nevertheless still known as the “GI Bill.” Today, even as the military’s own values of “one for all and all for one” are coming to the fore again, as illuminated in another of Heather’s wonderful observations (tying that view to the advent of women in the military and in civilian power via Tammy Duckworth’s stirring story), there’s far less room for that FDR communitarian conception of our economy and society, the one he was trying to use the country’s wartime solidarity to build on when he died. I weep for the death of that project, as for the still-unfinished work of Lincoln (“It is for us rather to be here dedicated, to that unfinished work” and “with malice toward none . . let us strive on to finish the work we are in”), and of MLK (the Poor People’s Campaign and its integration with the racial equality and anti war movements).
Some excellent thoughts, Steve. Nothing to add, really. Don't forget in your lumping "the two bullies" together, that the line that connects them is Roy Cohn. Trump worshipped at the altar of Roy Cohn, and by extension, J. Edgar Hoover. Amazing how all these sleazy greasy globules always manage to clump together somehow, idnit?
I consider myself to be a "Dove", however I have a lot of respect for our military. This story just disgusts me. To add insult to injury, I was catching up with a friend who is a physician. I had not wanted to bother her, because I knew she was probably very busy. She practices near a "hot spot". Yesterday, she called me to catch up. She told me her mother passed away from COVID-19 earlier in the Spring. My friend also had COVID-19. Add this to the memorial service held over six weeks ago in my small hometown, an asymptomatic relative came up for the service. The grandparents got COVID-19 and died within days of one another. They were a lovely couple. They owned a small business who employed a lot of people in the community along with being community leaders. Another relative from the gathering was still in the hospital last I heard. Right now all I have is rage.
Sharon, Your experience of personal loss is painful to hear about (much less than to live the pain as you must). I offer my sympathy and prayers for healing.
Sharon, my heart goes out to you. ❤
I guess this latest story sheds a little more light on Trump's refusal to address the Russian bounty situation. I mean, not only is it Russia, but why would you care if bounties were placed on "losers" and "suckers?" I don't think this story is likely to go away anytime soon...at least, I hope not. And it may be the thing that finally sways his Christian nationalist supporters; if they turn on him, he's done.
Something about calling them "Christians" bothers me...this is not what I was taught in church as a child...
Me neither, Jean. It always makes me, as a Christian, bristle when ALL Christians are somehow lumped together into one seething mass of hatred and bigotry. I urge people, when they can, to PLEASE qualify what kind of "Christian" one means. Like other faiths, we have a wide variety of different "flavours" too, but we are most definitely NOT all the same. Some branches have turned their version of Christianity into what is nothing but a cult, exhibiting all the trappings of cult behaviour. But, some of us out here are most decidedly NOT that. Christ represented one thing, and one thing only: love. Unconditionally. We are exhorted to do likewise. That's it. Treat everyone as you would be treated. Love as you would be loved. It's not rocket science. All we can do is try to practice this, though God knows it is not easy this day and time. Some of my closest and dearest friends are atheists and agnostics...that is totally fine. I still love them all the same. We're all on this journey together and we all ask the same questions together. Live. Love. The more you give, the more you get. Not complicated. Peace, y'all.
It takes a lot of effort to deprogram cultists.
I know, and I finally had to stop trying. It was making me nuts. But I'm thinking of a line from Hamilton, after the Reynolds Pamphlet is made public: "Jefferson" says, "You ever see somebody ruin they own life?" We've been watching it happen all along, but I fervently hope this will wake at least some of them up.
Shelly, I'm really hoping that's not true (but I concede that it probably is). I just know that my evangelical church in the deep red south is jam-packed with Trump supporters who could be poster children for Christian nationalism, but many of them are former military or have family members who served, or are currently serving. Unless they just completely blow it off as fake, which will be hard to do since FOX confirmed it, however reluctantly, this story might topple that pedestal they've placed 45 on.
My favorite photo of Joe Biden pictures him saying goodbye to his son Beau who leaving to serve in Iraq. It’s so intense with love and worry and hope for a safe return. I’m a dove who still longs for a President who respects our military and can command their respect. Not an imPOTUS without a shred of empathy and emotional IQ. When I visited The Wall on Father’s Day 2019, my heavy heart found it hard to accept who was in the White House in the distance. Let’s begin The Restoration with Biden/Harris 2020 on November 3rd. Thank you, as always, HCR for lending the day’s news some historical perspective. ❤️🤍💙
As I scrolled through Facebook last night it was an endless stream of military pictures. Each with posts similar to "This is my father/brother/mother sister. Not a sucker. Not a loser." Someone also shared a tweet about a retired Marine neighbor at 2 AM, removing his Trump sign from his yard and throwing it in the trash. 45 is learning the meaning of "chickens coming home to roost".
Same with Twitter. I couldn't get through all the photos. There must have been thousands and thousands. It was an incredible statement from Americans and I loved it.
Right where Donald Trump’s soul ought to be, there is a septic tank.
When he first said “drain the swamp,” I thought, yeah with a cesspool. A most-accurate assessment of 45’s soul.
Great letter, Heather! Thank you. I wish all this came out in October. This will likely be forgotten in a couple of weeks.
I hadn’t heard Trump tried to shut down Stars & Stripes. What petty little creep. I hope someone out there puts together a complete list of Trump’s petty reactions (plus proof). I think collectively it would be shocking.
The Dems and Lincoln Project and veterans need to BE SURE this story stays in the news till November 3.
AND the Putin bounties...
and saying nothing when a Russian military truck hits an American military vehicle in Syria last month, injuring U.S. soldiers and Trump said nothing, just kept on with his cozy secret chats with Putin.
Not the way news works unfortunately.
This issue (troops as losers) has come up repeatedly in various forms since T's first candidacy. Treated as a clown not to be taken seriously, then excuses to try to explain it away. Then it started to grate. This time the circumstances were so egregious, and people are now questioning a great deal more of what Trump is. I don't think it is going away this time.
Heather, thank you. Your recap of a blistering situation brought forth by Trump is spot on. His response was exactly as I anticipated it would be, deny, disrespect and denigrate. Yesterday I watched Facebook fill with posts from people who had family members that Served this Country. These wonderful people were not losers, contrary to Trumps labeling of them.
I think perhaps, Trump has poked the wrong bear.
Just for reference: Stars & Stripes News costs $15 million for worldwide coverage for our troops. One (1) military drone costs $123 million and $15,000 an hour per flight. Killing Stars & Stripes would amount to approximately 0.000019% of the military budget.
I feel convinced that when Trump hates or disparages something or someone it is generally the person or thing that he most deeply envies.