The Trump Presidency

Andrew Sullivan today in NY Mag

Certain the people that already know this will read it and those that really need to read and understand will label it fake news.
Just like they have been programed to

" This is not a man embarrassed by something unusual in his private life, lying defensively in a panic. It’s a world-weary operator in sleaze and outright deception, dealing with an item of everyday business. "
 
Is there a modern comparison to whats going on with Trumps base?

Not exactly present day, but Trump's rise has always made me think of Pappy O'Daniel, a political doofus who rose to the highest heights of Texas politics. The only guy other than JFK to ever beat LBJ head to head.

- He was a household-name radio entertainer (when radio was cutting edge media tech) with the most popular show in the state, which was mostly aimed at getting people to buy his "Hillbilly" brand of flour.
- He had a famous catchphrase "Pass the biscuits, Pappy."
- He ran for governor as a scheme to get free advertising and sell more flour
- His purely populist platform talking about tax cuts, Jesus, and ousting the "professional politicians" really connected with the the standard poor Texan.
- His "man of the people" act was a sham, though, as he was very rich and backed by other rich oil dudes who wanted their money protected.
- He talked out of his butt all the time, but it never seemed to hurt him, since he was re-elected Governor and then beat LBJ out for the US Senate.
- He also spend a lot of time blaming "communists" for all our problems.

However, his schtick didn't work as well without executive power, and he eventually retired after some scandals and becoming a political embarrassment. Also, He opposed Brown v. Board of Education on the grounds that it was a communist conspiracy.

He's kind of a classic example of how powerful new media technologies can be in terms of political power, and Trump is in many ways the same story writ larger. Read this longer take on him, and tell me if you are reminded of anyone:

http://www.historynet.com/american-schemers-w-lee-pappy-odaniel.htm
 
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I'll reform you, you soft-head son a bitch!
How ya gonna run reform when we're the damn incumbent!?


Thx Meta. I had no idea Pappy in O Brother was inspired by a real life politician.
 
Avenatti isn't seasoned enough yet.

But my goodness I'd love to see him just rip Trump on a debate stage. I think Trump is more afraid of campaigning against Avenatti than anyone else in the Dem Party.
 
he has yet to call Sen Warren "Pocahontas" to her face

Not sure Warren can excite the base enough at this point. Her political capital has significantly dropped in the last few years.

Biden would be passable. I'd love for Kamala Harris to run against Trump. A Harris-Avenatti ticket might be too much though. Really wish Michelle Obama would run for some type of office in Illinois.
 
Have no earthly idea who will be or who I would like as (D) nominee in 2020.
I would love to see someone in their 40's or 50's
Warren is as old if not older than HRC.
Biden and Sanders are in their 70's .
This is the 21st century people

my point was Trump folds when stood up to.
Which has been the opposite of GOP Modus Operandi .
Since Rubio stepped on his dick during debates

At every level
Wonder why that is ?

I sure do wish some of our Trumpians would weigh in to explain why no one will tell him he has spinach in his teeth
 
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Have no earthly idea who will be or who I would like as (D) nominee in 2020.
I would love to see someone in their 40's or 50's
Warren is as old if not older than HRC.
Biden and Sanders are in their 70's .
This is the 21st century people

my point was Trump folds when stood up to.
Which has been the opposite of GOP Modus Operandi .
Since Rubio stepped on his dick during debates

At every level
Wonder why that is ?

I sure do wish some of our Trumpians would weigh in to explain why no one will tell him he has spinach in his teeth

Barring a major health issue, it is gonna be Biden.
 
Barring a major health issue, it is gonna be Biden.

I hope so I really do. It is going to take that is a true politician. One with enough clout that after they take a beating in elections the Repubs will work with after taking a beating in elections and we will see a level of bipartisanism not seen since before 1994.
 
my point was Trump folds when stood up to.
Which has been the opposite of GOP Modus Operandi .
Since Rubio stepped on his dick during debates

At every level Wonder why that is ?

I sure do wish some of our Trumpians would weigh in to explain why no one will tell him he has spinach in his teeth
Trump is attacked daily. It rolls right off his back. No one is his party will challenge him. They are too afraid, both of him and of voters he controls.
 
Joyce Carol Oates
‏Verified account @JoyceCarolOates
6h6 hours ago

Caligula, most loathed of Roman emperors, was assassinated by those

entrusted with protecting him, whom he tormented in astonishingly petty ways.

the sociopath bully can (usually) be stopped only by aides close enough to

rise up against him, who finally decide they've had enough.
 
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