Trump as tragicomedy

Other discussions not related to the Permanent Portfolio

Moderator: Global Moderator

User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:00 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 6:50 pm
You know what kind of bothered me about the NYTimes the other day?

There was that press conference video of Fauci stifling a laugh when Trump joked, “or as some people call it, the Deep State Dept.”
I posted the whole video cued up to that part, then linked to it again. Then Maddy posted it. Then Tortoise posted a gif of it. I think most of us have seen it. Fauci cracks up, and then covers his face because he wants to looks sincere and professional. So far, so good.

The Times then has an article stating that some Trump supporters are anti-Fauci. That may be true, but I think they are few and far between and it is a weird thing to focus us. There is a giant blow-up of the still screen showing Fauci with his hand over his face so it looks like a facepalm of disgust. They make zero mention in the article of Fauci smiling, and they don’t link to the original clip. So, in the process of saying there are a few wackos out there who hate Fauci, they’re also trying to give us the impression that Fauci hates the President. That’s so misleading, and it’s annoying!

There are times when Trump can be his own worst enemy and I wish he could try to sound a little humbler during the next four years. At the same time, the media really is a nightmare right now. Magnifying the worst things, minimizing the good.
Tell me ANY TIME it was any different? Bill, Monica, the blue dress...

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:07 pm

Tell me ANY TIME it was any different? Bill, Monica, the blue dress...
Of course they were going to talk about Monica and the blue dress. How could they not. In Israel they even had a laundry detergent commercial in which the Secret Service gets the stain out of that dress. O0
But there wasn’t this onslaught against the president in which he could do no right.

Again, Trump invites a lot of it because he lacks humility, can’t laugh at himself, and picks fights with reporters. But they are out of control whereas they were way more balanced with Bill Clinton.
RIP Marcello Gandini
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:07 pm
Tell me ANY TIME it was any different? Bill, Monica, the blue dress...
Of course they were going to talk about Monica and the blue dress. How could they not. In Israel they even had a laundry detergent commercial in which the Secret Service gets the stain out of that dress. O0
But there wasn’t this onslaught against the president in which he could do no right.

Again, Trump invites a lot of it because he lacks humility, can’t laugh at himself, and picks fights with reporters. But they are out of control whereas they were way more balanced with Bill Clinton.
You are missing the point

I don't think you denying that the media was all over Bill over that incident.

But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.

And, to some of us the media has been soft on him from day one.

Does anyone here remember when a certain element was in an uproar when Obama wore a tan suit? I know. That is just such a scandalous thing for any president to do.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
Mountaineer
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 4959
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:54 am

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Mountaineer » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:32 pm

vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm
dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:07 pm
Tell me ANY TIME it was any different? Bill, Monica, the blue dress...
Of course they were going to talk about Monica and the blue dress. How could they not. In Israel they even had a laundry detergent commercial in which the Secret Service gets the stain out of that dress. O0
But there wasn’t this onslaught against the president in which he could do no right.

Again, Trump invites a lot of it because he lacks humility, can’t laugh at himself, and picks fights with reporters. But they are out of control whereas they were way more balanced with Bill Clinton.
You are missing the point

I don't think you denying that the media was all over Bill over that incident.

But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.

And, to some of us the media has been soft on him from day one.

Does anyone here remember when a certain element was in an uproar when Obama wore a tan suit? I know. That is just such a scandalous thing for any president to do.

Vinny
You are kidding about the media being soft on Trump, right? Do you mean CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, WaPo, NYT, HuffPo, Vox, Politico, or something else?
DNA has its own language (code), and language requires intelligence. There is no known mechanism by which matter can give birth to information, let alone language. It is unreasonable to believe the world could have happened by chance.
stuper1
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 1365
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:18 pm

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by stuper1 » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:37 pm

Bogleheads is boring because they won't allow any political discussion.

This forum is maybe going too far the other way by having people talk about every little tweet that comes out of Trump.

My suggestion would be to talk about actual concrete actions (or lack thereof) taken by the President. If all you want to do is whine (again) because you don't like the way he talks or tweets, then my suggestion would be to keep it to your yourself. Believe me, we get it, we got it after the first 100 posts, you don't like his style and probably not him at all. That's fine. But when you have to react to each one of his tweets, it makes you look just as immature as him.
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:41 pm

Mountaineer wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:32 pm
vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm
dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:07 pm
Tell me ANY TIME it was any different? Bill, Monica, the blue dress...
Of course they were going to talk about Monica and the blue dress. How could they not. In Israel they even had a laundry detergent commercial in which the Secret Service gets the stain out of that dress. O0
But there wasn’t this onslaught against the president in which he could do no right.

Again, Trump invites a lot of it because he lacks humility, can’t laugh at himself, and picks fights with reporters. But they are out of control whereas they were way more balanced with Bill Clinton.
You are missing the point

I don't think you denying that the media was all over Bill over that incident.

But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.

And, to some of us the media has been soft on him from day one.

Does anyone here remember when a certain element was in an uproar when Obama wore a tan suit? I know. That is just such a scandalous thing for any president to do.

Vinny
You are kidding about the media being soft on Trump, right? Do you mean CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, WaPo, NYT, HuffPo, Vox, Politico, or something else?
I am saying he is getting all he deserves and not enough.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:46 pm

vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:41 pm
I am saying he is getting all he deserves and not enough.
So you’re saying he should get more flak than he deserves. Interesting.
RIP Marcello Gandini
User avatar
Smith1776
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3501
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Smith1776 » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:47 pm

How naive I was for thinking Bernie would win the nomination and beat Trump.

We now have 2 senile dudes bordering on dementia competing for the presidency. Both which have been accused of sexual impropriety.
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:56 pm

vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm
...
You are missing the point
...
But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.
<snip>
I used to think so, too, but (A) They really don’t give him credit when his policies are working.
(B) It is not often that you see articles showing that Obama killed and deported with the same gusto as Trump. The articles are out there, but barely. It helps that people point you to them.
(C.) A lot of these “events” are non-events, and just Trump mouthing off.
(D) Some of the most terrible allegations, e.g. firing the pandemic expert staff months ago turn out to be false, or at least possibly false. I read about it in the Washington Post, I see guests on TV repeating it, I firmly believe it. And then I see a an article refuting this by someone who was there, pointed out by Tyler.

But I don’t have Tyler working on this all the time, and most people don’t have a Tyler. I don’t know what to believe anymore, and not because of right-wing propaganda. I don’t watch Fox. No, it’s because of the left’s incessant onslaught. I guess I need to read more from different conservative news sources but Jesus, I’m tired.
RIP Marcello Gandini
User avatar
Cortopassi
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3338
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:28 pm
Location: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbL ... sWebb.html

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Cortopassi » Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:04 pm

I'm sorry that I set tech off here, not my primary intention.

I'll go back and reiterate for the 50th time. I voted for Trump. I don't think Trump, from a policy standpoint, has done a bad job.

But he's his own worst enemy. If the tirades and acrimony stopped with him, i.e. if he were able to let it roll off his back and rise above it and be presidential, Biden wouldn't stand a chance.

But since he's on national TV, during an effing pandemic, doing things like telling Pence "don't call the woman in Michigan," may give a good laugh to his base, but I bet he alienated a lot of people in Michigan.

Even though she criticized the Federal response, he does not need to go tit for tat back at her.
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:04 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:46 pm
vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:41 pm
I am saying he is getting all he deserves and not enough.
So you’re saying he should get more flak than he deserves. Interesting.
No. Not saying he should be getting more than he deserves. Saying he Is not getting enough that he deserves.

When he first came in the media had been trained for 250 years to be deferential to our presidents. He came in the way that he did and they just did not know how to respond to him. They just could not believe that a president could so blatantly out and out lie to the American people. Could behave the way that he did. But because of all those centuries of honoring a president (to some extent) they just could not bring themselves to fully all out call "a spade a spade".

Somewhere after about two years they finally changed behavior. Somewhat. But not all the way to fully call out all his outrageous actions and behaviors. They still have to do stories of the like..."on the one hand...but on the other hand" as if there are always equivalencies in every situation.

That said, when I'd not found anything of interest on either the MLB Network or either C-Span two channels, I started watching MSNBC a few months ago. Some of it appealed to be. But when they had on totally biased fanatics similar to many of those on Fox News (but in the opposite direction, obviously) it really did not appeal to me. I'm too well trained / brainwashed by C-Span after 35 years of watching C-Span to have the desire for the middle, unbiased, to the source coverage, as much as possible.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:05 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:56 pm
vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm
...
You are missing the point
...
But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.
<snip>
I used to think so, too, but (A) They really don’t give him credit when his policies are working.
(B) It is not often that you see articles showing that Obama killed and deported with the same gusto as Trump. The articles are out there, but barely. It helps that people point you to them.
(C.) A lot of these “events” are non-events, and just Trump mouthing off.
(D) Some of the most terrible allegations, e.g. firing the pandemic expert staff months ago turn out to be false, or at least possibly false. I read about it in the Washington Post, I see guests on TV repeating it, I firmly believe it. And then I see a an article refuting this by someone who was there, pointed out by Tyler.

But I don’t have Tyler working on this all the time, and most people don’t have a Tyler. I don’t know what to believe anymore, and not because of right-wing propaganda. I don’t watch Fox. No, it’s because of the left’s incessant onslaught. I guess I need to read more from different conservative news sources but Jesus, I’m tired.
""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:22 pm

Thank you, Vintaneer. Figure of speech. I’ll just take melatonin.
RIP Marcello Gandini
Libertarian666
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 5994
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Libertarian666 » Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:08 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:46 pm
vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:41 pm
I am saying he is getting all he deserves and not enough.
So you’re saying he should get more flak than he deserves. Interesting.
"Interesting" as in "an oxymoron".
User avatar
Cortopassi
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3338
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:28 pm
Location: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbL ... sWebb.html

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Cortopassi » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:46 am

Libertarian666 wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:15 pm
• 60% approve of President Trump’s response; 93% of Republicans and 29% of Democrats agree.
Imagine what that number would be if he were able to drop the need to hit back. Simply be able to say things like "I'm not going to respond to that."

I think his approval would be 80%+ easy. GWB was at 90% after Sept 11. I'm not sure that is a valid comparison, but he jumped 40 points from before the 11th.

But as you see below, the bumps do not last long.

Image
User avatar
Cortopassi
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3338
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:28 pm
Location: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbL ... sWebb.html

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Cortopassi » Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:19 am

Libertarian666 wrote:
Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:10 am

If he did that, then CNN, MSNBC, etc., would say "He has no response to that, which means he agrees with it. Impeach!"
Sure, but that's pretty boring, forgettable news vs. things like "Trump lashes out at the governor of Michigan."
User avatar
Kriegsspiel
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 4052
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:28 pm

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Kriegsspiel » Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:43 pm

Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:47 pm
We now have 2 senile dudes bordering on dementia competing for the presidency. Both which have been accused of sexual impropriety.
Trump doesn't show ANY signs of senility, that motherfucker is sharp. I wasn't sure at first whether you were referring to Sanders and Biden, but Sanders doesn't seem senile either. Biden seems nearly non-functional.
You there, Ephialtes. May you live forever.
User avatar
Smith1776
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3501
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:45 pm

Kriegsspiel wrote:
Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:43 pm
Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:47 pm
We now have 2 senile dudes bordering on dementia competing for the presidency. Both which have been accused of sexual impropriety.
Trump doesn't show ANY signs of senility, that motherfucker is sharp. I wasn't sure at first whether you were referring to Sanders and Biden, but Sanders doesn't seem senile either. Biden seems nearly non-functional.
He is much sharper than Biden seems to be. Something we can definitely agree on.
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:46 pm

Kriegsspiel wrote:
Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:43 pm
Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:47 pm
We now have 2 senile dudes bordering on dementia competing for the presidency. Both which have been accused of sexual impropriety.
Trump doesn't show ANY signs of senility, that motherfucker is sharp. I wasn't sure at first whether you were referring to Sanders and Biden, but Sanders doesn't seem senile either. Biden seems nearly non-functional.
He must be talking about Canadian politics. ???

Darn, I didn’t want to push this to the next page. I was enjoying all the gold coins (tech’s avatar over and over).
RIP Marcello Gandini
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:09 pm

dualstow wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:56 pm
vnatale wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:24 pm
...
You are missing the point
...
But to some of us EVERY DAY Trump has at least one of those incidents, if not more. Therefore he deserves this media attention in the same way that Bill did for his incident.
<snip>
I used to think so, too, but (A) They really don’t give him credit when his policies are working.
(B) It is not often that you see articles showing that Obama killed and deported with the same gusto as Trump. The articles are out there, but barely. It helps that people point you to them.
(C.) A lot of these “events” are non-events, and just Trump mouthing off.
(D) Some of the most terrible allegations, e.g. firing the pandemic expert staff months ago turn out to be false, or at least possibly false. I read about it in the Washington Post, I see guests on TV repeating it, I firmly believe it. And then I see a an article refuting this by someone who was there, pointed out by Tyler.

But I don’t have Tyler working on this all the time, and most people don’t have a Tyler. I don’t know what to believe anymore, and not because of right-wing propaganda. I don’t watch Fox. No, it’s because of the left’s incessant onslaught. I guess I need to read more from different conservative news sources but Jesus, I’m tired.
Below is a better explanation of how he is NOT getting what he deserves and how the media has been too soft on him and continues to be too soft on him (for what he deserves)…….

The NY Times takes hands-off journalism to a laughable new level with Trump’s testing headline

https://www.mediamatters.org/new-york-t ... g-headline

"you surrender to the he-said-she-said variety of reporting, every time"

"Do your job. We are facing one of the greatest challenges in American history, largely due to political failures of the current Administration. Dig. Find out what is happening, the roots of the failures. Name names. You have the resources of one of [the] biggest papers in the US. Stop the transcription of press conferences, calls as the news in and of itself. Go deeper. Explain how current American politics led to this epidemiological and economic calamity, and how our leaders are or are not rising to the challenge. You may lose your access to certain prized sources inside the White House, the invitations to the best parties in DC, but you'll gain the respect of your readers and rescue your reputations from the disdain of history."

"The Times needs to make itself more receptive to criticism; it can start by putting a stop to the endless coddling of this administration."

"Endless coddling"! Polar opposite of "unrelenting media attacks"!

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 14225
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: synagogue of Satan
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by dualstow » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:22 pm

She’s nuts. The Times is the equivalent of a shotgun in his face 24/7, and she’s unhappy that a few stray bits missed him. I think readers have gotten the picture by now, bel- (i wanted to say “believe me”, but then i would sound like the person I’m defending, haha).

The first two journalists she cites are Mehdi Hasan and Soledad O’Brien. They have pretty dismal reputations themselves, and well -earned. No, the NYT is not soft on Trump. Not in the universe I’m living in.
RIP Marcello Gandini
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:34 am

About 6 in 10 voters think Trump was not prepared for coronavirus outbreak, poll finds


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 101764002/
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:37 am

Major retailers have opened only 5 drive-thru testing locations, none available to the general public

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/31/politics ... index.html
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:56 am

Trump Just Admitted to Downplaying the Seriousness of the Coronavirus Threat

The president says he decided to be a "cheerleader for the country," although he knew the situation "could be horrible."


https://www.menshealth.com/health/a3200 ... ce=twitter
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
User avatar
vnatale
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 9422
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:56 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

Post by vnatale » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:57 am

Former Obama official: Trump needs to take a ‘military operations approach’ to the coronavirus pandemic

https://www.marketwatch.com/discover?ur ... amp_social
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
Post Reply