Donald Trump: The Ugly American

[Perknose]

This is the title of a nicely punchy piece in Vanity Fair, by a guy who has known and interacted with Trump though the last 3-4 decades. It's subtitle is:

Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has spent more than 30 years observing Donald Trump’s orange-tinted antics. With a month left to go before the election, he reports on some memorable lessons learned along the way.

Gawd, but I love posting all the lusty and well-deserved whacks people who have had to deal with him are now taking at the Big Orange Pinata. That it provokes the likes of "a certain poster" into some weak-assed troll response that falls pathetically flat is just a side bonus.

If for nothing else, read it for laughs. To whet your appetite, here's how it ends:

He has touched—embraced!—every third rail in American politics. He has offended (and I apologize if I’ve left some group out): African-Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Jews, Muslims, war heroes—war heroes!—families of war heroes, the disabled, women, and babies. Babies! Through word or action, Trump has promoted gun violence, bigotry, ignorance, intolerance, lying, and just about everything else that can be wrong with a society. And yet he marches on, playing to a constituency that just doesn’t seem to care. The thing is, this ramshackle campaign, following a ramshackle business career, has exposed his flaws and failures to the world and, more importantly, to the people he will brush up against for the rest of his life. To them he is now officially a joke. I suspect he knows this. And if his thin skin on minor matters is any indication, he will be lashing out with even more vitriol. He is a mad jumble of a man, with a slapdash of a campaign and talking points dredged from the dark corners at the bottom of the Internet. I don’t think he will get to the White House, but just the fact that his carny act has gotten so far along the road will leave the path with a permanent orange stain. Trump, more than even the most craven politicians or entertainers, is a bottomless reservoir of need and desire for attention. He lives off crowd approval. And at a certain point that will dim, as it always does to people like him, and the cameras will turn to some other American novelty. When that attention wanes, he will be left with his press clippings, his dyed hair, his fake tan, and those tiny, tiny fingers.

In short, there's little else for the Regressives but to wail, "Pence 2020!" Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[DrDoug]

I read that yesterday and had a great laugh while doing so. I really enjoyed the history of his short fingers at the bottom of the article. This caption was priceless:

At this 2005 gala, Trump, thinking quickly, uses both hands to keep wife Melania from getting a good look at the size of a single Puff Daddy hand.

That's gold!

ETA: Speaking of Trump being an ugly American, his supporters are being encouraged by his kind of ugly.

That's Trump supporters for you, ugly Americans supporting an ugly American so he can create their utopia: The Ugly States of America.

 

[IronWing]

I've concluded that Trump is basically an eighth grade bully. He divides everybody he encounters into winners and losers. People he slots as losers don't count. He sees no issue with ridiculing and stiffing them because they are losers and worthy of only scorn and contempt. Like an eighth grade bully, he doesn't understand why other people try to defend these losers and figures people who defend losers are losers themselves and therefore also worthy of scorn. Winners are people who have enough money that he hopes to screw them over someday after which they will move into the loser category.

 

[Jhhnn]

What's so amazing about Trump is that his devotees don't love him despite his flaws but rather because of them. Trump is every kind of rude, crude, lewd & socially unacceptable that they ever wanted to be & he doesn't even have to get drunk to do it. He's a real man!

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I read that yesterday and had a great laugh while doing so. I really enjoyed the history of his short fingers at the bottom of the article. This caption was priceless:



That's gold!

ETA: Speaking of Trump being an ugly American, his supporters are being encouraged by his kind of ugly.

That's Trump supporters for you, ugly Americans supporting an ugly American so he can create their utopia: The Ugly States of America.

Good on them for not allowing drumpf yet another bullshit, staged, fake photo op. And so kind of his supporters to threaten a Civil Rights museum, doubt they see the fucking irony in that.

 

[sportage]

Haha. Pence 2020?
We all know Hillary will be easily re-elected in 2020.
How do I (we) know that?
It is the Clinton history.
Bill Clinton won by even more votes in 1996 than he did originally in 1992 despite his sexual peccadilloes.

Hillary won her senate re-election bid by even more votes than she originally won from her first senate run.
Why is this???

Because republicans are so very skillful at skewing the facts and creating doubt, especially when it comes to a Clinton.
But if the Clinton should win despite the republican hit squad then fact trumps fiction and people actually like the Clinton.

This is exactly why Hillary will squeak thru this first time, but she will be easily re-elected for her second term.
And I honestly doubt Pence will even try to challenge Hillary in 2020.
No self respecting republican would.
In 2020, Hillary's republican challengers will be Newt, Chris Christie, maybe Sarah Palin, and several other unknowns that have noting to lose.

 

[MongGrel]

I'll drop this here I guess.

Trump backs off praise of Russia's Putin after debate

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-farmville-idUSKCN1240WJ

That was his first hire, how amusing.

 

[DrDoug]

I'll drop this here I guess.

Trump backs off praise of Russia's Putin after debate

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-farmville-idUSKCN1240WJ

That was his first hire, how amusing.

This is funny:

"I don't love (Putin), I don't hate. We'll see how it works. We'll see," Trump told supporters during a campaign stop in the swing state of Nevada. "Maybe we’ll have a good relationship. Maybe we’ll have a horrible relationship. Maybe we’ll have a relationship right in the middle."

Goldilocks and the Russian Bear...lol! In stupid Trump supporter news, evangelicals are now counting on Divine Intervention to get their Presidential candidate:

PA GOP source heard from mult pastors: "Evangelicals believe God is using Trump to deliver Pence to the WH, & that Trump will be eliminated"

— Todd Zwillich (@toddzwillich) October 5, 2016

Toss some gold coins on the ground in front of these 'religious' fuckers and watch them dive for the dirt.

 

[MongGrel]

Toss some gold coins on the ground in front of these 'religious' fuckers and watch them dive for the dirt.

I got a kick out of this in the comments...

 

[MongGrel]

Just more for the ugly.

Trump To Dying People: Stick Around Long Enough To Vote For Me

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-terminally-ill_us_57f5c444e4b0b7aafe0bf666?section=&

 

[Starbuck1975]

Haha. Pence 2020?
We all know Hillary will be easily re-elected in 2020.
How do I (we) know that?
It is the Clinton history.
Bill Clinton won by even more votes in 1996 than he did originally in 1992 despite his sexual peccadilloes.

Hillary won her senate re-election bid by even more votes than she originally won from her first senate run.
Why is this???

Because republicans are so very skillful at skewing the facts and creating doubt, especially when it comes to a Clinton.
But if the Clinton should win despite the republican hit squad then fact trumps fiction and people actually like the Clinton.

This is exactly why Hillary will squeak thru this first time, but she will be easily re-elected for her second term.
And I honestly doubt Pence will even try to challenge Hillary in 2020.
No self respecting republican would.
In 2020, Hillary's republican challengers will be Newt, Chris Christie, maybe Sarah Palin, and several other unknowns that have noting to lose.

Hillary will squeak by but I think she is in for a rough ride. She has enemies within her own party who are staying silent for now to avoid the worst outcome of a Trump presidency, but I expect Sanders to be a voice of opposition to her administration. Also, expect her email scandal to persist. How the FBI handled immunity deals is troubling and it wouldn't surprise me if a few of her surrogates go down Scooter style.

 

[HomerJS]

I'll drop this here I guess.

Trump backs off praise of Russia's Putin after debate

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-farmville-idUSKCN1240WJ

That was his first hire, how amusing.

I thought Cory Lewandowski was his first hire. Or is that just another Trump history rewrite?

 

[theeedude]

Hillary will squeak by but I think she is in for a rough ride. She has enemies within her own party who are staying silent for now to avoid the worst outcome of a Trump presidency, but I expect Sanders to be a voice of opposition to her administration. Also, expect her email scandal to persist. How the FBI handled immunity deals is troubling and it wouldn't surprise me if a few of her surrogates go down Scooter style.

Nobody cares about Republican Clinton "scandals." Going to expose continuing GOP dysfunction more than anything.

 

[fskimospy]

Hillary will squeak by but I think she is in for a rough ride. She has enemies within her own party who are staying silent for now to avoid the worst outcome of a Trump presidency, but I expect Sanders to be a voice of opposition to her administration. Also, expect her email scandal to persist. How the FBI handled immunity deals is troubling and it wouldn't surprise me if a few of her surrogates go down Scooter style.

I think it's impossible to say what will happen in 2020 as economic conditions, etc, will play a strong part.

That being said, I do not expect Sanders to play a significant part in opposition going forward. Quite a few of his supporters during the primary seem to have already lost interest in him.

 

[cubby1223]

As bad as Trump is, all the Democrats needed to do was put up an actual primary race instead of rigging their primaries for a weak candidate. And we wouldn't even need to have these topics come up.

As much as liberals want to rip on Trump & the GOP, you need to also lay blame on the Democrats for virtually entirely removing Democracy out of the process.

 

[fskimospy]

As bad as Trump is, all the Democrats needed to do was put up an actual primary race instead of rigging their primaries for a weak candidate. And we wouldn't even need to have these topics come up.

As much as liberals want to rip on Trump & the GOP, you need to also lay blame on the Democrats for virtually entirely removing Democracy out of the process.

The idea that the Democratic primary was rigged is laughably stupid. Sanders was never a real threat to win and it wasn't the DNC that knocked him out.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I think it's impossible to say what will happen in 2020 as economic conditions, etc, will play a strong part.

That being said, I do not expect Sanders to play a significant part in opposition going forward. Quite a few of his supporters during the primary seem to have already lost interest in him.

That is fair. A lot of Sanders supporters are upset he "sold out" to support Clinton, but he had no other alternative. However his movement is a valid one with some legs, and I am curious to see who siezes the torch.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Nobody cares about Republican Clinton "scandals." Going to expose continuing GOP dysfunction more than anything.

Anyone who believes in ethics and transparency should care about Clinton's email scandal. However based on the evidence "provided" and I say that generously, it is not worth sinking her given the alternative.

 

[fskimospy]

That is fair. A lot of Sanders supporters are upset he "sold out" to support Clinton, but he had no other alternative. However his movement is a valid one with some legs, and I am curious to see who siezes the torch.

I agree that some sort of economic populism has legs (from both the left and the right) and that the issue won't be going away.

 

[theeedude]

Anyone who believes in ethics and transparency should care about Clinton's email scandal. However based on the evidence "provided" and I say that generously, it is not worth sinking her given the alternative.

Republicans already "restored dignity and integrity" after Clintons, and we had thousands of Americans killed, trillions of dollars wasted on a war we didn't need, blank check to big pharma that we are still stuck paying for, and a devastating financial crisis to show for it. Maybe a little less of this type of "dignity and integrity," thanks.

 

[cubby1223]

The idea that the Democratic primary was rigged is laughably stupid. Sanders was never a real threat to win and it wasn't the DNC that knocked him out.

Holy sh*t you really are a moron with an overgrown ego! What a waste of an elite status title, it really is.

Notice how I never said Sanders was a threat to win. However, It absolutely was the Democratic Party that limited competition against Hillary. And it absolutely was the DNC who made many moves in specific support of Clinton over Sanders.

 

[fskimospy]

Holy sh*t you really are a moron with an overgrown ego! What a waste of an elite status title, it really is.

Uh oh, the Elite Police are back! Should I turn in my badge and gun?

Notice how I never said Sanders was a threat to win. However, It absolutely was the Democratic Party that limited competition against Hillary. And it absolutely was the DNC who made many moves in specific support of Clinton over Sanders.

So you're saying that other, better Democrats would have run in the primary and won the nomination without the Democratic Party conspiring against them? Who are these people and what did the DNC do to stop them? You already admitted Sanders wasn't one of them so he's out.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Republicans already "restored dignity and integrity" after Clintons, and we had thousands of Americans killed, trillions of dollars wasted on a war we didn't need, blank check to big pharma that we are still stuck paying for, and a devastating financial crisis to show for it. Maybe a little less of this type of "dignity and integrity," thanks.

Deflection. I am all for someone having the courage to go after the Republican architects of the misguided, disastrous and I am sure in some aspects criminal WoT.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Uh oh, the Elite Police are back! Should I turn in my badge and gun?



So you're saying that other, better Democrats would have run in the primary and won the nomination without the Democratic Party conspiring against them? Who are these people and what did the DNC do to stop them? You already admitted Sanders wasn't one of them so he's out.

I think it is fair to say that the Clintons were working to clear the field from the moment Obama took the nomination. From Obama appointing her to Secretary of State to the quick silencing of any momentum behind Warren to the guiding hand of DWS, it is clear that the Clinton were not going to let an underdog upset her again...and yet a severely handicapped Sanders almost managed to do just that.

The fix was in. Granted she is clearly qualified for the role, more so perhaps than any other Democrat. As a campaigner she is horrible and as a leader her judgment is paranoid and questionable.

 

[Homerboy]

Besides the outstanding quality of the content of your post, I love you for the Liz Lemon eyeroll gif.