Actually, Trump was as bad a baseball player as he is a golfer, or a dancer. Your description of him as a narcissist is spot-on. But he is also the very reverse of that, a sociopath— that is, someone who craves not attention but power and profit at no matter what cost to others. His fury at his enemies is exceeded only by his contempt for his admirers, whom he refers to repeatedly as “losers.” This would appear to be a contradiction in terms, but it is how he projects strength and weakness by turns, ruthlessly advancing and pathetically retreating. He is that perfect rarity, all ego and no identity. Which makes him the world’s greatest menace, and also its greatest bore.
How horribly sad but true. The history doesn't help, showing how the present was always the past. Somehow I made it to the end of your piece, even though as you say we're SOOO tired of hearing about him. I mainly read opinion pieces these days. Now I wake up in real fear to read the news.
Trump was being interviewed by Chris Matthews before the 2016 election. They were talking about Putin. Trump said "If he says great things about me, I'm gonna say great things about him". In other words, no matter who you are, if you kiss my butt, I'm all yours. What a wonderful personality trait for the leader of the free world. How did we get so lucky?
Is the only option waiting for his/the GOP's policies to fail? Has anyone read even one column in the NYT or any paper as to what the alternative agenda for the next Congress should be? Or for 2030, 2040, or 2050. And does the press have to wait for the Dems to submit a proposal, or can they get in front of an issue themselves?
I think Trump is living -- sadly -- proof that terror capitalism and democracy don't mix. Topped off by the condition you've tracked for so long it is a volatile mix.
From reader Myra Chanin:
Your latest piece seems to show you have triumphed over your stroke. So good to see you writing about the present again. Mazel Tov!
From reader Robert Zaller:
Actually, Trump was as bad a baseball player as he is a golfer, or a dancer. Your description of him as a narcissist is spot-on. But he is also the very reverse of that, a sociopath— that is, someone who craves not attention but power and profit at no matter what cost to others. His fury at his enemies is exceeded only by his contempt for his admirers, whom he refers to repeatedly as “losers.” This would appear to be a contradiction in terms, but it is how he projects strength and weakness by turns, ruthlessly advancing and pathetically retreating. He is that perfect rarity, all ego and no identity. Which makes him the world’s greatest menace, and also its greatest bore.
Terrific notebook, Dan. He is a menace. Weirdly, today he criticized Macron for being a publicity seeker.
How horribly sad but true. The history doesn't help, showing how the present was always the past. Somehow I made it to the end of your piece, even though as you say we're SOOO tired of hearing about him. I mainly read opinion pieces these days. Now I wake up in real fear to read the news.
Trump was being interviewed by Chris Matthews before the 2016 election. They were talking about Putin. Trump said "If he says great things about me, I'm gonna say great things about him". In other words, no matter who you are, if you kiss my butt, I'm all yours. What a wonderful personality trait for the leader of the free world. How did we get so lucky?
Is the only option waiting for his/the GOP's policies to fail? Has anyone read even one column in the NYT or any paper as to what the alternative agenda for the next Congress should be? Or for 2030, 2040, or 2050. And does the press have to wait for the Dems to submit a proposal, or can they get in front of an issue themselves?
I think Trump is living -- sadly -- proof that terror capitalism and democracy don't mix. Topped off by the condition you've tracked for so long it is a volatile mix.