U.S. Political Theater Can Cause Interpersonal Friction
Here’s an awkward situation: I’m staying the night today at the house of a friend who, I just learned, will be throwing a party celebrating Donald Trump’s nomination. Of course, my position on Trump is the same as that of journalist David Brooks, who wrote:
Donald Trump is epically unprepared to be president.
He has no realistic policies, no advisers, no capacity to learn. His vast narcissism makes him a closed fortress. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know and he’s uninterested in finding out. He insults the office Abraham Lincoln once occupied by running for it with less preparation than most of us would undertake to buy a sofa.
I might go on to explain why electing a hateful jackass as the leader of the free world isn’t a good plan.
I like to believe I have decent manners, but tonight’s activities will certainly put that notion to a test. Life is absurd sometimes; perhaps the best approach is simply to regard tonight as a prime example.
Craig,
I would not want to be in your position.
Hopefully the truth and the facts will eventually come out and be understood. I hope people learn from history.
Fresh Air has a great interview with an investigative reporter who wrote about Trump’s massive broken business promises to Atlantic City NJ. He’s repeating the same promises to America.
There’s also an article about how his employees at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas are treated; not good.
Craig,
Good luck ! Of course you should be polite and respectful to your host. If you like your host, it could a great opportunity to research what appeals to other people about Donald Trump. (Looking through another persons eyes, is a valuable experience)
Since you are not a supporter of the GOP, you should be rejoicing that Donald Trump looks like becoming the GOP candidate. If a more acceptable candidate ( like John McCain ) were running, the Democrats may find it more difficult to retain the Presidency.
I’ve met Donald Trump on three occasions, twice at social events and once on business.
On social occasions he appears intelligent, self-deprecating, thoughtful, and considerate of the opinions of others. He also reveals a genuine sense of humour. His respect and admiration for his sister, (a person of considerable intellect and achievement) appears heartfelt, as is his expressions of regret about the many mistakes he’s made in personal relationships.
He comes across as very,…well,..human.
From my observation in business his business dealings, he’s sharp, informed,focused, competitive and intimidating.
He doesn’t judge failure or success the way most people do. Essentially, he’s an entrepreneur. The failure of individual projects doen’t bother him. He simply writes them off and moves on. He has no sentimentality or commitment to any enterprise once it proves too difficult or unproductive.
I was amazed at his disapproval of Rupert Murdoch. Donald Trump doesn’t think Murdoch should subsidize quality publications at the expense of the rest of his business.
He certainly has a hard core of devoted employees to whom he’s a considerate and generous employer. He has expressed admiration for William Clay Ford Jnr, and Elon Musk.
From my brief meetings with Donald Trump, he appears to be a throwback to an older type of American.
He’s also very adaptive. He simply shrugs off old positions and remarks. He revels in what would normally be considered hypocrisy and deals with it a very disarming manner. His latest remarks about Ted Cruz stand in sharp contract to his previous invective. His candor at this (and other) amazing volte-face is to admit that a lot of stuff said in campaigning, isn’t to be taken to seriously, and just part of competing. What’s really amazing, he gets away with saying stuff like that, and it even adds to his popularity by supporters as an example of his honesty !
Trump has shown himself to be both disciplined and intelligent when it suits his purpose. He believes in setting the agenda,refusing to be drawn into specifics. His method of sweeping over details with either boundless enthusiasm or feigned belligerence, is a carefully crafted technique.
Writing him off as a buffoon, narcissist, or fool, is a bad mistake as many have discovered.
I would not be surprised to see a different, more polished Donald Trump emerge for a Presidential contest.
In my opinion, his best weapon against the far more professional and experienced Hillary Clinton, is to trade on his folksy human demeanor.
But, best of luck, enjoy your time as a house guest.
LOL. I didn’t see this one coming. Having said that, I should have known that you would have something with which to weigh in here.
That is the first description of Trump I’ve ever heard that was even remotely favorable.
“Folksy human demeanor?” Wow.
Craig,
I wouldn’t have said I was favorable of his chances of being elected, but rather I advanced an explanation of the reason why Donald trump has so many friends, supporters and even followers.
Not all trump supporters are working class disenchanted white trailer-trash. Over the years he has managed to acquire a wide range of friends, as well as enemies and critics.
I think you’re lucky to be able to have an opportunity to explore why otherwise decent, rational, people are supporting his candidacy.
I wouldn’t vote for Donald Trump as a candidate for political office, and I find the sentiments he arouses are ignoble. He’s a populist opportunist, not a true conservative.
(I was particularly enraged by his churlish abuse toward John McCain, a true American hero). On the other hand, I’ve tried to be honest about the impressions I formed of him as a result of a relatively brief acquaintance.
If I’m the first person you’ve heard with a ” even remotely favorable description of Trump”, then perhaps you should enlarge your circle of acquaintances 🙂
( I guess the meaning of “folksy” may not have the same connotation in the US” 🙂
People have parties for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes I think that 1/2 the people I know are arch-conservatives and the other half would be happy to go to any party for a chance at something to eat. I can’t imagine them all in the same room. We tend to become friends with people when we are able to look past the surface and appreciate the value that shines for us.
Perhaps I am associate with an eclectic group because I don’t demand that they have something to offer to be worth my time. Rather it seems interesting to find the value that each person has to offer. But there are limits.
You don’t seem to find any value in Trump, but most “followers” of any sort tend to look between the lines and don’t take too much literally. I am sure that even with your close associates if you were to take every utterance literally there would be misunderstandings.
Breath on the Wind,
Well said ! What a great comment. You must lead an interesting and varied life.
That’s the great thing about having a relatively moderate philosophy, it allows you to appreciate, tolerate and understand others without necessarily agreeing or supporting.
Lol. I wonder what you’re implying here. 🙂
I agree that this is a terrific comment, btw. “Breath” is a very enlightened guy by any standards.
I’m afraid I would simply burn a bridge were I in your case.
I would attend, but to everyone I meet I would give my honest impression: I think Trump is a new nadir for modern American politics, and not only to I believe him to be a hatemongering idiot, I believe anyone who supports him is a hatemongering fool.
If they choose to be offended, I would then say “I’m ‘speaking my mind’, regardless of whether it offends someone or not, I thought you would appreciate that, or are you such a great fool that you can’t see the parallel?”
LOL. Love that last idea!
He may be a “new nadir for modern American politics”, but I think that his running has exposed discontent and problems which have not been adequately addressed. Assuming that he is not elected, that exposure could result in belatedly addressing more diligently the problems which have resulted in his popularity, among them being the excessive influence of corporations and the exceedingly excessive gap between rich and poor. The excessive gap between rich and poor has resulted in the scapegoating of immigrants which is similar to the scapegoating of Jews which occurred in Nazi Germany because of wide-spread poverty.
Glenn,
Have you ever thought of a career in the Diplomatic Corp ? 🙂