A good sense of humor and sharp wit requires intelligence.
That's not DT.
That's not DT.
44
Trump is The Joker unleashed on the city of Gotham. We are all living in a comic book world.
24
'“He crossed out ‘150,000’ and he put ‘300,000,’ ” Mr. Joyce said. “He needed people to know that his fictitious space station was bigger.”'
There is another interpretation: Trump was making a joke at his own expense about his negotiating skills. The joke is that any number is arbitrary, but Trump was going to negotiate a better "deal" anyway. That's funny!
There is another interpretation: Trump was making a joke at his own expense about his negotiating skills. The joke is that any number is arbitrary, but Trump was going to negotiate a better "deal" anyway. That's funny!
7
if you have to explain a joke, its not funny
34
It all boils down to the fact that Mr. Trump thinks, acts, and speaks like a 13-year-old boy who thinks he's the class clown, when most of his peers cringe whenever he opens his mouth, which is fine as long as you're willing to let a 13-year-old boy who thinks he's the class clown run your country.
62
'... [Trump's] canine comparisons run amok: Mitt Romney “choked like a dog”; ...'
"Choke like a dog" is a golfing expression meaning "fail under pressure". As everyone should know by now, Trump is a golf enthusiast.
For a usage example, see:
My Best Day in Golf: Celebrity Stories of the Game They Love
By Jonathan Clay, Tom Smith
(p. 82)
Found with this easy Google search: "choke like a dog" -trump
"Choke like a dog" is a golfing expression meaning "fail under pressure". As everyone should know by now, Trump is a golf enthusiast.
For a usage example, see:
My Best Day in Golf: Celebrity Stories of the Game They Love
By Jonathan Clay, Tom Smith
(p. 82)
Found with this easy Google search: "choke like a dog" -trump
4
In her speech today, Hillary Clinton delivered my favorite Trump joke that goes something like this: Donald Trump has written many books on the economy but most of them end in Chapter 11.
83
The real joke is Trump. However, he's not funny.
24
The joke is on us
28
I think Trump's legacy will be to show how low the American electorate is prepared to go, not how low a national "politician" is.
As has been noted, the essential Don Rickles was a mensch. Trump? Ganef from day one...
As has been noted, the essential Don Rickles was a mensch. Trump? Ganef from day one...
24
I think that Howard Stern is a more apt model of who Donald Trump has been aping in this election than Don Rickles. Stern used to (and still does) relentlessly mock his rival shock jocks, using all kinds of insulting names to denigrate them, just like Trump did during the debates. Stern also would make fun of handicapped people (physical and mental), and various ethnic groups. Trump was a frequent guest on his show and probably got the idea to run for president after Stern ran for governor of New York back in the nineties.
10
I think the answer to the author's question is 'yes'; personal insults have been a vital part of American presidential politics since day one. Why can't the author and this newspaper provide us with a lively analysis of past political campaigns so we can all learn how truly American this race is? Where are Doris Goodwin and Author Schlesinger when you need them?
5
Please do not insult Bart Simpson with that comparison.
79
Rickles is 100% smarter and funnier with common sense !
19
Based on the Times coverage of how Trump transferred money from his casinos to himself while driving the businesses into the ground and the article appearing else where in today's Times about how he is doing the exact same thing with his campaign donations, paying himself, his companies and his family members, it appears the joke is on us. I am not laughing.
49
I don't get the entire premise of this article. Trump isn't an insult comic. Rickles is. Two different arenas with no overlap. It's a completely different relationship with one's audience. What an odd conflation.
4
Can we please stop pretending Creepy Donnie has a chance? He's going to get rolled.
19
Showtime brings in advertising dollars to TV and print media.
So..Trump has only ONE card to play.....his ability to get media attention...no
matter what the cost to anyone....and the "cost" to Trump...is positive...
he is "MR SHOWTIME"....and that is ALL Trump is capable of...Media
Attention...and it will not matter to Trump if he is US President or not...
What Matters to Trump...is his name...on Everything...and to be noticed
and reviewed 24/7....to be famous or infamous...does not matter...
Just LOOK AT ME....all the time....all the time. WAH WAH WAH...
We are the imbeciles...just watching the Trump Show...and the media
aids and abets Trump...for MONEY...folks media gets ad $$$$ because YOU
are watching the TRUMP SHOW....so do not watch him...ratings will go down
and TRUMP SHOW will be OFF THE AIR...turn on something else..
So..Trump has only ONE card to play.....his ability to get media attention...no
matter what the cost to anyone....and the "cost" to Trump...is positive...
he is "MR SHOWTIME"....and that is ALL Trump is capable of...Media
Attention...and it will not matter to Trump if he is US President or not...
What Matters to Trump...is his name...on Everything...and to be noticed
and reviewed 24/7....to be famous or infamous...does not matter...
Just LOOK AT ME....all the time....all the time. WAH WAH WAH...
We are the imbeciles...just watching the Trump Show...and the media
aids and abets Trump...for MONEY...folks media gets ad $$$$ because YOU
are watching the TRUMP SHOW....so do not watch him...ratings will go down
and TRUMP SHOW will be OFF THE AIR...turn on something else..
10
Hasn't anyone noticed that the end of the Republican primaries was also the end of Donald Trump?
The insult centered attack embraced by Trump worked with republicans but is not working with democrats. Trump has lost his audience, most of whom he personally destroyed.
Trump has both run out of money, as well as listeners to his insults!
The insult centered attack embraced by Trump worked with republicans but is not working with democrats. Trump has lost his audience, most of whom he personally destroyed.
Trump has both run out of money, as well as listeners to his insults!
65
Everyone wants this to be a joke, a reality show, a put on, but it's not a Kubrick movie, it isn't a tv cartoon and nothing is funny about Donald J. Trump possibly becoming the President of the United States of America.
That we will "come to out senses", isn't a certainty is frightening. That so many are willing to take a risk of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America is truly earth shatteringly sad. I'm not laughing.
That we will "come to out senses", isn't a certainty is frightening. That so many are willing to take a risk of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America is truly earth shatteringly sad. I'm not laughing.
28
There was a documentary on HBO this morning about an attempt to bring 50 jewish children into the US just before the outbreak of WWII. Interspersed was the political climate evolving in Austria around the rise of Hitler and the wholesale persecution of the jews. I could not help but think of the republican candidate.
It was particularly painful to be again made aware of the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the United States at that time and to be reminded of the campaign against political correctness that is being waged by the right that is a painfully juvenile attempt to be freed from the constraints of humane discourse and to be enabled to insult minorities, women and gays with vulgar impunity.
It was particularly painful to be again made aware of the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the United States at that time and to be reminded of the campaign against political correctness that is being waged by the right that is a painfully juvenile attempt to be freed from the constraints of humane discourse and to be enabled to insult minorities, women and gays with vulgar impunity.
21
Trump has a minimal paid campaign staff around the country, 30 or so.
He is failing to raise big money.
He has damaged the GOP.
He has not only no political experience, he has not bothered to learn even fundamental facts about anything related to running for office.
He is insulting every Muslims, Islam, Mexicans, the LGBT community other candidates, the President and whoever he does not like on any particular day.
There is unverified rumor that he'll drop his candidacy for a payoff.
He assigns insulting names, as this article says on opposing candidates...if I were a conspiracy theorist I might just believe that he is throwing the election and/or stopping another viable Republican candidate against Hillary. There was this story on WashPost that never got much play (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-clinton-called-donald-trump.... I wonder if there was a verbal agreement between him and a former President...)
He is failing to raise big money.
He has damaged the GOP.
He has not only no political experience, he has not bothered to learn even fundamental facts about anything related to running for office.
He is insulting every Muslims, Islam, Mexicans, the LGBT community other candidates, the President and whoever he does not like on any particular day.
There is unverified rumor that he'll drop his candidacy for a payoff.
He assigns insulting names, as this article says on opposing candidates...if I were a conspiracy theorist I might just believe that he is throwing the election and/or stopping another viable Republican candidate against Hillary. There was this story on WashPost that never got much play (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-clinton-called-donald-trump.... I wonder if there was a verbal agreement between him and a former President...)
2
When President Obama took on T rump at the Press Roast a few years ago that was funny. T rump sat there and fumed and bit his lip, but he was not amused. I was, however.
When he pulls the rug out from under his supporters, and eventually he will have to, I wonder if they will laugh?
When he pulls the rug out from under his supporters, and eventually he will have to, I wonder if they will laugh?
19
I believe his father both his diploma. Because he has no capacity to focus on anything.He's totally stupid. Obviously his money pay people to think for him to build and sell his real state. Why the media tell that he's very successful? Really! he's very good to insult and disrespect people. He's typical bully with empty head. He is a perfect loathsome.
13
Conan O'Brien had a good one about Hillary. He mentioned that in a recent debate HRC said she spoke to god several times a day - but never for under $100,000.00.
7
If you were offered money to give a speech, would you take it?
I thought so.
I thought so.
28
Trump's insults are what is known in "argumentation scholarship" as ad hominem attacks - against the person rather than against the ideas expressed by the person. Their purpose is straightforward. They are designed to diminish the person so that the ideas do not need to be addressed. They appeal only to naive and gullible listeners. As a substitute for serious political discourse, they are disgraceful.
58
People have tried; Nixon v. Kennedy, Blaine v. Cleveland, and you add Samuel Burchard to that list. Fortunately, those slinging personal invective never even got to smell the tail feathers.
My father, a union plumber never told me anything that was either not so, or worthless. We should never trust (or vote for), anyone who appeals to the baser aspects of human nature.
My father, a union plumber never told me anything that was either not so, or worthless. We should never trust (or vote for), anyone who appeals to the baser aspects of human nature.
21
That Trump has to edit jokes to make himself more favorable speaks volumes about how obsessed he is with himself and how thin-skinned he really is.
The man is an egotistical megalomaniac. That comes through loud and clear whenever he speaks in public.
The man is an egotistical megalomaniac. That comes through loud and clear whenever he speaks in public.
23
Can you insult your way to the white house? YES, you can. This did not happen overnight. Over the decades, the politicians say something to get elected and do something else after getting into the office. On that score, we may not like what Trump is saying but he may do something else once he is in office. That something else would be good what he is saying now is not good. In Clinton case, she is saying all the right things only to switch once get elected. The difference between Clinton and Trump in their quality of negative rating is that Clinton negative rating is despite the fact she is saying all the right things, while Trump negative rating is due to his loud mouth comments. All he needs to do is polish up his presentation, his negative rating will disappear. Clinton has no mechanism to reverse herself and thus will loose in general election.
3
Trump is the kid in the back of the class throwing spitballs and making fun of anyone smarter than he is.
Trump's humor is at about the same level of his policies. In fact, his policies are an offshoot of his humor.
I wonder if the Trump supporters realize that they now reside in thecWorld of Trump P?C.
Trump's humor is at about the same level of his policies. In fact, his policies are an offshoot of his humor.
I wonder if the Trump supporters realize that they now reside in thecWorld of Trump P?C.
12
Peter Ustinov noted once that there have been many entertainers who became successful politicians but not the other way around. He concluded that being an entertainer was the more difficult occupation.
3
Trump is 100% phony! he has gone through life by projecting an image that he would have wished was real but it was not and so he has live a life of lies and deceit. e is not a successful businessman that he claims to be or else we would have known by now what his successes were. He is not a billionaire or else we would have been given some measure of evidence that he is. he does not release any financial statements simply because it is all a big lie. Ad as for self funding, he has not put in much of his own money so far and he is not going to do it now either. He just does not have the cash! What we should worry about is not Trump, it is the 14 million ignorant bigots who have voted him. We should worry about the ignorance of the masses which has trenched an epidemic proportions. Ignorance of the electorate in a democracy is very dangerous, it could lea to self destructon
27
More insulting to me is Hillary's arrogance in considering herself to be more qualified based on her experience. But her experience included disastrous judgment on Iraq and Libya just to name two and dishonesty and vindictiveness that arguably exceeds even The Donald's. I'm going to bet this time around for the lesser insult.
8
I still don't understand why most journalists , pundits insisting on Trump's behavior or changes to be a real candidate , and to run a normal campaign for president. This is Impossible, He's not NORMAL. He is just like the 5years old boy/ girl that you take to friend's house, but before you arrive,you will give many instructions for them to behavior good, and not embarrassed you. They will do anyway. This is Trump. He has no skills, no knowledge or any kind of intellectual analyzes of Anything else whatsoever. He can not manage a bus full of children, forget about being a president.
14
Oh, gosh. I thought he was really funny. Thank you to the author for reaching out to professional comedians to help me understand that he is not. I feel embarrassed now to have laughed so hard so many times. I am truly sorry. I simply did not know.
12
This is hilarious!
4
What has the Republican Party done for the American people? In 2012, corporate profits hit their highest level. In 2014, the total bonuses handing out on Wall Street was twice as much as the total earned by every person in this country. This is the land of the privileged – no amount of labor will ever place them economically secured. To make matters worse here it come the unexpected, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. , A racist, whose followers are the dark side of this country; people who feed on hate, anger and have “unlawful love.” Republicans have tried to bring him into their nest, make him understand he needs to conduct himself like a Republican but he didn’t listen since he’s smarty-pants. Now that Trump is out of their hands, he’s become a thorn on their back.
Undoubtedly, Donald Trump is digging his own grave and that of the Republican Party.
In the meantime, other countries are watching how America is suffering
Undoubtedly, Donald Trump is digging his own grave and that of the Republican Party.
In the meantime, other countries are watching how America is suffering
20
We've certainly seen plenty lie their way there, so why not?
4
Wow, this article plus a companion one about Trump's connections with Roy Cohn in years past have given me a whole new perspective about Mr. Presumptive. He is unable to laugh at himself, and will replace Cohn with Putin if he gets into the White House.
17
All these articles that try to explain Trump's appeal at some point mention how his core audience is "missing out" on something. What, exactly, are the Trumpers missing out on? And how does cheering at insults directed at people they already think are inferior make them feel better about missing out on whatever it is they're missing?
11
This supports something that I have realized. Conservatives do not have a sense of humor. Unless it is to mock someone else. Their other primary characteristic is lack of humility. Bullies and narcissists.
40
You just figured that out?
5
Maybe.
New Yorkers, New York aficionados like myself and most Americans interested in current events have known about the Donald long before he entered politics. The tacky gold plated hotels, braggadocios behavior, old school womanizing - all of that.
But apparently, there are millions of Americans who never payed attention to him or knew who he was (to their credit in a way). Nonetheless it's puzzling to the rest of us just how easily he can con his supporters - facilitated by a deep (albeit irrational) hatred of Hillary and Obama. And he's not even a conservative - to the extent that anything he says is consistent enough to be interpreted one way or the other.
Decades of Rush Limbaugh and the right wing media that cropped up in his wake, together with the Republican party cozying up to ANY group that will support them has ruled the fire.
New Yorkers, New York aficionados like myself and most Americans interested in current events have known about the Donald long before he entered politics. The tacky gold plated hotels, braggadocios behavior, old school womanizing - all of that.
But apparently, there are millions of Americans who never payed attention to him or knew who he was (to their credit in a way). Nonetheless it's puzzling to the rest of us just how easily he can con his supporters - facilitated by a deep (albeit irrational) hatred of Hillary and Obama. And he's not even a conservative - to the extent that anything he says is consistent enough to be interpreted one way or the other.
Decades of Rush Limbaugh and the right wing media that cropped up in his wake, together with the Republican party cozying up to ANY group that will support them has ruled the fire.
16
Trump the arsonist!
"Saying something insane is funny because society says not to say insane things," Mr. Weisman said. "When you say, 'Ban all Muslims,' that's shocking, but it's not a joke."
The column establishes that Trump is not a comedian, no news there. But his words can start fires. Derogatory hate speech insights violence, or are Trump's words and the incidents during his campaign just more Ha Ha moments?
A scene from the movie Dr. Zhivago comes to mind.
A draggled, defeated rabble of Russian deserters fleeing the collapsing front in WWI meets a lock step regiment of new recruits on the road. The fleeing veterans try to persuade the recruits to break ranks and join them. As the troops discipline wavers, a Russian officer stands atop a water barrel and makes an impassioned plea that they all stick together and confront their common enemy, the invading Germans. All the soldiers listen, some grumble, "Your war, not ours."
Then the lid of the water barrel buckles, drenching the officer and deflating the seriousness of his impassioned speech. Uproar of mocking laughter rises from the throng of armed men. Then a single gun shot echoes, and all are silent as the officer slumps dead into the barrel.
There are plenty of people in this country who feel defeated. There are more than enough guns to arm many armies. Dangerous divisions exist among us. Lets just hope Trump's mocking does not lead to armed violence against imagined enemies.
Trump's sparks can start fires.
"Saying something insane is funny because society says not to say insane things," Mr. Weisman said. "When you say, 'Ban all Muslims,' that's shocking, but it's not a joke."
The column establishes that Trump is not a comedian, no news there. But his words can start fires. Derogatory hate speech insights violence, or are Trump's words and the incidents during his campaign just more Ha Ha moments?
A scene from the movie Dr. Zhivago comes to mind.
A draggled, defeated rabble of Russian deserters fleeing the collapsing front in WWI meets a lock step regiment of new recruits on the road. The fleeing veterans try to persuade the recruits to break ranks and join them. As the troops discipline wavers, a Russian officer stands atop a water barrel and makes an impassioned plea that they all stick together and confront their common enemy, the invading Germans. All the soldiers listen, some grumble, "Your war, not ours."
Then the lid of the water barrel buckles, drenching the officer and deflating the seriousness of his impassioned speech. Uproar of mocking laughter rises from the throng of armed men. Then a single gun shot echoes, and all are silent as the officer slumps dead into the barrel.
There are plenty of people in this country who feel defeated. There are more than enough guns to arm many armies. Dangerous divisions exist among us. Lets just hope Trump's mocking does not lead to armed violence against imagined enemies.
Trump's sparks can start fires.
6
I wish Trump would leave the dogs out of his despicable public discourse. Why does he have to drag the dogs down to his level? Both of my dogs, a chocolate lab and a little pomeranian have far more dignity than Trump, although the Pomeranian has the same hair color. I would put both of them in the white house before I would ever vote for Trump.
23
Yes, Trump is an egomaniac who isn't clever enough to be funny. No news there.
What I want to know is, why did Comedy Central pay that much attention to him? They validated his celebrity by roasting him. Wouldn't the country be better off today if Trump wasn't granted all of the free publicity he has received?
What I want to know is, why did Comedy Central pay that much attention to him? They validated his celebrity by roasting him. Wouldn't the country be better off today if Trump wasn't granted all of the free publicity he has received?
14
There was a chance of rain. They closed the club, keeping the skeletal staff away from the course. The men caddied themselves. For one, it was the culmination of a deal made during a difficult trip to Martha's Vineyard, when she spared his legacy by demanding he ensure her own. The men played, sorting through strategies. The defeat to Obama proved she was unpopular.The faux-billionaire (a lifelong Democrat) and the former President made a pact. To finally destroy the GOP buffoons who tried to ruin the former President, would take initiative. He would begin with dog whistles, called into the doltish Fox who could not help but gobble up any false accusation and broadcast it to the fear junkies. Birth certificate chatter would incite the rubes. He'd bump his own precious brand to a crescendo by running for President. The men knew that he would be like a poultice, drawing out the infected core of the GOP, secure in the reality that silent bigots only speak in the company of other bigots. He could say anything, the more vile the better; a rhetorical exercise not available to him on his reality show. He would make America great again by delivering her the White House, tipping SCOTUS to the left and once and for all destroying the GOP. Slackers would get off the sofa and vote, because only a common enemy unites. They knew winners play the long game, what goes around comes around and if it worked, it would be the greatest revenge plot in history. I love writing fiction
6
The media has given us Trump headlines for months now. What do you expect? It's a joke in our household. Open the paper, Trump. Turn on the tv, Trump. Nobody can escape hearing about Trump, Trump Trump. And if he's elected President, I will blame the media.
19
Some good insights and distinctions, which is such a contrast with the way that "white men"--yet again, are just lumped together negatively. As others have begun to point out in a belated "I've-had-enough-after-taking-it-for-too-long" counter: it would be considered offensive to do this to any other group. Yet here it's seen as totally acceptable.
Besides being inherently error-prone (way too many exceptions), it violates how we're supposed to judge others if, indeed, it is necessary to judge (by individual character).
Tactically, it puts off potential allies and, worse, unnecessarily feeds the fury of some Trump supporters who see themselves as victims, and makes more difficult any eventual, even partial, societal accommodation on relatively less searing issues.
If you're going to make distinctions, journalists, don't stop before the final edit.
New NYT Public Editor: Please note this.
Besides being inherently error-prone (way too many exceptions), it violates how we're supposed to judge others if, indeed, it is necessary to judge (by individual character).
Tactically, it puts off potential allies and, worse, unnecessarily feeds the fury of some Trump supporters who see themselves as victims, and makes more difficult any eventual, even partial, societal accommodation on relatively less searing issues.
If you're going to make distinctions, journalists, don't stop before the final edit.
New NYT Public Editor: Please note this.
4
I'd much rather have one insult than lie their way to the White House.
P.S. Political correctness is the worst form of lying, as the practitioners indulge in lying to themselves and (worse) to their children.
P.S. Political correctness is the worst form of lying, as the practitioners indulge in lying to themselves and (worse) to their children.
5
Speaking respectfully is a form of lying? Who knew?
18
The phrase "political correctness" has become a migraine headache that blots out every thought we might have on the topic of how to get along or how to give a leg up to new folk or folk who have been overlooked. What comedians have in common that D.T. lacks is a sensitivity to social cues. They are acutely aware of how to interact, regardless of whether they poke fun at people who are tone deaf to social cues (like Jerry Seinfeld), or whether they enact tone-deafness themselves (like Larry David). They all heighten awareness of how humans in our society are expected to socialize. D.T. enacts tone-deafness but he deadens awareness of how adequately socialized humans are supposed to behave. It may be that billionaires lack the gene that regulates how to read social cues, or immense wealth obviates the need to read social cues, and that D.T. is a ridiculously exaggerated example of this disability, but whichever is the proper diagnosis, the upshot is, D.T. is incapable of humor. He is at best a parody of humor. If we expand Jesse Joyce's metaphor and say humor is like a samurai sword, than D.T. is like a guy who straps dynamite to his chest and blows himself up in a crowd: an absurd, horrific, reductio ad absurdum of rage, but not funny.
6
I kind of resent the constant association between "white male" and "Trump supporter." He most assuredly does not speak for me.
9
He sure doesn't speak for blacks, Hispanics, or women -- doesn't that leave white men? And doesn't the polling data support that conclusion?
6
He's not politically correct = it's ok for us to be racist. His followers now have permission to say all the hateful racist things they've been thinking for a long time.
As far as`humor goes, you have to be able to appreciate the double entendres in a statement or joke. You have to be smart enough to understand what's being implied. I'm not sure if Donald is.
When you feel like you have to make statements like, "I have a good brain," and "I know all the best words," it's more likely than not that they aren't true. People say Donald is smart enough- I don't see it. He took an inheritance that put in an index fund would have grown to $10 billion. Now there is some doubt that he's worth $1 billion.
So it's taken him 20? years to lose $9 billion. Is that a good deal? A good businessman? Very smart? Donald seems very average. I think he spends all his time to cover up that fact.
As far as`humor goes, you have to be able to appreciate the double entendres in a statement or joke. You have to be smart enough to understand what's being implied. I'm not sure if Donald is.
When you feel like you have to make statements like, "I have a good brain," and "I know all the best words," it's more likely than not that they aren't true. People say Donald is smart enough- I don't see it. He took an inheritance that put in an index fund would have grown to $10 billion. Now there is some doubt that he's worth $1 billion.
So it's taken him 20? years to lose $9 billion. Is that a good deal? A good businessman? Very smart? Donald seems very average. I think he spends all his time to cover up that fact.
28
I think people are confusing winning with "wining". Dangerous Donald is a vulgar winer about anything that doesn't benefit Donald Trump!! Clearly we do not need a "White House Winer" as President. I hope as Americans we all want better than that to lead our country.
9
perhaps you mean whining
we know he's not a winer, he does not imbibe.
we know he's not a winer, he does not imbibe.
Well, his campaign is a sick joke. And senators (R) voting to permit those on terrorist watch lists to purchase assault rifles is sick, but not a joke. Some stuff is, just, not funny.
37
On the other hand, I would pay good money to see President Obama at a laugh factory.
18
I am a white 56 year old male and thing drumpf is repulsive.
So, please come up with a different way way to describe those that support him.
Be negative if you have to and describe them as "Morons" for that is what they are and the true definition. Or if you must, morally bankrupt!
So, please come up with a different way way to describe those that support him.
Be negative if you have to and describe them as "Morons" for that is what they are and the true definition. Or if you must, morally bankrupt!
20
Why pile on Trump?
Is it better to insult constituents through obfuscation and use political office for personal gain?
Frankly, who hasn't felt the effect of the major insult of Citizens United? When a PAC has more influence than the will of the people that US a bigger insult.
Is it better to insult constituents through obfuscation and use political office for personal gain?
Frankly, who hasn't felt the effect of the major insult of Citizens United? When a PAC has more influence than the will of the people that US a bigger insult.
4
Deeds not words.. or words and deeds?
Why not publish the entire Clinton record-- and should he be allowed back in the white House for a third term??
why the noise about escalating the war from unnamed diplomats.. (names please---) and why now? NYTimes you can relax Trump is hoisting himself on his own petard- as the say8ing goes.. but I am concerned about Mr. Nobel-prize winner for peace continuing the war which Sec. Clinton has long indicated as I understand it that she wants to escalate. So let's see what is the lesser of the various evils-- building a war, closing the borders or bombing distant peoples to smithereens.. CHoiCE.. (Gun control is just a diversionalong with abortion -- and why not raise the interest rate-- and why make ore banks too big to fail? Trump needs to just slow down his noise making.. then decide.
Why not publish the entire Clinton record-- and should he be allowed back in the white House for a third term??
why the noise about escalating the war from unnamed diplomats.. (names please---) and why now? NYTimes you can relax Trump is hoisting himself on his own petard- as the say8ing goes.. but I am concerned about Mr. Nobel-prize winner for peace continuing the war which Sec. Clinton has long indicated as I understand it that she wants to escalate. So let's see what is the lesser of the various evils-- building a war, closing the borders or bombing distant peoples to smithereens.. CHoiCE.. (Gun control is just a diversionalong with abortion -- and why not raise the interest rate-- and why make ore banks too big to fail? Trump needs to just slow down his noise making.. then decide.
3
Did you check this before hitting 'send"? It's a bit of a mess.
16
Thank you, CL, some folks should just not comment!
13
Just a fantasy:
We go back in time and find a video on twitter of the the candidate accepting the ice-bucket challenge. The bucket is dumped, the thatch goes limp, and the bald pate (pate, not pâté... chopped liver) emerges into daylight for the first time. Which is the worst humiliation? The emperor has no hair, or the emperor has to donate $100 to charity?
The crowd roars.
We go back in time and find a video on twitter of the the candidate accepting the ice-bucket challenge. The bucket is dumped, the thatch goes limp, and the bald pate (pate, not pâté... chopped liver) emerges into daylight for the first time. Which is the worst humiliation? The emperor has no hair, or the emperor has to donate $100 to charity?
The crowd roars.
6
How many more stories centered around Trump's dysfunctional personality must we read and hear about until the country goes completely mad as all intelligent discourse is drowned out in the noise.
We have barely heard Obama's wisdom over the yelling and screaming in Washington.
Let's hear from the boring people on all sides. They might gain some public notice if the media ran stories on them in the same numbers as Trump stories.
How is the country going to find new political leaders to replace the old guard if we only hear about the clowns.
Trump isn't running to be president, just looking at the campaign infrastructure he has in place tells you that. However, he loves and seems to crave all the attention, just like any celebrity that uses the media to build a brand.
In contrast the press is making Clinton, most likely our next president, as dull as dishwater. Instead of asking her questions with unscripted answers, they leave her unchallenged. That will just make us all more cynical when she is in office and she is not holding to her promises. Republican leadership as well is getting too much sympathy and and not having to answer for their mess.
The op ed pages seem overly worried that serious examination of government and the changes the US needs to make to deal with our politics will result in Trump winning so they continue to write celebrity dirt.
Is that how we will face the future, afraid to speak out because of some idiot japing in the corner.
We have barely heard Obama's wisdom over the yelling and screaming in Washington.
Let's hear from the boring people on all sides. They might gain some public notice if the media ran stories on them in the same numbers as Trump stories.
How is the country going to find new political leaders to replace the old guard if we only hear about the clowns.
Trump isn't running to be president, just looking at the campaign infrastructure he has in place tells you that. However, he loves and seems to crave all the attention, just like any celebrity that uses the media to build a brand.
In contrast the press is making Clinton, most likely our next president, as dull as dishwater. Instead of asking her questions with unscripted answers, they leave her unchallenged. That will just make us all more cynical when she is in office and she is not holding to her promises. Republican leadership as well is getting too much sympathy and and not having to answer for their mess.
The op ed pages seem overly worried that serious examination of government and the changes the US needs to make to deal with our politics will result in Trump winning so they continue to write celebrity dirt.
Is that how we will face the future, afraid to speak out because of some idiot japing in the corner.
14
The saddest part is how the press/media have been taken in by the stage management. For the past 18 months (or more at this stage) they appear to have been jumping from one sound bite to the next or one talking point to the next that make the headlines/banners they think will deliver the eyeballs and "likes" without any consideration of reality or greater context of an issue or campaign. Where is Dave Berg when you need him?
4
"And on Twitter, his favorite rapid response platform, canine comparisons run amok.." Why didn't I see it before? The insults... the canine references... even his name, for God's sake! Trump is ripping off Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. "Triumph" is just a simple anagram of "Hi, Trump"!
7
One of the factors in this election that the media has shown to have a tin ear is the effect that a huge comic presence in the electronic media can have on this election. We are light years from the wife and mother in law jokes of my youth,now every comic is a political satirists with a permanent platforms on a myriad of shows, all bashing Trump on a daily basis- since he gives them material on a daily basis. He is one golden goose that they are ready to kill, and its hard to see how his campaign can succeed with this constant bombardment of ridicule for the next four months.
5
US politics is such an insult to intelligence that many people don't want anything to do with it and never vote at all. The two state-issued political parties compete to depress each other's turnout.
9
"But Mr. Trump’s style of playground humor is appealing to people (specifically, white men) who are feeling that they aren’t in on the joke."
Are "white men"... sore losers? Perhaps Mzzz. Roller wants to ban "white men". Except the guilty liberal ones.
All white men are equal. Some white men are more equal than others.
Are "white men"... sore losers? Perhaps Mzzz. Roller wants to ban "white men". Except the guilty liberal ones.
All white men are equal. Some white men are more equal than others.
3
Donald Trump is the villain in the "red nosed clown.' aka "quick wit and rapid reply," joke. The punch line of that joke is simultaneously too crude to print here, and the correct answer to Trump's "insults."
If Trump's insults had any wit or point to them people might laugh, but they never do. They are just the stupid name-calling you expect from a 12-year-old bully with an IQ of 85.
There's no Mark Twain, G.B.. Shaw, Dorothy Parker, or Winston Churchill in Trump ... none at all.
If Trump's insults had any wit or point to them people might laugh, but they never do. They are just the stupid name-calling you expect from a 12-year-old bully with an IQ of 85.
There's no Mark Twain, G.B.. Shaw, Dorothy Parker, or Winston Churchill in Trump ... none at all.
12
"canine comparisons run amok"
DOGGEREL
He's a buffoon
She's Hillaryous
Barks like a dog
Situation precarious.
DOGGEREL
He's a buffoon
She's Hillaryous
Barks like a dog
Situation precarious.
2
Yes, Donald Trump can win the presidency by insulting and name calling . He defeated 16 qualified Republican candidates (senators and governors) without spending much money. American voters are politically naïve and ignorant. As long as Trump has FOX TV and right wing talk radio, he can win using fear mongering , insulting and name calling.
13
Can we please stop referring to Trump's supporters as being just "White men"? I am a white man and I in no way support Donald Trump. You need to be honest here and add the additional adjectives that we all know is implied yet rarely stated; Poorly educated white man. Trump supporters are primarily poorly educated white men and women and that should be made clear when ever you are talking about Trump supporters,
23
The sad thing is that they aren't all poorlyl educated people. The scary thing is that there are lots of people like many of the retirees down here who were educated, very successful in business and will still vote for Trump. I hear it all the time at the local Country Club from some otherwise very nice people. It is really hard when you are married to one as I am! They were raised conservative and can't stop thinking that the Republican way is the only way. I'm one counter vote, but there aren't very many of us here in SC.
8
And many of those white men and women have been pushed out of the economy via various "free" trade deals, which are only going to continue. But hey, let's pile it on! Let's cheer for another trade deal! Let's continue to ignore the source of anger and discontent in the USA. It's not all about racism and sexism. But those are easy handles to grab. Easy to sneer at.
2
Trade deals are easy to sneer at too. Maybe someone can list the provisions of the trade deals that caused them to lose their job. Or, since that would probably be a little difficult, they could imagine that the work they did was made obsolete by not only people willing to do it cheaper, but even more so by automation and other efficiencies in the supply chain.
Saddle makers and buggy whip makers were forced out of their jobs by a changing economy and this will only continue. The issue is not trade deals, but the lack of support from society (through government) to the people whose life is disrupted by economic change.
It seems the people who scream "personal responsibility" the loudest are the same people who blame others for their lot in life when the world throws them a curveball
Saddle makers and buggy whip makers were forced out of their jobs by a changing economy and this will only continue. The issue is not trade deals, but the lack of support from society (through government) to the people whose life is disrupted by economic change.
It seems the people who scream "personal responsibility" the loudest are the same people who blame others for their lot in life when the world throws them a curveball
3
Harry Kondabolu got it right, Trump's humor does make him effective. When Jeb Bush tried to be emphatic, and Trump cheerfully said something like "Showing more energy, Jeb! I like that!" it was remarkably effective, reinforcing the low-energy insult while also showing he didn't take it too seriously. Bob Dole was the last Republican candidate who publicly revealed that kind of humor and hopefully it will do Trump as much good as it did Dole. The one time W showed that kind of humor was his remarkable appraisal after the party was whupped n the 2006 elections.
2
The rich, narcissistic and entitled high school kid wants to continue his ways now in the adult world. Instead of adapting, and becoming more mature and disciplined, he wants to change it his way, but is finding that the grown-ups won't accept. The aging kid can't part with his ways, and makes more noise than ever, not realizing he is becoming increasingly annoying and irrelevant
A fish out of the water dies soon, unable to figure out how to get oxygen in its new environment (air). That's Trump's story, writing itself, now.
A fish out of the water dies soon, unable to figure out how to get oxygen in its new environment (air). That's Trump's story, writing itself, now.
13
Trump has no public service record and his business record is appalling. He bankrupted casinos, for heaven's sake.
Trump's campaign rhetoric is mostly composed of logical fallacies-- ad hominem (name calling) and glittering generalities. "Build a wall and deport them all" miserably fails the efficacy test. The Great Wall of China was a colossal failure and we don't have infrastructure to get millions of illegal immigrants to the border.
The GOP has betrayed us, over and over again, but this betrayal-- enabling Trump to become the GOP nominee-- dwarfs all prior betrayals. They insult us with his candidacy. How can we continue to take them seriously when so many of them abandon even a pretense of common sense and declare their support for Trump? We can't.
Now in the wake of Orlando the Senate has rejected four timid gun control proposals, shamelessly demonstrating yet again that far too many of our elected representatives are gutless wonders, more wedded to NRA campaign cash than concerned about public safety.
This is not a comedy. It's no laughing matter. It's a uniquely American tragedy.
Trump's campaign rhetoric is mostly composed of logical fallacies-- ad hominem (name calling) and glittering generalities. "Build a wall and deport them all" miserably fails the efficacy test. The Great Wall of China was a colossal failure and we don't have infrastructure to get millions of illegal immigrants to the border.
The GOP has betrayed us, over and over again, but this betrayal-- enabling Trump to become the GOP nominee-- dwarfs all prior betrayals. They insult us with his candidacy. How can we continue to take them seriously when so many of them abandon even a pretense of common sense and declare their support for Trump? We can't.
Now in the wake of Orlando the Senate has rejected four timid gun control proposals, shamelessly demonstrating yet again that far too many of our elected representatives are gutless wonders, more wedded to NRA campaign cash than concerned about public safety.
This is not a comedy. It's no laughing matter. It's a uniquely American tragedy.
228
Don Rickles is one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. His shtick is just that, a routine he has perfected to a tee. You love him because you know it's an act, have known in fact for a half century.
Rickles makes no bones about being anything but a showman, a comedian who brings the love to each and every performance. After each show Mr. Rickles lets us all in on the joke. He's a pussycat and a good-natured human being. And that's why it's an honor to be insulted by Mr. Warmth and a dishonor to be singled out by Trump.
Don Rickles will be remembered for the ages, for all the laughs and good humor he has brought to millions. He is the complete opposite of Trump, misogynistic jerk who has a serious inferiority complex, a man-child ego who exhibits tell-tale signs of bona fide psychosis.
Rickles is a mensch. Trump is a putz.
DD
Manhattan
Rickles makes no bones about being anything but a showman, a comedian who brings the love to each and every performance. After each show Mr. Rickles lets us all in on the joke. He's a pussycat and a good-natured human being. And that's why it's an honor to be insulted by Mr. Warmth and a dishonor to be singled out by Trump.
Don Rickles will be remembered for the ages, for all the laughs and good humor he has brought to millions. He is the complete opposite of Trump, misogynistic jerk who has a serious inferiority complex, a man-child ego who exhibits tell-tale signs of bona fide psychosis.
Rickles is a mensch. Trump is a putz.
DD
Manhattan
241
Sorry, I can't agree with you. I never found insult humor funny, not by anyone. It also sends out the wrong message and has negative affects.
3
Well, Trump hasn’t called Clinton a hockey puck YET (that we know of).
So … Trump isn’t actually funny because he doesn’t follow the rules of those who say THEY’RE funny; and even those who make money at humor because other people think they’re funny. Yet … some of these guys think he IS at least occasionally funny, only they won’t be voting for him, probably because those who pay them to be funny wouldn’t approve if they did.
We’ll see on November 8 if you can insult your way to the White House. If that’s all he did to win the brass ring, it wouldn’t say much that’s good about him – or us; but, then, I never DID understand why so many millions thought “Celebrity Apprentice” was entertaining.
However, if calling someone “crooked” resonates with a lot of voters because the target of the insult employs questionable means to get ahead and stay there, and people think it’s funny because it IS “accurate”, then the insult goes beyond boorishness to the uncomfortably penetrating. Doesn’t it?
So … Trump isn’t actually funny because he doesn’t follow the rules of those who say THEY’RE funny; and even those who make money at humor because other people think they’re funny. Yet … some of these guys think he IS at least occasionally funny, only they won’t be voting for him, probably because those who pay them to be funny wouldn’t approve if they did.
We’ll see on November 8 if you can insult your way to the White House. If that’s all he did to win the brass ring, it wouldn’t say much that’s good about him – or us; but, then, I never DID understand why so many millions thought “Celebrity Apprentice” was entertaining.
However, if calling someone “crooked” resonates with a lot of voters because the target of the insult employs questionable means to get ahead and stay there, and people think it’s funny because it IS “accurate”, then the insult goes beyond boorishness to the uncomfortably penetrating. Doesn’t it?
9
No. It merely resonates with people who find it within their self-interest to laugh. There are worlds of difference between a joke that makes people laugh because they twig to the fact they're supposed to laugh, and a joke that makes people laugh because it expresses a truth.
MJ:
Few laugh at Trump's charge of "crookedness" leveled at Mrs. Clinton because they THINK they're SUPPOSED to laugh. They laugh because it's a defense-reaction to something they believe is true. This was manifestly evident even in this forum, when Sanders was still thought to be viable and he so overwhelmingly captured the ideological imagination of the commentariat here.
Few laugh at Trump's charge of "crookedness" leveled at Mrs. Clinton because they THINK they're SUPPOSED to laugh. They laugh because it's a defense-reaction to something they believe is true. This was manifestly evident even in this forum, when Sanders was still thought to be viable and he so overwhelmingly captured the ideological imagination of the commentariat here.
1
Richard -- I don't need to call Trump a liar -- Politifact did, gave him the "Liar of the Year award." He appears to be well on track to a repeat.
I doubt he can win the presidency, I wonder whether he will even get the nomination.
Trump got more than 10 million primary votes.
RedState says: "That’s right. Ted Cruz spent a grand total of two and a half days collecting funds in May (because he shut down his campaign), and pulled in a total of about $2.6 million dollars. Trump spent the whole month fundraising, part of which was with the help of the RNC, and took in.. just over $3.1 million dollars."
Trump voters gave him about 33 cents each in May.
Just FMI, as you've turned into Trump's biggest fan on these pages -- how much have you donated to him?
But then have you looked at where his money goes?
I doubt he can win the presidency, I wonder whether he will even get the nomination.
Trump got more than 10 million primary votes.
RedState says: "That’s right. Ted Cruz spent a grand total of two and a half days collecting funds in May (because he shut down his campaign), and pulled in a total of about $2.6 million dollars. Trump spent the whole month fundraising, part of which was with the help of the RNC, and took in.. just over $3.1 million dollars."
Trump voters gave him about 33 cents each in May.
Just FMI, as you've turned into Trump's biggest fan on these pages -- how much have you donated to him?
But then have you looked at where his money goes?
8
I always thought Trump was a little more Archie Bunker than Don Rickles. They both may say the same offensive lines, but Rickles was more self-aware and calculating in his delivery, whereas Trump's misogyny and racial-insensitivity seem more heartfelt and genuine.
94
Heartfelt and genuine describing misogyny and racial insensitivity? I don't think they can really go together.
1
The last person I would categorically called Racist is Donald Trump. He is the only person that can get us out of the whole Obama has buried
d us. Hillary will drag us even dipper. Can anyone imagine another 8 Obama years with Hillary. I cannot. I'm scared. We'll lose (just to name a few) additional middle class jobs for low class jobs.
d us. Hillary will drag us even dipper. Can anyone imagine another 8 Obama years with Hillary. I cannot. I'm scared. We'll lose (just to name a few) additional middle class jobs for low class jobs.
1
idzach, I can't get past your laughable word choices to understand your post:
"get us out of the whole"- correct word to use is "hole"
"Hillary will drag us even dipper"- correct word to use is "deeper"
Really, start paying attention in English class.
"get us out of the whole"- correct word to use is "hole"
"Hillary will drag us even dipper"- correct word to use is "deeper"
Really, start paying attention in English class.
5
Trump has taught his followers that it is okay to make crass and unfunny jokes at others expense. He's also taught them that violence is okay and even welcomed.
Thus I really am worried of what might happen at the convention. It might very well be an excuse for his followers to riot. The GE would be worse, especially when Trump loses.
We've all heard of the home sports team winning a championship and the people getting drunk, violent and crazy. If this happens in November, I believe Trump should be held responsible.
Thus I really am worried of what might happen at the convention. It might very well be an excuse for his followers to riot. The GE would be worse, especially when Trump loses.
We've all heard of the home sports team winning a championship and the people getting drunk, violent and crazy. If this happens in November, I believe Trump should be held responsible.
9
Trump funny? ......I wouldn't call him goodly at humor
4
Don't believe the analogy of a "teenage boy sitting at the back of the classroom" is accurate - Trump doesn't rise to that level of sophistication. He reminds me much more of an 8 year old yelling school yard taunts at other kids. Kids at that age aren't trying to be funny, just mean.
I can still remember being a teenage boy sitting at the back of the classroom making cracks about the teacher, but we were trying to be funny, not mean.
Donald Trump is not trying to be funny, just mean.
I can still remember being a teenage boy sitting at the back of the classroom making cracks about the teacher, but we were trying to be funny, not mean.
Donald Trump is not trying to be funny, just mean.
16
Yep. Schoolyard bully, completely unaffected by (physically) maturing.
8
I think that Donald Trump would be a disaster as president. I support Hillary Clinton as our first woman president. But Trump has woken up the American people to our broken political system. He may yet go down in history as an American hero, of sorts.
George Bush had his "War on Terror" in 2001. I think what we need now is a new "War on ERROR. Terror and error are only one letter apart, but it seems to me there is a world of difference between the two ideas.
While I support Hillary, I am glad for Donald. I hope that Trump can go on exposing the nonsense in our politics, for years to come.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
==============================
George Bush had his "War on Terror" in 2001. I think what we need now is a new "War on ERROR. Terror and error are only one letter apart, but it seems to me there is a world of difference between the two ideas.
While I support Hillary, I am glad for Donald. I hope that Trump can go on exposing the nonsense in our politics, for years to come.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
==============================
30
What I find pretty scary is how close the polls are given how horrible the Republican Party has been and how bad Donald Trump is. How can there be even one person still voting for either.
9
Whether you can insult your way to the White House remains an open question but clearly you can insult your way to being the presumptive Presidential nominee of the Republican Party.
It says a lot about the people who make up today's Republican Party and none of it is good. Come November lets hope it doesn't wind up saying the same thing about the rest of the nation.
It says a lot about the people who make up today's Republican Party and none of it is good. Come November lets hope it doesn't wind up saying the same thing about the rest of the nation.
16
The only thing even remotely funny, in a revoting, nauseating way, about Trumplestiltskin's reflexive insults, is the sheer number of his targets now supporting him.
John McCain? A legitimate war hero who was insulted by a draft dodging chickenhawk who thinks his years in a private military high school make him a veteran? And McCain is blaming Obama for the Orlando shootings.
Sorry, I was wrong. It's impossible to retch and laugh at the same time...
John McCain? A legitimate war hero who was insulted by a draft dodging chickenhawk who thinks his years in a private military high school make him a veteran? And McCain is blaming Obama for the Orlando shootings.
Sorry, I was wrong. It's impossible to retch and laugh at the same time...
15
Not only was that ugly, watching Trump insult a man who had been a POW in Hanoi, but the even sadder thing is watching McCain truckle under to Trump in this election.
It's like Marshall Petain, the aging general of France from WWI, becoming the head of Vichy France, and bowing down to Hitler.
While no fan of John McCain's, I thought better of him than that.
It's like Marshall Petain, the aging general of France from WWI, becoming the head of Vichy France, and bowing down to Hitler.
While no fan of John McCain's, I thought better of him than that.
20
Full negative on Trump is all we hear from Hillary, and in this paper, for some time now.
So it seems both sides are using negative politics. Insulting each other.
I think this is a confession that Americans don't like either candidate. They both seek to win by being the lesser evil. That leaves us agreed on just one thing, they are evil, both of them.
So it seems both sides are using negative politics. Insulting each other.
I think this is a confession that Americans don't like either candidate. They both seek to win by being the lesser evil. That leaves us agreed on just one thing, they are evil, both of them.
4
There's a difference. You could just take a random sample of Trump quotes and it would sound evil. Unbiased truth is only "negative" is the subject is intrinsically "negative".
5
So Mark ... just what 'positive' things are you going to bring forward about Trump?
I'm waiting to hear it. And while you are at it ... where are Trump's friends?
I'm waiting to hear it. And while you are at it ... where are Trump's friends?
18
Clearly recent history has shown that "going full negative" is THE way to win once your opponent has gone there. One only needs to look back at the campaigns run by both of the Bush's: A candidate ignores what history has proven at their own peril (Dukakis or Kerry anyone?) The fact that Obama didn't win by going full negative says more about the quality of his opponents, his ability to connect with a very wide segment of the population, and the awful domestic and international situation that the previous administration left the country.
It would be both foolish and naive for Clinton to not bludgeon Trump the Bully, for he is supremely unqualified yet has attracted a legion of minions that should not be ignored. One also must recognize that George W Bush proved that people will believe something untrue if it is repeated often enough and apparently Mr. Trump has taken this lesson to heart. It should also be noted that the Democrats ran far more civil and respectful Primary Campaigns and somehow managed to avoid crude references and innuendo.
It would be a grave mistake if Clinton and the DNC did not take the threat posed by Trump seriously, no matter how ludicrous we may think he is.
It would be both foolish and naive for Clinton to not bludgeon Trump the Bully, for he is supremely unqualified yet has attracted a legion of minions that should not be ignored. One also must recognize that George W Bush proved that people will believe something untrue if it is repeated often enough and apparently Mr. Trump has taken this lesson to heart. It should also be noted that the Democrats ran far more civil and respectful Primary Campaigns and somehow managed to avoid crude references and innuendo.
It would be a grave mistake if Clinton and the DNC did not take the threat posed by Trump seriously, no matter how ludicrous we may think he is.
76
Well, of course you can. Obama already proved that...twice.
5
"Republicans want dirty air and dirty water"!!!
4
Jeff: Cite your sources that the President insulted his way into the White House - we are waiting........
11
"But I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry; No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, No. 3 ... that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately."
Ouch...
Ouch...
Donald Trump can say awful things indeed, but he seems no longer to be getting away with it. Although the punditocracy often misleads American voters, in aggregate they want a figure with more gravitas than a middle school towel snapper as their president, commander-in-chief and leader of the free world. Indeed, they desire that America remain IN the free world which is hardly assured by the serial Constitution-bashing of Mr. Trump.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
9
And, by going negative on Trump, the Clinton campaign is trying to distract voters from the negatives associated with her.
2
Margo: Obviously you have drunk the GOP koolaid since that article by Bill Safire who called Hillary a "congenital liar" based on a whole bunch of lies he told. He also promoted the Iraq war, which many have chastised Mrs. Clinton for voting for, when in fact she voted to allow GWB to go to war when he provided proof that WMD's were in existence - which we all know that that was a gross lie on the Bush administration's part. But if you like Trump, we understand why.
7
Only if the citizens allow it and it appears many do. We are no longer “One nation, with liberty and justice for all.” We are less focused on competing with the rest of the world than we are focused on competing with our fellow countrymen. We are losing our stature on the world stage. This has provided an opening for the remainder of the world to catch up and take more of a leadership role. This in turn has led to our present frustration.
This country is changing. The country is more politically divided than it has been for generations. The wrestling match within the country revolves around how do we keep our world dominance. The GOP, believes we can bully our way back to dominance and implement an austerity program geared towards the working class and poor. The Democrats are not addressing the problem at all but rather want to buy their popularity with programs and no means of paying for them.
No one is thinking long term. The rest of the world is catching up.
The United States was not considered a world power at the beginning of the 1900’s. It was a nation mostly made up of people with roots in Europe. It was still a struggling nation. The 1918 flu pandemic infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide. It killed more people than all the wars of the twentieth century combined, It ravaged families. In my Dad’s family alone more than half of his brothers and sisters were killed by this influenza before he was a teen.
http://lstrn.us/1nw9m6f
This country is changing. The country is more politically divided than it has been for generations. The wrestling match within the country revolves around how do we keep our world dominance. The GOP, believes we can bully our way back to dominance and implement an austerity program geared towards the working class and poor. The Democrats are not addressing the problem at all but rather want to buy their popularity with programs and no means of paying for them.
No one is thinking long term. The rest of the world is catching up.
The United States was not considered a world power at the beginning of the 1900’s. It was a nation mostly made up of people with roots in Europe. It was still a struggling nation. The 1918 flu pandemic infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide. It killed more people than all the wars of the twentieth century combined, It ravaged families. In my Dad’s family alone more than half of his brothers and sisters were killed by this influenza before he was a teen.
http://lstrn.us/1nw9m6f
1
The sad fact is that people get what they deserve and, for the most part, the citizens of this country are crass, classlessm stupid and ignorant....hence the politicians they admire and elect.
There was a brief time, post WW II, when after returning from the fighting in Europe, a burgeoning Middle Class wanted thier children to be better educated and more worldly, than their parents were. With less money than most households have now, the country had a surge of the arts, fine dining, travel and education.
Look at us now. Celebrity without accomplishment. Musical financial sucess to rival Midas without any musical talent or musicianship. Fame for fame sake. Self-centered, self-indulgent and above all selfish. Sound familiar.
Like an alcoholic that must hit rock bottom before it admits it needs help, America needs to go down the tubes in spectacular fashion if there is any chance for it to recover. Donald Trump may be the way to ruin and then after henis gone, salvation.
Perhaps if the people of this country start getting it through their thick heads that America is not, nor was it ever, EXCEPTIONAL, it can start acting with some humility and circumspection ..grow up...act like an adult and start to do a modicum of the things a nation does to look after its citizens.
There was a brief time, post WW II, when after returning from the fighting in Europe, a burgeoning Middle Class wanted thier children to be better educated and more worldly, than their parents were. With less money than most households have now, the country had a surge of the arts, fine dining, travel and education.
Look at us now. Celebrity without accomplishment. Musical financial sucess to rival Midas without any musical talent or musicianship. Fame for fame sake. Self-centered, self-indulgent and above all selfish. Sound familiar.
Like an alcoholic that must hit rock bottom before it admits it needs help, America needs to go down the tubes in spectacular fashion if there is any chance for it to recover. Donald Trump may be the way to ruin and then after henis gone, salvation.
Perhaps if the people of this country start getting it through their thick heads that America is not, nor was it ever, EXCEPTIONAL, it can start acting with some humility and circumspection ..grow up...act like an adult and start to do a modicum of the things a nation does to look after its citizens.
23
Insults are about the only thing left that will get the necessary attention that is needed to bring about reform. The media can make this turmoil about Trump, but it is not about Trump at all, it is about what has been made of politics by the money that has circumvented the process.
The candidate that has insulted his way to the top has done it not so much due to personal disorders as it was to reveal the disfunction of the political establishment in place.
It has worked.
This election year is just the beginning, only the prelude, of the changes to come. This Trump torpedo is a hit, the fact that it may not be fatal is inconsequential because there will be others right behind the first. And all that music, continuously ringing from the orchestra on deck, brings little comfort to those still on board the sinking ship.
The candidate that has insulted his way to the top has done it not so much due to personal disorders as it was to reveal the disfunction of the political establishment in place.
It has worked.
This election year is just the beginning, only the prelude, of the changes to come. This Trump torpedo is a hit, the fact that it may not be fatal is inconsequential because there will be others right behind the first. And all that music, continuously ringing from the orchestra on deck, brings little comfort to those still on board the sinking ship.
5
I have yet to laugh- or even to snicker- at anything The Donald has said. Intentional humor MUST contain at least a grain of wit and an appreciation of humanity. Trump's comments contain neither. He's nasty and he's vile- if anything, he's the opposite of funny. And if he's elected (please, Lord, no!), the country will spend four long years experiencing just how unfunny he is.
47
Well said. I totally agree.
2
He's not funny; he's not trying to be. But insults in the small, warped mind of a massively narcissistic egotist are simply tools to make his insecure self feel better at the expense of those he insults.
That his audiences respond is a sad indictment of our society. This should represent no more than a coarse fringe of our society. That it might be composed of 30% of the population, or, quel horreur, more than that, shows that as a whole, our society has failed.
That his audiences respond is a sad indictment of our society. This should represent no more than a coarse fringe of our society. That it might be composed of 30% of the population, or, quel horreur, more than that, shows that as a whole, our society has failed.
24
The fact is that what establishment politicians say is often pompous and untruthful. By tacit mutual agreement, they don't deflate each other - their common interest in getting or staying elected means a layer of deception about how honest and truthful politicians are, which is also sustained by the media. But with the heightened partisanship generated by Republican racist strategy, this was breaking down before Trump entered the political arena. As a non-politician, Trurmp is subject to limited retaliation when he disparages the career politicians.
2
You say his insults resonate with voters. The current state of his campaign would suggest otherwise.
4
Donald can't even laugh at himself. You never hear self deprecating humor. Too big an ego. The man is just way too self absorbed.
14
Could you tell me something? Has Trump ever claimed to take on sniper fire?
1
Insult your way to the White House? Crooked lying Trump thinks so. And it might come to fruition, horror of horrors, if this "Joker" convinces his adoring yet ignorant and prejudiced fans he is the one to lead them. Now, his insults are convenient props for his utter lack of knowledge and even the willingness to learn. Even his bombast about business prowess is fake, hiding in grandiose emptiness filled, you guessed it, with more puerile insults masked as crude jokes. This vulgar bully is so irresponsible, unpredictable, and impossibly insolent, that it seems impossible to fight back with a reasoned approach. He is shameless; any invective against him, no matter how true,seems to slide off of him like water on oil. Recent discoveries of his malfeasance (Trump's University fiasco, multiple bankruptcies while benefiting personally, unpaid bills to contractors) somehow have not humbled him, made him more impertinent instead, i.e. attacking a judge with Mexican ancestry, and doubling down in rejecting Muslims. If he were to reach the presidency, however, the republican party's corrupted ways will take the brunt of the blame; and the rest of us for not seeing Trump for what he is, a puffed-up egomaniac in search of relevance.
136
The discoveries of his malfeasance is not really recent. They have been around for years. I have been wondering for months why these fact have not been used against Trump. If this had happened, perhaps we would not have Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. (Not that his sixteen opponents were worth voting for either.)
2
Since repeatedly lying to the public has not been an impediment to election - something the past 7 administrations, including the present prevaricators, engaged wholeheartedly in - why should hurling insults, mocking one another, stalking family members or dirt-dishing be especially loathsome? The former is a crime against the people; the latter merely bait for boobs. Leave it to the graying, grating NYT to get it perfectly backwards.
3
Perhaps he should choose for his running mate, Don Rickles....
1
• And on Twitter, his favorite rapid response platform, canine comparisons run amok: : Mitt Romney “choked like a dog”; Glenn Beck “got fired like a dog”; Kristen Stewart “cheated on” Robert Pattinson “like a dog.” (It makes you wonder if Mr. Trump knows what dogs do on a day-to-day basis....
I would take any Canine comparison as a compliment.
"There is honor in being a Dog." ~ ARISTOTLE
“Here, Gentlemen, a Dog teaches us a lesson in humanity.” ~ NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
"The dog represents all that is best in man." ~ ETIENNE CHARLET
BONAPARTE
"Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." ~ GEORGE ELIOT
"Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” ~ JOHN GROGAN
"A Dog is not 'almost human,' and I know of no greater insult to the Canine race than to describe it as such." ~ JOHN HOLMES
"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love and loyalty. They depart to teach us about loss." ~ ERICA JONG
“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the Dog." ~ FRANZ KAFKA
“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do.
But we can.” ~ JON KATZ
“His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend." ~ RUDYARD KIPLING
"Dogs are our link to paradise." ~ MILAN KUNDERA
Only up to "K" and almost out of characters. Want more?
http://www.from-the-doghouse.com/Canine_Quotes.html
I would take any Canine comparison as a compliment.
"There is honor in being a Dog." ~ ARISTOTLE
“Here, Gentlemen, a Dog teaches us a lesson in humanity.” ~ NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
"The dog represents all that is best in man." ~ ETIENNE CHARLET
BONAPARTE
"Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." ~ GEORGE ELIOT
"Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” ~ JOHN GROGAN
"A Dog is not 'almost human,' and I know of no greater insult to the Canine race than to describe it as such." ~ JOHN HOLMES
"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love and loyalty. They depart to teach us about loss." ~ ERICA JONG
“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the Dog." ~ FRANZ KAFKA
“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do.
But we can.” ~ JON KATZ
“His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend." ~ RUDYARD KIPLING
"Dogs are our link to paradise." ~ MILAN KUNDERA
Only up to "K" and almost out of characters. Want more?
http://www.from-the-doghouse.com/Canine_Quotes.html
7
I have always hated Don Rickles. He was a mean churl. So is Trump. The American worship of the playground bully comes at a high social cost. If you don't think so, the shooter at Pulse was one of its products.
America needs to sober up and it needs to re-evaluate its socialization of boys.
America needs to sober up and it needs to re-evaluate its socialization of boys.
20
I never got Rickles, either. But I will say in Rickles' defense that Trumplestiltskin is a model hockey puck.
39
I always enjoyed Don Rickles. He overdid the persona just enough that you understood it was all an act and the twinkle in his eye told you that behind that act there was a truly lovable guy.
Trump is the exact opposite, and not even funny.
Trump is the exact opposite, and not even funny.
8
Finally we have some one with the tenacity, and capacity to hit Hillary right between the eyes, and win. for all practical purposes, Bernie is still out there making noise.
The Donald, like the Biblical Samson, seeks to slay his opponents with the jawbone of an ass!
4
A good look at the "humor" of a pathetic man.
2
I look forward to laughing at his consesion speech!
6
And hey, it's going to get worse, what with this guy Manafort, Putin's handyman in the Ukraine and other international thugs. Need a good profile on that guy as he takes over for Don the Con.
5
To make light of his racist, xenophobic, sexist hate speech and call it "politically incorrect" and comparable to any comic is ridiculous in the extreme. He is a demagogue, is dangerous, and is inciting violence every time he opens his mean mouth. There is nothing funny about him and this column just gives him more free publicity in keeping with how the press has treated him all along.
22
While Mr. Trump is a unique, one-of-a-kind candidate
The real answer to the question as to whether or not a candidate can/could insult their way to the white house depends less on the Candidate, than it does on the electorate
Of course this is a simplification, because the equation is very complex and concerns not simply Candidate & electorate, but is also determined by the exact insults, and their context. It is also heavily influenced by the social and political mood/environment of the country as well
In this particular case, the answer is that Mr. Trump WAS able to more or less insult his way to the GOP nomination
However, it is impossible to believe that he would be able to insult his way through the General Election before the entire electorate
Many people believe that if he had intelligently pivoted after Indiana, he might have been able to beat HRC, but he simply was too full of himself, to change into a normal candidate after the unexpected success he had with his flamboyant previous run before a population of just base-Republicans.
The real answer to the question as to whether or not a candidate can/could insult their way to the white house depends less on the Candidate, than it does on the electorate
Of course this is a simplification, because the equation is very complex and concerns not simply Candidate & electorate, but is also determined by the exact insults, and their context. It is also heavily influenced by the social and political mood/environment of the country as well
In this particular case, the answer is that Mr. Trump WAS able to more or less insult his way to the GOP nomination
However, it is impossible to believe that he would be able to insult his way through the General Election before the entire electorate
Many people believe that if he had intelligently pivoted after Indiana, he might have been able to beat HRC, but he simply was too full of himself, to change into a normal candidate after the unexpected success he had with his flamboyant previous run before a population of just base-Republicans.
1
The professional comedians may not think much of Trump's jokes but the circus clowns must love his pants.
7
Naaah - too small!
1
Trying to figure out if Revolting Donnie T is funny is a useless enterprise because he is not. In my opinion, he is nothing more than a sad man, a victim of a very most neglectful chilhood and who is now consumed by his Narcissistic Personality disorder. He would be such a pathetic figure if it was not because of his attempt to become president and his rallying of all his intellectually challenged people that think such a man could be president.
7
Compared to "scratch your nails down a chalkboard" Clinton, Trump is hilarious. Although both candidates are jokes and the election is black humor without the punch line.
3
Everyone is trying to 'understand' Donald Trump.
Is he a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, a flaming jerk, or a brilliant politician?
I opt for the fact that he is the most dangerous man on the planet because of his underhanded method of seduction. Sort of like old Adolf. He is appealing to some of our worst unconscious predilections.
Fortunately he will be given the boot, big time and concomitantly he will bring down the house of fools, the GOP.
It may be the case that we had to endure this very sad mad, with all his personal baggage. At least it was entertaining. But then again, most horror shows are also entertaining.
Is he a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, a flaming jerk, or a brilliant politician?
I opt for the fact that he is the most dangerous man on the planet because of his underhanded method of seduction. Sort of like old Adolf. He is appealing to some of our worst unconscious predilections.
Fortunately he will be given the boot, big time and concomitantly he will bring down the house of fools, the GOP.
It may be the case that we had to endure this very sad mad, with all his personal baggage. At least it was entertaining. But then again, most horror shows are also entertaining.
5
The unmentioned horror in this column is that the GOP is actually "supporting" his run for the presidency, despite the fact that I have never actually heard the Donald say exactly what his plan for the next four years is.
He measures his "success" by the yardstick of the "Art of the Deal"... which is about winning, with nothing of substance. It is like a bride who races to the wedding with no thought of the lifetime beyond or what a marriage is. Even discounting his obscene rhetoric, he is an abomination in this election year. It is sad that the GOP had no substantial candidates to put on their ticket. In full disclosure, I am a leftie liberal, but spent many years in my youth in DC amid the history that is made by our government. I simply cannot imagine this man as a part of that world.
He measures his "success" by the yardstick of the "Art of the Deal"... which is about winning, with nothing of substance. It is like a bride who races to the wedding with no thought of the lifetime beyond or what a marriage is. Even discounting his obscene rhetoric, he is an abomination in this election year. It is sad that the GOP had no substantial candidates to put on their ticket. In full disclosure, I am a leftie liberal, but spent many years in my youth in DC amid the history that is made by our government. I simply cannot imagine this man as a part of that world.
12
What's more appropriate as we enter "the dog days of summer" than to have a "dog-and-pony" show posing as a Presidential campaign that is beyond laughable and hopefully truly is "going to the dogs" with it bigoted ignorance and intolerance. I'd laugh, but I'm terrified that I might wake up in November to find this non-P.C. (as in Potty-mouthed Challenged) non-house-trained dog barking in The White House.
4
This is an interesting column, but it misses the central point. The comics that we find funny even when they say things that discomfit us are not perceived by us as mean or intentionally hurtful. When Donald Trump insults someone, most of the time he intends to wound. That is not funny.
10
It was made clear in this weekend's article regarding the relationship between the presumptive GOP'er nominee and Roy Cohn, his lawyer of 13 years who was Joseph McCarthy's top aide in the 1950's, and who paved DT's entree into Manhattan:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/us/politics/donald-trump-roy-cohn.html...®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Trending&pgtype=article
that these learned tactics were successful in making DT what he's become.
The tactics are who he is, except we probably don't really even know the half of it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/us/politics/donald-trump-roy-cohn.html...®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Trending&pgtype=article
that these learned tactics were successful in making DT what he's become.
The tactics are who he is, except we probably don't really even know the half of it.
27
R Law: Yes, after reading the articles about Trump getting advice from Cohn, you see where he learned to lie, and with the best of them. Cohn up to the moment he died said he had liver cancer, not AIDS, which is what he really had. I read the article that his cousin wrote about his last six months and how he asked him point blank if he had AIDS, and he didn't blink an eye, but lied to his cousin. And Trump truly loved Roy Cohn and after he had defended in one of his multitude of lawsuits, and Trump sent Roy a pair of diamond encrusted cuff links, which after Roy died, were found to be fakes. I think those things truly show the kind of character that Trump has - lies and fake adoration. To think he might be the next POTUS is unthinkable.
11
Cruelty is funny to certain personality types and becomes extremely toxic when it's performed to diminish entire groups of people. Trump is sui generis but he has found his correct tribe. People who fear losing status in a social hierarchy are "conservative". Anyone who has conservative friends and family knows the e-mails that might contain, for example, "humorous" jabs at overweight women of color. I've seen this stuff and wonder who would laugh at powerless people. Well, there's Rush Limbaugh for one. Others like Ann Coulter are even celebrated for their "performance art". What we intuitively get is that these people are damaged. The last thing you do is vote for one of them to be president.
112
Trump and Don Rickles have a lot in common, but when you do it as representing the United States among dignitaries, you don't fit.
Where's the "class?" We don't see anything that gives us hope that our country will be well represented, but for third world meetings.
Sure, public relations is often over-rated, but there is a need for decorum from time to time-- Trump doesn't show it: he is not "Presidential."
The Democratic Party was well represented by Barrack Obama; one would hope that Republicans had someone dignity representing the United States, but it's a "no show." Trump just doesn't fit.
Where's the "class?" We don't see anything that gives us hope that our country will be well represented, but for third world meetings.
Sure, public relations is often over-rated, but there is a need for decorum from time to time-- Trump doesn't show it: he is not "Presidential."
The Democratic Party was well represented by Barrack Obama; one would hope that Republicans had someone dignity representing the United States, but it's a "no show." Trump just doesn't fit.
24
Over the last three weeks, these short Trump stories, if combined, really create a frightening picture of someone in need of some serious therapy. This campaign, which will push every Freudian button, might see him go into full crack up mode at some remote campaign event. You know, the full Caine Mutiny scene, talking to himself on stage while rolling spare cufflinks in his small hands.
33
Excited to watch The Donald go to work on Hillary, She wants to be President, you have to go through the storm. Pass the popcorn.
2
Hillary will do just fine. People have been taking shots at her for 25 years, and it hasn't fazed her yet. Trump, on the other hand, is as thin-skinned as they come. He takes every little slight personally and his ego can't take the mildest suggestion of an insult. He'll be the one going through the storm, and it will indeed be entertaining to watch him puff and blow and sputter. Can't wait.
235
Or watch Hillary to to work on The Donald.
Expect her to be much more effective, more easily -- just continuing to remind us what he's saying.
Expect her to be much more effective, more easily -- just continuing to remind us what he's saying.
31
Hillary is capable of handling Donald Trump.
Thanks but no thanks for popcorn.
Thanks but no thanks for popcorn.
23
Is it fare to compare the all time insulter comedian Don Rickles to Trump ?
No, I seriously doubt that Mr. Rickels is a Trump supporter.
Trump has no ethics, no veneer, a very thin skinned insecure man.
The United States we see now, yes he can unless his family institutionalize this corrupt insane man.
No, I seriously doubt that Mr. Rickels is a Trump supporter.
Trump has no ethics, no veneer, a very thin skinned insecure man.
The United States we see now, yes he can unless his family institutionalize this corrupt insane man.
10
I hate that the children of this country have been exposed to this vile person. His rhetoric will cause suffering far into the future.
60
Thank you for a hilarious column! I especially liked the image of Trump redacting the punchlines to jokes! That is an absolutely brilliant characterization, equally amusing and horrifying.
30
The huge popularity of stand-up comedy (which I love) is not unrelated to Trump's appeal. It's not just insult humor. The overwhelming comic technique of our time is exaggeration, and while laughter is good, it has also coarsened our overall discourse and helped Trump to appeal to many Americans who just a generation ago would have found him out of bounds and beyond the pale. An unintended consequence of the humor of our era but a consequence just the same.
3
"Can You Insult Your Way to the White House?"
If you have tens of millions of voters who that angry at the status quo you can.
Doesn't mean they won't regret their success but in the moment, it's a big middle finger to all facets of 'the establishment'.
If you have tens of millions of voters who that angry at the status quo you can.
Doesn't mean they won't regret their success but in the moment, it's a big middle finger to all facets of 'the establishment'.
7
I've never met a narcissist with a sense of humor. DT is no exception.
71
I can't wait until November, when the Democrats get to say to Trump: "The jokes on you! You're fired."
21
'I can't wait until November, when the Democrats get to say to Trump: "The joke[']s on you! You're fired." '
If the Republicans had a shred of concern for the welfare of this country, they'd fire Donald Trump tomorrow.
If the Republicans had a shred of concern for the welfare of this country, they'd fire Donald Trump tomorrow.
7
"If the Republicans had a shred of concern for the welfare of this country..."
They don't, and have proven it repeatedly over the last 20 years, if not fully 36.
They put lip service on a pig...
They don't, and have proven it repeatedly over the last 20 years, if not fully 36.
They put lip service on a pig...
12
Trump is getting a bad rap for being divisive and offensive.
But by attacking minorities in America, instead of dividing us he is actually uniting us...against him. He is like a malevolent alien being that America is rallying together to fight. Civilization is at risk!
Yes, he is offensive, but who actually suffers from his childish insults? If a 12-year old child calls you an offensive name, do you feel hurt? Do you take it to heart? Or do you feel a mix of sadness, anger and disgust at his lack of good parents, lack of good upbringing, lack of family values and decency? When a child continues with unruly and offensive outbursts, it is pitiful, pathetic, annoying, but certainly not funny.
But by attacking minorities in America, instead of dividing us he is actually uniting us...against him. He is like a malevolent alien being that America is rallying together to fight. Civilization is at risk!
Yes, he is offensive, but who actually suffers from his childish insults? If a 12-year old child calls you an offensive name, do you feel hurt? Do you take it to heart? Or do you feel a mix of sadness, anger and disgust at his lack of good parents, lack of good upbringing, lack of family values and decency? When a child continues with unruly and offensive outbursts, it is pitiful, pathetic, annoying, but certainly not funny.
21
Values and decency...add on respect and dignity. Where are they in this candidate? Sad state of affairs for the USA.
4
"And on Twitter, his favorite rapid response platform...": are his main followers, disgruntled older white men, really Twitter users?? It seems unlikely. Journalists are probably his most useful Twitter followers - how about just a moratorium on citing Trump tweets by the press? It might go a long way toward ending his billions in free advertising.
32
I always understood that the laughter at Don Rickles' insults were reinforced by the understanding that he allowed HIMSELF to be the ultimate target. Rickles had the gift of self-humor and knew that his diminutive physical presence, baldness and bulging eyes made him a Rumplestiltskin who had no real power over his targets, except for the brilliance of his language. Rickles also let people see indications of his inner kindness, which made him attractively human.
Trump, however considers himself to be a god. His impotent worshippers will turn on him once it is clear that Trump is actually nothing at all.
Trump, however considers himself to be a god. His impotent worshippers will turn on him once it is clear that Trump is actually nothing at all.
22
Trump does not have as much of someone's money for campaign to burn as does Clinton and so he has been spending his own money and whatever little money he has raised very effectively and successfully to gain the Republican nomination. Jeb Bush insulted Rubio during the debate and he also insulted Trump and others and spent millions on attack ads and where did that get him? No where fast. To answer the question can you insult your way to the white house. In my humble opinion, not if that is all you are doing. Insults have been a molehill compared to the mountain of ideas and proposed policies that Trump has stated in his rallies and his press conferences. He has articulated his vision and has emphasized what ails America. He has artfully used effectively a sprinkling of insults of those who have been critical of him to aggressively tell his side of the story and to crush the war mongering career politicians who according to most do not deserve any better treatment. Trump has exposed the timidity of the democratic administration in dealing with the failed middle east policies of their own doing that have resulted in the emergence of a brutal and barbaric force called ISIS that has resulted in the most miserable and destabilizing migration from countries which were stable before President Obama took office and placed Secretary Clinton in charge of foreign policy. Trump has focused on Jobs and national security and that could well be his ticket to the white house not insults.
4
"He has articulated his vision ..."
Trump has vision? Which planet are you on?
Trump has vision? Which planet are you on?
21
Saying something "political" and saying something the is "incorrect" does not make you politically incorrect. It is a reflection of your ignorance and your arrogance.
3
Yet to be proven.
4
There's something called the Incongruity Theory of humor, which says that it is the perception of something incongruous—something that violates our mental patterns and expectations--that can make something funny.
The incongruity comes into play because Trump is running for president. We expect a certain degree of seriousness from people who are running for the most important job in the world. So when he said these things about his opponents, we laughed, even though the remarks are lacking in true wit:
On Rand Paul: "I never attacked him on his looks, and believe me, there's plenty of subject matter right there."
On Rick Perry: "He puts on glasses so people will think he's smart. And it just doesn't work. People can see through the glasses."
On Carly Fiorina: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?"
If you had to listen to Donald Trump say these things while sitting next to him on a plane or in a bar or waiting on line at the DMV, he wouldn't be funny at all. He'd be just another witless blowhard.
The incongruity comes into play because Trump is running for president. We expect a certain degree of seriousness from people who are running for the most important job in the world. So when he said these things about his opponents, we laughed, even though the remarks are lacking in true wit:
On Rand Paul: "I never attacked him on his looks, and believe me, there's plenty of subject matter right there."
On Rick Perry: "He puts on glasses so people will think he's smart. And it just doesn't work. People can see through the glasses."
On Carly Fiorina: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?"
If you had to listen to Donald Trump say these things while sitting next to him on a plane or in a bar or waiting on line at the DMV, he wouldn't be funny at all. He'd be just another witless blowhard.
50
Actually. it's all in the when, where and how you deliver the line.. Carley Fiorina with her plastic, surgeon,, who says.... for 10K I can give you a face everyone will vote for.
Actually, out of context these lines are pretty funny.. (any more - we can have a book.. Witticism from the duck.
Actually, out of context these lines are pretty funny.. (any more - we can have a book.. Witticism from the duck.
Actually I found all those lines hysterically funny ..... and I despise the man. Incongruity got me too.
1
Don Rickles comes up a lot. I've collected audio recordings all my life. My house groans with the weight of shellac seventy-eights, vinyl LPs, eight-track, 1/4"cassette, it's all interesting, and I'd never thrown anything away. I picked up a Don Rickles tape at a thrift shop, listened to it in horror and stripped the tape out of it's cartridge to make it forever unplayable. Trump affects me the same way. Roll on November, so that we can put this awfulness behind us and begin to be sane again!
12
Watching a Trump rally and listening to him roll out his litany of repetitive and dull insult jokes, it is worthwhile studying the people behind him. They really seemed primed to raucously roar at his limited vocabulary of juvenile jokes. Just like Trump's political message is tailored to appeal to a certain group, his jokes reflect the fact that he knows his audience.
32
"Can You Insult Your Way to the White House?"
What do you expect from the GOP when it allowed its elected officials to insult President Obama?
The GOP deserves what it is getting!
What do you expect from the GOP when it allowed its elected officials to insult President Obama?
The GOP deserves what it is getting!
235
What's funny about this dog's put-downs is not his words; it's his delivery. He spits out his verbal darts, no matter how banal and repetitious, with relish and a little mustard on the side, putting the full weight of his narcissistic nature into each gem. He may be a dog, but he's the top dog and he wants everyone to know that. It's a good thing he didn't watch too many James
Cagney movies or he would be calling anyone standing in his way a dirty rat.
Cagney movies or he would be calling anyone standing in his way a dirty rat.
24
Donald Trump got Snoop's endorsement ok?
That's good to know when all those Bernie supporters are looking for a Hillary alternative...
That's good to know when all those Bernie supporters are looking for a Hillary alternative...
3
I don't think that Mr Dogg actually endorsed Trump. It was a joke. "Mr. Trump’s sense of humor is about as sharp as a soup spoon. But for his fans, that’s part of the appeal." Guessing you're one of his fans.
12
I guess reading words put together and actually undersatnding what they mean not something Trump fans can easily do. Thank you for proving our point of how intellectually challenged Revolting Donnie T followers are.
6
Trump is the big orange pimple on the gluteus maximus of America. There are lots of those around. The difference is that this one may become POTUS. Oh yes, he can. And while the GOP Bigs try to cut themselves out of the trap they made for themselves, the peanut gallery still applauds the man who tells it like it is. Maybe after Labor Day, people will stop laughing.
22
A large part of the problem for Mr. Trump is his vocabulary of 17 words limits his ability to be funny with insults.
If all you have to work with is: "loser, beautiful wall, sad, gonna be great, I, me, really rich and like a dog" it constrains his ability to show any humor.
A flaming bag of dog dukie, which is what Mr. Trump is, is just not that funny.
If all you have to work with is: "loser, beautiful wall, sad, gonna be great, I, me, really rich and like a dog" it constrains his ability to show any humor.
A flaming bag of dog dukie, which is what Mr. Trump is, is just not that funny.
60
This astute column reflects the bizarre, unprecedented nature of the current election. Ms. Roller and the professional comedians analyze and evaluate Trump as if the ability to mix humor with character assassination belonged in the mental tool kit of every effective president.
Trump's heavyhanded approach to humor, combined with his inability to laugh at himself, do reveal much about his character and intellect. His insults directed at women, for example, which focus on their physical appearance or bodily functions expose a mind too often unaware that effective humor targets a person's behavior, not her physical characteristics. And his failure to understand the barbs directed at himself stem from his discomfort with the painful process of self reflection. Trump ranks as the ultimate extrovert, because a willingness to turn his pitiless gaze inward would not reveal much of substance.
The fact remains, however, that no one would have written a column on a previous candidate analyzing his ability to deliver artful insults. Since Trump has demonstrated an ignorance of key issues worthy of Sarah Palin, along with a gross inability to craft intelligent policies, perhaps his skill as an insult comedian remains the only criterion by which to judge his fitness for high office. This would be akin to evaluating an Olympic sprinter on his ability to trip a competitor.
Clearly, the framers failed to include in the Constitution all the necessary qualifications for president.
Trump's heavyhanded approach to humor, combined with his inability to laugh at himself, do reveal much about his character and intellect. His insults directed at women, for example, which focus on their physical appearance or bodily functions expose a mind too often unaware that effective humor targets a person's behavior, not her physical characteristics. And his failure to understand the barbs directed at himself stem from his discomfort with the painful process of self reflection. Trump ranks as the ultimate extrovert, because a willingness to turn his pitiless gaze inward would not reveal much of substance.
The fact remains, however, that no one would have written a column on a previous candidate analyzing his ability to deliver artful insults. Since Trump has demonstrated an ignorance of key issues worthy of Sarah Palin, along with a gross inability to craft intelligent policies, perhaps his skill as an insult comedian remains the only criterion by which to judge his fitness for high office. This would be akin to evaluating an Olympic sprinter on his ability to trip a competitor.
Clearly, the framers failed to include in the Constitution all the necessary qualifications for president.
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The framers clearly did not anticipate an electorate like the one that the GOP, Fox New, and hate radio has been cultivating for the past 30 years.
12
It seems that we all, and the media loved it for the longest time. Why suddenly we've lost the appetite for it. Maybe because now it is not an attack on his (Trump) fellow republicans, but Hillary. Now we are fearing that he may actually with the White House indeed.
1
Generally, almost everyone has some good characteristics. You have to really search hard to find someone without any redeeming value whatsoever. I have come to the conclusion that Trump has none. He is the definition of the empty suit, the despicable human being. And to top it all off, he's actually quite stupid and completely uninformed. I'm certain he has never read a book. You can't even say he's a good family man/father. He admitted he'd be dating his daughter if he wasn't her father. And we all know what dating means. God, let this be over.
130
Right on. Here is a comment (finally) which captures the true expanse of the odiousness of this candidate.
4
It has been reported that his beside table book is "Mein Kampf."
3
When I hear someone like Scott Baio say "Trump speaks whats in my mind" all I can think is "Mind?", does he have one and if he does what went wrong with it?
72
It's wrong to put Stern in Trump's league. Stern has the quickest on-air brain in the business, and could reduce Trump to stammering "like a dog" if he chose to. He knows that Trump is entertaining so he likes having him on. Which I guess is a little like Trump, in a way. But to suggest that Stern is unfunny is just not correct.
13
Trump and Stern are quite similar, especially with regard to their appeal to a certain demographic: uneducated angry white men.
10
uneducated angry white men who intellectually never grew beyond heir teenage years.
10
Stern is not a comedian. Anyone knows that the easiest way to make little boys laugh is to say "potty" or "doodoo".All Stern does is use the same kind of humor, with bigger words and sex included to appeal to the stunted grown white angry men who never outgrew their pre-school days of potty humor.
4
In order to be an insult comedian one must insult the people in the audience. Donald doesn't do that, he insults people who are definitely not in the audience. That's not comedy and that's not brave. He's a coward and a demagogue. When people say that they love the fact that he is politically incorrect what they mean is how they love that he insults the people not in attendance. If he told the audience that they were morons for believing his act, if he called them idiots for thinking he was presidential or if he let them in on the fact that they were the marks in his elaborate con, they wouldn't appreciate his candor. Don Rickles took on his audience and dared them to laugh. Don Trump takes on everyone but his audience and which means the jokes on them.
378
OK - the media has given him millions worth of free publicity and made him a candidate. Can you please stop writing ridiculous stories about him now. ENOUGH!!!
74
Mcacho38, you nailed it "Dude", How serious can our country be looked upon when Donald Trump does "Schtick" as a serious Presidential candidate? Is our country so shallow that we voted for a no brained movie actor, with a failed movie actress spouse and expect serious policies? We are a disgrace to have these light weights run our nation. We are a the laughing stock of the world. As the late, great Rodney Dangerfield used to say, "I get no respect". and when Trump and company are the best that the U.S. can put up as a world leader, we are in deep manure.
5
> "OK - the media has given him millions worth of free publicity"
REALITY-CHECK: "The Media" didn't give him any 'free publicity"
. . . they public did
If "The Donald" wasn't a ratings-magnet, and didn't draw huge numbers of page-hits, and mouse-clicks, then we'd have never seen him
Go over to Huffingtonpost, and look at all the 'regulars' who fill 80% of their coverage.
IMHO, most of those people don't 'deserve' the wall-to-wall media coverage they attract- but I fully realize that the public at large has outvoted my tastes
REALITY-CHECK: "The Media" didn't give him any 'free publicity"
. . . they public did
If "The Donald" wasn't a ratings-magnet, and didn't draw huge numbers of page-hits, and mouse-clicks, then we'd have never seen him
Go over to Huffingtonpost, and look at all the 'regulars' who fill 80% of their coverage.
IMHO, most of those people don't 'deserve' the wall-to-wall media coverage they attract- but I fully realize that the public at large has outvoted my tastes
2
But the publicity isn't helping him. It paints an accurate picture of an unstable person trying to gain a position of power. The result is that millions of people here in the U.S. and worldwide are honestly outraged and frightened by him. That is the appropriate response to this hideous Trump.
1
Trump is a nut, cashew, almond, Brazil, or whatever. Let's get out the guys in white uniforms and haul him away to the nearest mental hospital. He is ruining the Republican Party and they are letting him do it. Let's bring back Harry Truman who knew how to be president!
7
Except that Trump wouldn't call it a "Brazil nut."
5
This insults the nutritious value of nuts.
Ruining the Repubs, that is a good thing.
May we see these traitors and anarchists go down in a blaze of infamy.
There is absolutely nothing funny about Trump and his Repub party and there never has been.
Ruining the Repubs, that is a good thing.
May we see these traitors and anarchists go down in a blaze of infamy.
There is absolutely nothing funny about Trump and his Repub party and there never has been.
4
Trump isn't funny cuz he isn't kidding.
114
The joke is on us!!
It is very shocking to observe the considerable number of people who believe that Donald Trump "tells it like it is".
When I personally encounter someone like this, I have to wonder, is intelligent debate with this person even a possibility?
When I personally encounter someone like this, I have to wonder, is intelligent debate with this person even a possibility?
258
Intelligent debate is not even a possibility with this person.
12
> "It is very shocking to observe the considerable number of people who believe that Donald Trump "tells it like it is"
I likewise find it shocking to observe the considerable number of people who think that PC-Liberal/Cultural-Marxism constitutes "telling it like it is"
I likewise find it shocking to observe the considerable number of people who think that PC-Liberal/Cultural-Marxism constitutes "telling it like it is"
1
"... is intelligent debate with this person even a possibility?"
Why do you want to "debate"? Have you tried asking questions instead? How do you feel when you are asked a question?
Why do you want to "debate"? Have you tried asking questions instead? How do you feel when you are asked a question?
1
The Times has written countless hit pieces on Trump. The number of these pieces may well have exceeded the number of undecided voters. When is enough enough?
11
Yet, evidently you and others are still presumably reading the articles.
30
It's not just the NYT that is doing this; all of the news outlets are spending countless hours trying to "figure the man out".
This is what happens to people when they find themselves in the presence of a Narcissist. They keep trying to put the narcissist into perspective, to give him the benefit of the doubt despite all evidence to the contrary, to try to fit him into a norm of behavior that makes sense, in this case, the context of Trump becoming, Lord save us all, President of the United States.
It's one thing to recognize the Narcissist for what he is; it's another to recognize what he is doing to the rest of us.
Stop trying to rationalize a Narcissist; it can't be done, and the longer we go on, the longer it will take to extract ourselves from the thrall we are all in.
This is what happens to people when they find themselves in the presence of a Narcissist. They keep trying to put the narcissist into perspective, to give him the benefit of the doubt despite all evidence to the contrary, to try to fit him into a norm of behavior that makes sense, in this case, the context of Trump becoming, Lord save us all, President of the United States.
It's one thing to recognize the Narcissist for what he is; it's another to recognize what he is doing to the rest of us.
Stop trying to rationalize a Narcissist; it can't be done, and the longer we go on, the longer it will take to extract ourselves from the thrall we are all in.
157
Never enough for DT! He's a discusting boor . A true pariah dog. Preserve Democracy/Defeat Trump! by what ever means necessary. Please keep the hit pieces coming ! Let's make him choke on November 8th!
22
It's hard to be funny when you're the joke. It's like watching a dumb guy make fun of smart people. You may cringe, and your grimace may be mistaken for a smile, but it's not funny. It's pathetic.
A man who stands before a crowd and ridicules a physically handicapped person should not be running for president. He should be in counseling to help him understand why we don't tolerate this sort of behavior in civilized society.
A man who stands before a crowd and ridicules a physically handicapped person should not be running for president. He should be in counseling to help him understand why we don't tolerate this sort of behavior in civilized society.
509
Gemli You have hit the nail on the head. The horrible thing is that so many people (mostly white males) agree with him and support him.
36
What civilized society?
7
We will find out in November whether or not this is what appeals to the US voting public. If we end up with a GOP president, and/or a GOP Congress,it does.
2
His next *joke* will be his long awaited *pivot*.
HRC needs to be prepared to evisorate his likely monologue.
"I'm reformed, belive me, am reformed...I've learned, true, have learned...Trump is smart, good new words, new people, good new people, best new people, great people...got money, a lot of money, so much money...
Hey, I've never be a candidate before, never been...polls show, America loves the comeback guy...Trump is America's comeback kid...comeback winner...like LeBron! I know LeBron, good African American, African Americans love me, Hispanics and woman too, love me, true...comeback winner like Cleveland, love Cleveland! We are going to win, win 'til we are tired of winning, win, trust me, win..."
Or the *joke* is on us, on us...
HRC needs to be prepared to evisorate his likely monologue.
"I'm reformed, belive me, am reformed...I've learned, true, have learned...Trump is smart, good new words, new people, good new people, best new people, great people...got money, a lot of money, so much money...
Hey, I've never be a candidate before, never been...polls show, America loves the comeback guy...Trump is America's comeback kid...comeback winner...like LeBron! I know LeBron, good African American, African Americans love me, Hispanics and woman too, love me, true...comeback winner like Cleveland, love Cleveland! We are going to win, win 'til we are tired of winning, win, trust me, win..."
Or the *joke* is on us, on us...
53
Trump is about to become the next "has been." Some people don't get it. Some of my friends are actually going to vote for him. Perhaps a dark horse candidate with impeccable credentials will appear and save the nation.
5
Gerald: anyone who lived through the last eight years and said nothing about the rot of American right-wing politics can not possibly have impeccable credentials. Silence is acceptance. Silence is complicity.
74
It requires talent, resourcefulness, wit and, most of all, the greatest timing imaginable to be funny. It doesn't come naturally to politicians; they know that they cannot have a satchel full of insults ready to throw out to voters like candy to kids on a Saturday morning. There no votes there, for sure.
What separates Donald Trump from humor is his absolute cluelessness. Humor is when the mark gets that he (or she) is the object of the ridicule. It may not be uplifting but it shouldn't be demeaning. Trump intends to insult and debase because he doesn't know any better.
One of Stevie Wonder's greatest lines is "it's not to be cool to be ridiculed but you brought this on yourself", a sharp-edged taunt at the Richard Nixon presidency from his You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet.
It's possible to attack a wicked individual if there's a deeper truth to the dynamic. But to assail Mexicans, for example, as "rapists and drug dealers" is not humor. It's a spear-point aimed at a segment of society designed to do them the most harm by further isolating them from the establishment's ramparts by reinforcing , in this case, a GOP staple: "them vs. us."
To suggest that Trump has the wit and sophistication to mine his speeches with small nuggets deftly placed, almost seemingly at random, to leaven his rallies with something other than the elemental hate that swims at the bottom of his cesspool is, well, beyond his appreciation.
He comes off as quite humorless; mean, sulking, pouty; angry.
What separates Donald Trump from humor is his absolute cluelessness. Humor is when the mark gets that he (or she) is the object of the ridicule. It may not be uplifting but it shouldn't be demeaning. Trump intends to insult and debase because he doesn't know any better.
One of Stevie Wonder's greatest lines is "it's not to be cool to be ridiculed but you brought this on yourself", a sharp-edged taunt at the Richard Nixon presidency from his You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet.
It's possible to attack a wicked individual if there's a deeper truth to the dynamic. But to assail Mexicans, for example, as "rapists and drug dealers" is not humor. It's a spear-point aimed at a segment of society designed to do them the most harm by further isolating them from the establishment's ramparts by reinforcing , in this case, a GOP staple: "them vs. us."
To suggest that Trump has the wit and sophistication to mine his speeches with small nuggets deftly placed, almost seemingly at random, to leaven his rallies with something other than the elemental hate that swims at the bottom of his cesspool is, well, beyond his appreciation.
He comes off as quite humorless; mean, sulking, pouty; angry.
159
Not to nitpick -
From the album, "Fulfillingness' First Finale," the song is "You Haven't Done Nothin'." ..."It's not too cool to be ridiculed but you brought this UPon yourself."
From the album, "Fulfillingness' First Finale," the song is "You Haven't Done Nothin'." ..."It's not too cool to be ridiculed but you brought this UPon yourself."
The sad part of this election is that we have two Nixons: Trump and Clinton.
I have been unable to shake the horror about the "choked like a dog"-metaphor when I first heard it. Thank you for highlighting it here. I'm relieved someone else was disturbed by this really horrific takedown of dogs. Now I learn he's also accusing them of cheating and getting fired. Trump hates dogs!
Yet another sign he's a psychopath, as if we needed more.
Yet another sign he's a psychopath, as if we needed more.
84
Anyone who hates dogs, well they are just a hopeless piece of, well I think you can fill in the blank.
7
BettyK,
there's nothing scary about that metaphor. It's just a poor phrasing.
The way I understand it should've been said, "He/she sounds like a dog choking on its bark."
When a dog is too scared or excited it would literally choke on its barking unable to catch a breath.
I have not listened much to him but still have noticed that Trump neglects full articulation of his thoughts to the point of making sound bites (pun half-intended).
there's nothing scary about that metaphor. It's just a poor phrasing.
The way I understand it should've been said, "He/she sounds like a dog choking on its bark."
When a dog is too scared or excited it would literally choke on its barking unable to catch a breath.
I have not listened much to him but still have noticed that Trump neglects full articulation of his thoughts to the point of making sound bites (pun half-intended).
1
The difference is Rickles is joking and the audience is in on the joke
Trump is a lying humorless racist bully who has taken pettiness
and nastiness to operatic heights.
The GOP has discovered there is nothing funny about
Trump.
Trump is a lying humorless racist bully who has taken pettiness
and nastiness to operatic heights.
The GOP has discovered there is nothing funny about
Trump.
227
Have you discovered that it's not a "GOP"? Or is the joke still on you?
4
I certainly hope not! The nation's top diplomat should actually have a little tact and diplomacy.
17
"Can you insult your way to the White House"? Probably, just as one can charm one's way to the White House, lie (or stretch the truth, it is politics after all) one's way to the White House etc. etc.
Succeeding in campaigning, or convincing the voter is not necessarily connected to how one will perform once elected. Mr. Trump has seemingly insulted his way to a nomination. It is not impossible that the tactic will continue to work. Time will tell.
Succeeding in campaigning, or convincing the voter is not necessarily connected to how one will perform once elected. Mr. Trump has seemingly insulted his way to a nomination. It is not impossible that the tactic will continue to work. Time will tell.
7
Trump is no joke. He is about as funny as cancer.
268
If you do a web search for "cancer jokes", you will find a lot of them -- and cartoons too.
I've had cancer--cancer is funnier
14
What do I find on Kondabolu's wikipedia page?
"After graduating from Bowdoin, Kondabolu worked as an immigrant rights organizer in Seattle, where he began participating in the alternative comedy scene."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_Kondabolu
No bias there, of course. And especially, of course, no mention in the article of the possibility of bias. Because, of course, there can't be any bias, if the subject is Trump and something negative is being said.
Anyway, as any liberal will tell you, facts reported in the Times have a liberal bias. (Or some such thing.)