Ms. Dowd, we are pleased to inform you that your 10/1 apologia scored sufficiently high for you to have satisfied the DNC's "6 panderings" requirement for any NYC metro journalists
As you're aware, the number of panderings vary by geography. For example, someone blogging from their parent's basement in Ohio, making less than $2500/year needs only to offer a single passing pandering for submission
Further, if said basement has flooded during the past 18 months, said blogger is completely exempt - so long as he/she signs a statement that the flooding was caused by some reprehensible action by a current or former GOP governor
With that, our Dear Leader's Dearest Follower would appreciate it if you could discreetly disrespect her own philandering spouse - so that we can, as always, move on
AS DWS so aptly demonstrated, before falling under the wheels of a campaign bus - snark sells (for women), when suggested by surrogates
Last, the DNC leadership remains deeply impressed with your ability to insert multiple entendre phraseology, which - because of the large gap in average IQ between our Metro NYC base (BTW - Bernie's base is our base too) and the Deplorables - selectively excites the electorate
To wit, in your first 15 words:
"...hard on - Donald Trump...
"He has...an enormous...
BTW - Our Dear Leader is going to speak about how she will be "personally insulted" if any under-35 barista doesn't vote for her - and doubly, if said barista has a never-used law degree...
As you're aware, the number of panderings vary by geography. For example, someone blogging from their parent's basement in Ohio, making less than $2500/year needs only to offer a single passing pandering for submission
Further, if said basement has flooded during the past 18 months, said blogger is completely exempt - so long as he/she signs a statement that the flooding was caused by some reprehensible action by a current or former GOP governor
With that, our Dear Leader's Dearest Follower would appreciate it if you could discreetly disrespect her own philandering spouse - so that we can, as always, move on
AS DWS so aptly demonstrated, before falling under the wheels of a campaign bus - snark sells (for women), when suggested by surrogates
Last, the DNC leadership remains deeply impressed with your ability to insert multiple entendre phraseology, which - because of the large gap in average IQ between our Metro NYC base (BTW - Bernie's base is our base too) and the Deplorables - selectively excites the electorate
To wit, in your first 15 words:
"...hard on - Donald Trump...
"He has...an enormous...
BTW - Our Dear Leader is going to speak about how she will be "personally insulted" if any under-35 barista doesn't vote for her - and doubly, if said barista has a never-used law degree...
15
".....the gossipy, backbiting, scolding, mercurial, overly emotional, shrewish, menopausal one in this race it not the woman".
Ms. Dowd, just wait for the twitter storm starting at 3:20 in the morning, when Herr Drumpf insiste that he is not 'menopausal'.
My diagnoses as a very famous online physicians is that the obese Herr Drumpf, one who proudly says that he only needs three hours of sleep, is not on coke as Dr. The Scream said, but on amphetamines which are used for ADD and weight loss, and turn him into the Energizer Bunny wound up around the clock.
.
Ms. Dowd, just wait for the twitter storm starting at 3:20 in the morning, when Herr Drumpf insiste that he is not 'menopausal'.
My diagnoses as a very famous online physicians is that the obese Herr Drumpf, one who proudly says that he only needs three hours of sleep, is not on coke as Dr. The Scream said, but on amphetamines which are used for ADD and weight loss, and turn him into the Energizer Bunny wound up around the clock.
.
124
If you want to address the downside of sexism in this race, perhaps you and the NYT editorial board might consider that the Republican candidate is referred to as "Donald J. Trump" or "Trump" while the Democratic candidate is referred to as "Hillary".
Personally, Hillary is fine as long as there's an equivalence and he's then Donald. Equality of middle initials would be nice too.
Just sayin.
Personally, Hillary is fine as long as there's an equivalence and he's then Donald. Equality of middle initials would be nice too.
Just sayin.
133
Hillary now knows that Trump plans to bring up the Bill and Monica affair in the next debate. She should beat him to it by asking him a yes or no question: "Are you an adulterer?" Of course Trump will have to answer "Yes" since he cheated on his first wife Ivana with his second wife Marla. What a hypocrite!
109
Trump now threatens daily to bring up Bill Clinton's infidelities during the coming debates.
I hope he does, because this sewer strategy will blow up in his face. All Hillary Clinton has to say is "I'm with Michelle Obama. When you go low, I will go high. I have no further comment."
I hope he does, because this sewer strategy will blow up in his face. All Hillary Clinton has to say is "I'm with Michelle Obama. When you go low, I will go high. I have no further comment."
169
I just want to say, I'm a huge fan. You are covering this election cycle with such brilliance and humor. We need that around here!
58
Please don't insult 13 year old girls.
94
Even Dowd's attempts to criticize Trump ring hollow because clearly all she really wants to do is slam Hillary and Obama. The fact that Dowd is making the same ill-conceived attacks against Hillary as Trump, that Hillary was mean to Lewinsky, speaks volumes.
119
At first look I thought Maureen had found her groove again. Then I got to the end and realized this column was written by a 13 year old girl! Ugh!
81
Wacky, nuerotic Dowd as per the Donald. One of the few things he has got right. While ostensibly going after Trump, can't help herself from continuing to attack Clinton.
Pathetic.
Pathetic.
135
You couldn't resist, Ms. Dowd.
You had to bring up Hillary's reactions about Bill's women as a thinly veiled equivalence to Trump's sociopathic eruptions.
You had to bring up Hillary's reactions about Bill's women as a thinly veiled equivalence to Trump's sociopathic eruptions.
175
It is nearly impossible to take Maureen Dowd seriously. Her writing is self serving, her opinions even more so. When she appeared on Bill Maher last week, posing as a coy sex kitten, Maher was in the palm of her slippery hand. I can't recall a thing she said that wasn't sky invective about Hillary Clinton. Except for using her Neanderthal family members as windup surrogates for her snarky hatred of the Clintons. She's got an endless beef, but where's the meat?
127
Anthony Weiner for President.
Where else are we gonna find someone to run
against Hillary in 2020 who shares Trump’s repellent ideas about women?
Where else are we gonna find someone to run
against Hillary in 2020 who shares Trump’s repellent ideas about women?
17
As usual have to get some Hillary digs in and really how can you be so insulting of 13 year old girls?
96
So Maureen has finally come around and seen Trump for what he is, and his sickening crowd of scared sycophants too, yet she can't let the column go by without inserting her negative Clinton refrain.
128
This column is pure misogyny. Maureen Dowd is putting down Donald Trump and his cronies by attributing "female" traits to them?
This isn't amusing. Something is very wrong here. The phrase "self hating" comes to mind.
This isn't amusing. Something is very wrong here. The phrase "self hating" comes to mind.
156
After that Mo-vian diatribe on "girl talk," I'm now convinced we should NOT have any woman in the White House this next term. I know all the girls in the NYT Tower are ready for it, but we don't have a candidate from either party who is wiser than a 13 year old tweeting girl.
Move on voters everywhere! Find your own candidate. Find someone who can seriously lead our country and isn't tweeting at 0530. Someone who can answer the Red Phone if it rings, and has a clue about what to do.
Move on voters everywhere! Find your own candidate. Find someone who can seriously lead our country and isn't tweeting at 0530. Someone who can answer the Red Phone if it rings, and has a clue about what to do.
3
nice one. quite right on men. however, hillary knew from the go that monica was telling the truth. think about it for a second!
6
You're getting back on stride, Maureen. I, too, was appalled by Bill's inability to keep his pants zipped and his typically-male denial while parsing the definition of sex. I was more appalled by his publicly humiliating his wife by lying to her (again, typically male) about Lewinsky. But that's in the past; we aren't electing Bill, and his age and declining health aren't likely to have him on the prowl. We're electing Hillary, the amazingly competent, intelligent, highly-educated, experienced, dependable woman who has managed over the decades to hold her family together and endure the slings and arrows of outrageous sexism, who has devoted her life to public service, and deserves to make history as America's first female President. Please stop beating up on her. Please keep Donald in your sights and let him have the derision he deserves. Thank you, Maureen.
133
The column started with a nice hook, Trump's "real housewives of New York" thing. But then it went on and on, taking the mandatory detour to savage Hillary, and then back to Donald. And through all of this I am wondering Why? Why am I reading this? What am I learning from it? Nothing.
But yes, I come back, because Maureen, your column can be a great, entertaining train wreck of a read from time to time. Today, not so much.
But yes, I come back, because Maureen, your column can be a great, entertaining train wreck of a read from time to time. Today, not so much.
57
"Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Roger Ailes and Rudy Giuliani are the Really Desperate Housewives of Trumpworld." You slay me, Maureen.
29
Maureen Dowd never fails to attack Hillary Clinton. It is tiresome. Dowd has nothing new to offer except her mean girl, queen bee persona. And we've heard it all before. Unless and until can stop her obsessive attacks on Hillary Clinton, she should stop writing OpEd columns. Dowd is an unreliable narrator, and we do not need to read her anti-Hillary manifestos in an election year. She might as well join the other Hillary Haters who support Trump.
115
Clowns have been in the news recently for scaring folks. Actually, the real ones have been in the news for the last 1 1/2 years! Realizing that we might have to spend the next four years listening to Donald Trumps "believe me" and "okay" is truly frightening!
28
Misogynistic, bigoted Trump and his pathetic 'glam' (sham) squad: Gingrich, Christie, Ailes, Giuliani. The noxious smell of a putrefied political party. "Shrill" only hints at how despicable this basket of deplorables is. Rotten, and self-serving, to the core.
22
Bravo. This is one zany, satiric, and snarky Dowd column that I can get next too.
7
Ah, Maureen. You had a pretty good column going but you had to add the five paragraphs about Hillary, although your comments are not as vindictive as in the past. Donald is coming unhinged and his lap dogs are giving him bad advice. Thanks for beginning to show his true colors.
21
Trump’s campaign staff, housekeeping and clerical
Features Newtie and Rudy with spouses numerical,
Plus Roger and Chris
With waste lines amiss.
No wonder their candidate gets so hysterical.
Features Newtie and Rudy with spouses numerical,
Plus Roger and Chris
With waste lines amiss.
No wonder their candidate gets so hysterical.
14
"Girl Talk at Trump Tower" got my interest up immediately, because I thought for sure Ms. Dowd was going to talk about Hope Hicks, Donald's gorgeous press secretary who doesn't talk to the Press.
Last heard of in June, she had a nice apartment in Trump Tower and would meet late at night to help him with his tweets. If that's the case, she was up with him just the other night at 3 a.m., typing into his phone for him about Alicia Machado. Doesn't anyone else find that suspicious?
So, Maureen, how about some investigative reporting? Where is Hope Hicks?
Last heard of in June, she had a nice apartment in Trump Tower and would meet late at night to help him with his tweets. If that's the case, she was up with him just the other night at 3 a.m., typing into his phone for him about Alicia Machado. Doesn't anyone else find that suspicious?
So, Maureen, how about some investigative reporting? Where is Hope Hicks?
27
Does Trump really want to make this about a referendum on the spouse(s) of the candidates? Shall we start with the life his own own third wife Melenia? About his history of own adultery? About the history of his first and second wives?
25
Mo has outdone herself on this column. Fantastically good, and well deserved satire.
7
Trump is not a 13 year old girl. Not one bit. He is a creepy 11 year old boy with grave behavioral problems who gets his jollies setting fire to the neighbor's cat.
41
Adding to the girl talk in todays paper is the article about this creep suggesting that Hillary is not faithful to Bill. Between He, Rudys baloney and Newt divorcing his wife at bedside, the ignorance level is below that of a catfish! Yet his sheep love him! This country is doomed.
23
Is there an adult out there, Maureen?
9
Donald might be focusing on Machado to keep us from pondering the evil of his "birther" lunacy, the racist foundation of his campaign. Not to mention the MIA tax returns. BTW, if Donald lost some weight himself he might be even more appealing to Vlad.
14
It has now been revealed that the Republican plan to replace Obamacare is "Free Breast Implants".
14
Last week I listened to an interview with Ms. Dowd who was promoting her book. I was very surprised at her mild and somewhat positive assessment of Sec. Clinton. There were none of her usual derogatory and contemptuous remarks but I see that persona was for a different public and now Ms. Dowd has returned in her better known role.
Why is Kellyanne Conway 'sturdy,' while Hillary Clinton has a 'reputation for being shifty?' Quite ingenious of Ms. Dowd to elevate Ms. Conway while still finding avenues of high disregard for Hillary Clinton.
Ms. Dowd has contributed to that reputation along with thirty years of Republican manufactured scorn empty of fact or truth. So, the lightness of book promotion is over and we're again faced with cliches and bitterness.
Why is Kellyanne Conway 'sturdy,' while Hillary Clinton has a 'reputation for being shifty?' Quite ingenious of Ms. Dowd to elevate Ms. Conway while still finding avenues of high disregard for Hillary Clinton.
Ms. Dowd has contributed to that reputation along with thirty years of Republican manufactured scorn empty of fact or truth. So, the lightness of book promotion is over and we're again faced with cliches and bitterness.
40
Nice take on the girly-men of Trump World.
15
If you read the Washington Post article about Hillary cited by Dowd, it closes with the following observation, which does not fit with Dowd's snarky narrative:
In her treatment of the accusers, Trump has called Clinton an enabler.
Her friends say it’s much more benign.
“I think she felt that she had committed her life to this guy,” Jim Blair said. “They can debate politics from breakfast until bedtime and never get tired of it. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She loved him. It’s as simple as that.”
In her treatment of the accusers, Trump has called Clinton an enabler.
Her friends say it’s much more benign.
“I think she felt that she had committed her life to this guy,” Jim Blair said. “They can debate politics from breakfast until bedtime and never get tired of it. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She loved him. It’s as simple as that.”
38
Satire which leverages female stereotypes to feminize an abhorrent man still promotes those same lame stereotypes.
37
Wonderful piece Maureen. I was just thinking the other day whether Reality TV has ruined our society's actual grasp on reality? Don't think a Trump candidate would have been possible 20 years ago before Reality TV went mainstream. Loved your take on the bitchy sewing circle of Gingrich, Giuliani and Christie, think SNL writers will be mad they didn't come up with that first. Brava!
11
Brilliant! Well conceived and executed, your column is a pleasure to read.
8
and what happens when the Donald, as president, in a late night hissy fit of sleepless egomaniacal rage, pushes the button and sends a nuclear missile toward someone on world stage...because they stuck their tongue out at him and said a nasty something...... And how can anyone in America believe that the Donald - a man who knows only anecdotal information about international affairs and macroeconomic dynamics - could possibly have a prescription for a stronger economy?...if intelligent restraint, a commitment to sophisticated excellence, and a lifelong engagement with affairs of the world stage, in fact make no difference in matters of effective policy, and if instead indulgence in undisciplined and ignorant "opinions" will carry the day in matters of effective policy, then surely Donald's the best ignoramus for the job....
23
What an entertaining column. Andy Cohen has a new Real Housewives franchise to explore. It's too bad that Mo had to throw a typical Hillary hissy fit in the middle of it, though.
15
Is Maureen Dowd capable of EVER writing a critical column on Trump without also adding gratuitous and malicious snark about Hillary Clinton? It seems quite clear the answer is no. Increasingly I think hatred of Hillary has become the focus of Dowd's entire existence, or at least her entire professional life. It's actually quite sad to behold.
38
Who else is up twittering at 3 a.m. but a bunch of 13 year old girls having a slumber party? I wonder if Rudy, Chris, Newt, Roger and Sean giggled, sniffed and snorted until their big ol' bellies hurt the other night?
10
Gotta love Dowd's depicting Trump as the Queen Bee. A more apt sobriquet would be Head Drone.
8
Ms. Dowd, you're insulting 13-year-old girls.
16
Good one, Maureen.
5
In Trump's mind the only thing women are fit to hold is...
Let's change the subject, shall we? Right now hands (and other appendages) are off the table.
Donald Trump's most intimate advisors/sycophants --Chris Christie, Roger Ailes, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon-- are all men, most of them (Donald included) overweight...
Okay, one more time.
Maureen, is it so wrong for a few multiply-married horn-dogs to want to be close to power? Boys will be boys. Won't they? I mean, it's all right. The American way and all, huh, sweetie?
Let's change the subject, shall we? Right now hands (and other appendages) are off the table.
Donald Trump's most intimate advisors/sycophants --Chris Christie, Roger Ailes, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon-- are all men, most of them (Donald included) overweight...
Okay, one more time.
Maureen, is it so wrong for a few multiply-married horn-dogs to want to be close to power? Boys will be boys. Won't they? I mean, it's all right. The American way and all, huh, sweetie?
14
Finally, an article written that captures the lunacy and contradictions of the Trump travelling show. Still disappointed that in between paragraphs, you manage to once again destroy Hilary's character. It's too bad that your hatred of Hilary knows no boundaries and you can never write about Trump. your friend without making a false equivalence in deplorable behavior by mentioning Hilary.
You are wrong. She is not cold, bitchy, nor as venomous nor as mean spirited as you are. She is extremely bright however and far more intellectually substantial than you or the Donald.
You are wrong. She is not cold, bitchy, nor as venomous nor as mean spirited as you are. She is extremely bright however and far more intellectually substantial than you or the Donald.
48
Good to see the man get his proper comeuppance and see Dowd off the fence.
3
But Hillary is shifty, says Dowd, so there's that.
5
"Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty." USUALLY women candidates??? Because there are soooo many women candidates, especially running for President. Nice try, but this is just another hate fest. You are just buying into the narrative that Hillary can't possibly be commended for fighting for her marriage against women who knew they were with a married man. This is just the buildup. Watch the sexism in this country reach a fever pitch. Dowd gets the ball rolling down the final stretch. Hillary can't have the virtue advantage - then a quick segue to Trump's vanity/adolescent assignation.
31
Interesting tack.
However, as you felt compelled to digress for a moment and box Hillary Clinton's ears too, for good mesure, it is too bad you did not reverse vapour completely and treat her the opposite way. Ms. Clinton has throughout "their" career been the truly virile, macho driving force behind the Clinton machine, no?
She has a remarkably boyish vitality.
She "manned up", while Senator to show herself just as tough and hawkish as her Republican colleagues.
That males tendency impaired her judgment in 2002, to be sure. Very black mark on her record, rates alongside "their" presidency's blindness to the unintended consequences of "free trade", and foolishly presiding over the erasure of Glass-Steagall just as high-speed trade came on line!
It had always been obvious that the Hussein regime in Iraq was neither 1) an exporter of terrorism (Saddam was always been a conventional-war and palace-intrigues kind of guy), nor 2) could Iraq have possibly maintained her arsenal of conventional WMD's* after 12 years of punishing sanctions, imposed after the surprise "excursion" of "annexing" Kuwait in 1990.
*WMD's, such as HAD been handed to, almost FORCED upon the Iraqi military during the years from 1980-88, when the whole world happily exploited the futile Iran-Iraq war to conduct a large-scale weapons systems/military logistics/competitive-benchmarking/battlefield-conditions test bench, while risking nobody's attrition but the Iraqis' and the Iranians'.
However, as you felt compelled to digress for a moment and box Hillary Clinton's ears too, for good mesure, it is too bad you did not reverse vapour completely and treat her the opposite way. Ms. Clinton has throughout "their" career been the truly virile, macho driving force behind the Clinton machine, no?
She has a remarkably boyish vitality.
She "manned up", while Senator to show herself just as tough and hawkish as her Republican colleagues.
That males tendency impaired her judgment in 2002, to be sure. Very black mark on her record, rates alongside "their" presidency's blindness to the unintended consequences of "free trade", and foolishly presiding over the erasure of Glass-Steagall just as high-speed trade came on line!
It had always been obvious that the Hussein regime in Iraq was neither 1) an exporter of terrorism (Saddam was always been a conventional-war and palace-intrigues kind of guy), nor 2) could Iraq have possibly maintained her arsenal of conventional WMD's* after 12 years of punishing sanctions, imposed after the surprise "excursion" of "annexing" Kuwait in 1990.
*WMD's, such as HAD been handed to, almost FORCED upon the Iraqi military during the years from 1980-88, when the whole world happily exploited the futile Iran-Iraq war to conduct a large-scale weapons systems/military logistics/competitive-benchmarking/battlefield-conditions test bench, while risking nobody's attrition but the Iraqis' and the Iranians'.
6
This is easily the most depressing Dowd column I have ever read.
7
Cheeseburgers and cokes. This is the middle school campaign.
5
Best. Dowd. Ever. Thanks for giving me a laugh this morning. I needed it.
7
It's interesting to me that Maureen's criticism of Trump is couched in terms of him acting the way she expects women to act. She starts with:
"... he shows that the gossipy, backbiting, scolding, mercurial, overly emotional, shrewish, menopausal one in this race is not the woman."
and ends up calling him a 13 year old girl. I think she's trying to be funny, but even now disparaging Trump by saying he's acting like a woman is just another way to perpetuate worn-out stereotypes. Thanks, Maureen.
"... he shows that the gossipy, backbiting, scolding, mercurial, overly emotional, shrewish, menopausal one in this race is not the woman."
and ends up calling him a 13 year old girl. I think she's trying to be funny, but even now disparaging Trump by saying he's acting like a woman is just another way to perpetuate worn-out stereotypes. Thanks, Maureen.
52
My son is five years old, and he's got better coping strategies for dealing with personal slights from his peers.
52
Three "bones to pick:"
1) Perhaps Hillary was too aggressive and anger misplaced when she "savaged" Bill's girlfriends. But is the complaint that she didn't head to divorce court or that his girlfriends were victims? Who understands the former? Happens all the time. As for the lattter, please. Yes Bill's behavior was horrible, but these women were willing participants in adultery with a high-profile politician and most parlayed this adultery into cash.
2) Calling Trump's behavior "PMS" is an insult to PMS. The behavior of Trump and his sorority of mean girls is way beyond PMS.
3) Since when is Hannity a pretty boy?
1) Perhaps Hillary was too aggressive and anger misplaced when she "savaged" Bill's girlfriends. But is the complaint that she didn't head to divorce court or that his girlfriends were victims? Who understands the former? Happens all the time. As for the lattter, please. Yes Bill's behavior was horrible, but these women were willing participants in adultery with a high-profile politician and most parlayed this adultery into cash.
2) Calling Trump's behavior "PMS" is an insult to PMS. The behavior of Trump and his sorority of mean girls is way beyond PMS.
3) Since when is Hannity a pretty boy?
62
Gingrich (war), Guiliani (pestilence), Christie (famine) and Ailes (death) are the four horsemen of the apocalypse named Trump. Put these four selfless and giving men in a room and before you know it, they will have created the superbug named Trump that could devour civil society.
30
I don't find Hillary shifty. She seems intelligent and responsible. Your evident dislike of Hillary further suggests that she is likely a person of quality.
69
Am I the only one who sees a Shakespearean tragedy in all of this.
13
Thirteen year old girls generally outgrow being thirteen year old girls. The likelihood that Trump will outgrow being Trump is between slim and none, and slim just left town.
44
And then there is the centerfold style photo of the Donald in the latest issue of Vanity Fair magazine. It's near the end of the issue with Bruce Springsteen on the cover. And he could be President!!!
5
I get the joke, Maureen. Glad you're able to poke fun at Donald & his disgusting gang, especially after this last display of bad taste & stupidity. But the flaws in personality go far deeper. He is insane. That makes the situation much more dangerous. While comics mine diamonds of material to break the tension with laughter, people are really scared of a madman.
33
If Donald does bring up Bill's sexual peccadilloes, Hillary needs to take the high road. In a calm voice, just tell everyone that it was a very difficult time in their marriage, but, after much soul searching the three of them, Bill Hillary and Chelsea worked through it and can now enjoy their grandchildren together. Does anyyone remember the picture of Chelsea walking to the helicopter holding Bill by one hand and Hillary by the other?
38
According to Trump, Hillary Clinton is being mean to him because her ads feature videos of him saying unconscionable remarks. The latest version juxtaposes an outlandish comment followed by a denial that he said or tweeted same. Can we trust a person who cannot recognize his own documented thoughts? Can our allies believe anything he says? Hardly. Even a five year-old caught in a lie knows the jig is up.
34
Except for saying that Hillary Clinton is shifty, this is a really accurate read of the Presidential candidates. Donald Trump's campaign staff is trying its best to fool American voters into believing the he is Presidential timber. Hard to do when he has the maturity of a junior high school kid. Or as Ms. Dowd says, "a 13-year-old girl."
11
Wickedly funny, Maureen. We elected the first black man President, now we appear to be on the verge of electing the first woman. Breaking through these discrimination barriers is like waking up and turning the light on, in a roach infested dive. It's hard to go back to sleep.
3
KellyAnne Conway certainly was "sturdy" on The View TV show.. The Miss Universe whom the Democratic nominee made reference to in one throw-away zinger, was not merely fat enough to deserve being insulted, but also possessed of a " troubled past, but I don't want to get into that". No, Kellyanne just wanted to say the woman is some bad person without having to justify it. Conway is presented as the voice of reason within the Trump campaign but she'll trash a woman as cheerfully as the vain Orange Pompadour will and she is a hypocrite for saying Clinton has talked about women like they are dogs in the past. Conway talks about Alicia Machado -- Miss Housekeeping -- like a dog, and she's doing it now.
21
The real secret to Mr. Trump's thin-skinned tendency to hissy fits is that he's as shallow and petty as a typical reality TV show character... which, of course, is exactly what he is. He isn't a real presidential candidate he just plays one on TV and online. The kind of pouting and shouting he indulges in is exactly what reality TV constantly calls for.
He's in the ratings business. In his world, you're supposed to be able to pout yourself to the top of the heap. Stick around -- too bad for the rest of us -- but it still might just work. And we're getting an uncomfortable glimpse into the kind of emotional, dysfunctional reasoning many Americans use to pick who they vote for.
He's in the ratings business. In his world, you're supposed to be able to pout yourself to the top of the heap. Stick around -- too bad for the rest of us -- but it still might just work. And we're getting an uncomfortable glimpse into the kind of emotional, dysfunctional reasoning many Americans use to pick who they vote for.
11
Why belittle 13-year old girls. I hate Trump. But enough with with the sexisim. I know this is supposed to be funny, but it just perpetrates negative stereotypes of girls/
26
Wow, what a bunch of "true believers", these Times readers who continue to read Maureen and whine about her satire and wit like we're on the front page. This is political writing on the level of Veep; a detached view that can capture the absurdity, pretense and hipocrisy of the American election farce. This is political theatre that's tragi-comic, where Ms. Dowd is at her best. This is our relief from the mainstream commentariat, and of course the peek behind the curtain is disappointing at first; but just like in the Land of Oz, the truth will eventually set us free. And like that other looking glass world - Alice's Wonderland - the truth is that everyone's a bit mad here and it's all a great circle race. Maureen is an artful myth interpreter and metaphor lover. Sit back and enjoy the ride, for crying out loud.
5
Maureen, surely you can find any number of ways to eviscerate Trump without insulting young girls. I know many 13-year-old girls, and that man has nowhere near the intelligence nor the integrity of a 13-year-old girl.
46
Be careful Ms. Dowd. It sounded right there at the end that you were insulting D. Trump by saying he was like a thirteen year-old girl. Is that really an insulting term? How would my 13 year old granddaughter answer that question. Call the man what he is - a fraud, a cheater, an insecure bully, instigator of fear and hatred - call him out by his actions, not dismiss him by likening him to a girl.
38
When I'm wide awake at 4 AM, reading my NYT, I always go for the Dowd column first. Biting, funny and usually right on point. But this one was a huge disappointment for two reasons.
The comparisons to women's sexual life cycle, ending with the 13 year old girl remark is just plain sexist. Girls have enough challenges - that comparison is just wrong.
But more important it really misses the point that Dowd almost made. Ailes, Trump, Christie, Gingrich, Guliani all have this in common -- they are actually old men, losing power, and afraid of dying. Fat guys lashing out at a lovely young woman about her weight simply proves it.
What they really represent is the past. The world has changed and they don't know it. The Trump good old boys club - like a Playboy club - is now a tarnished, tawdry, sluggish relic of the past. Trump is not like a 13 year old girl, if he were there would be hope and a promise of tomorrow. Trump and his pouting guy pals are rotting old men whose best days are far behind them.
The world has changed and these former scions of power are no longer relevant.
The comparisons to women's sexual life cycle, ending with the 13 year old girl remark is just plain sexist. Girls have enough challenges - that comparison is just wrong.
But more important it really misses the point that Dowd almost made. Ailes, Trump, Christie, Gingrich, Guliani all have this in common -- they are actually old men, losing power, and afraid of dying. Fat guys lashing out at a lovely young woman about her weight simply proves it.
What they really represent is the past. The world has changed and they don't know it. The Trump good old boys club - like a Playboy club - is now a tarnished, tawdry, sluggish relic of the past. Trump is not like a 13 year old girl, if he were there would be hope and a promise of tomorrow. Trump and his pouting guy pals are rotting old men whose best days are far behind them.
The world has changed and these former scions of power are no longer relevant.
53
A typically arch Dowd piece: turning feminine stereotypes on their head by describing Mr. Trump not in his own grotesque, absurdly alpha male language but as a caricature of gender-based assumptions.
Ms. Dowd's drollery is not an insult to young American women. Mr. Trump is the privation of masculine stereotypes: through Ms. Dowd's pen and his own actions Mr. Trump is diminished into the stereotype of an adolescent girl in all her vanity and inconsequentiality.
It is a concise critical comment on both Trump's shallowness and the empty set of all gender stereotypes.
Ms. Dowd's drollery is not an insult to young American women. Mr. Trump is the privation of masculine stereotypes: through Ms. Dowd's pen and his own actions Mr. Trump is diminished into the stereotype of an adolescent girl in all her vanity and inconsequentiality.
It is a concise critical comment on both Trump's shallowness and the empty set of all gender stereotypes.
6
I don't know what you are talking about, Ms. Dowd. The entire election spectacle -- and yes, that includes the journalists and commentators -- has so far been exactly like something out of a kindergarten for exceptionally immature kids. The only exception is Secretary Clinton who has behaved like an adult. Yes, that Secretary Clinton, the one you have criticised over and over again. The thirteen year old girls of the world could have written a better column about this election than this one. I have a dream. It is deeply rooted in the American dream. I dream of a world in which presidential elections aren't like episodes of a TV show (Survivor meets Jerry Springer). I dream that shallow, stupid debates about people's hair and weight are replaced by discussions of policy. I dream that shallow journalism goes out of business.
47
What an odd column. Starts and ends with Donald Trump, but there in the middle is that hit on Hillary Clinton. Does she "know where to aim?"
The rest of the piece is not about being tough; it's about being petty and cruel. There is no segue into how Clinton reacted to the "bimbo eruptions." Was she just vindictive or did she hope, against declining hope, that Bill would stop his destructive behavior?
People were running over them, using anything that looked like a weapon; did Hillary Clinton think the women part of those attacks? I think she hoped so. But analyzing her motives is not germane to the rest of the column. Of course there's a gratuitous reference to her "reputation for being shifty."
Then back on to Trump's vanity. And his thin skin.
I wonder what Maureen Dowd thinks she's doing in this election. Her judgment seems, to be kind, impaired. This column is yet more evidence that she's lost the ability to focus. Or at least misplaced it.
The rest of the piece is not about being tough; it's about being petty and cruel. There is no segue into how Clinton reacted to the "bimbo eruptions." Was she just vindictive or did she hope, against declining hope, that Bill would stop his destructive behavior?
People were running over them, using anything that looked like a weapon; did Hillary Clinton think the women part of those attacks? I think she hoped so. But analyzing her motives is not germane to the rest of the column. Of course there's a gratuitous reference to her "reputation for being shifty."
Then back on to Trump's vanity. And his thin skin.
I wonder what Maureen Dowd thinks she's doing in this election. Her judgment seems, to be kind, impaired. This column is yet more evidence that she's lost the ability to focus. Or at least misplaced it.
51
In my (and many others') opinion, Trump is simply a very sad excuse for a human being.
Do Americans (even disgruntled Americans) really want him as their President?
Do Americans (even disgruntled Americans) really want him as their President?
21
I know 13-year old girls with way more intellect, maturity and class than this circus act called Trump.
42
Maureen said, "We should have known then that Trump was really a 13-year-old girl."
A lot of us did know that for years going back to the 1980's.
A lot of us did know that for years going back to the 1980's.
17
Speaking of conservative girlfriends, I always wondered about the nature of Drumpffff's relationship to his "mentor" Roy Cohn. Something fishy in the Tower of Drumpffff.
17
One of the most sexist columns ever written. Using 13 year old girls to illustrate emotional unhinged behavior is right up there with naming hurricanes after women, never men [the MO of the National Weather Service for many decades] and accusing a Foxy newswoman of unfairness during her monthly 'wherever' days. Comparing Trump and his cohorts to mean girls is blatant gender bashing and does no credit to the girls or to Ms. Dowd. Dowd deepens this insult with her signature Hillary smear, unable to note credit where credit is due. Not even honorable mention for the woman who stood up to the Goliath that had demolished 16 male combatants, and won. Instead, Dowd re-mucks a sad chapter in Clinton's marriage, ignoring the pain and heartbreak that had to have been there, and spotlighting the cold calculating heart that is all Marueen ever sees. Such is the miracle and mystery of prejudice -- of women in general and Hillary as seen from planet-Dowd in particular.
Trump's unreliability and pettiness is not hormonal; it is a character malfunction -- and it isn't anything to laugh about. Neither are teen age girls.
Trump's unreliability and pettiness is not hormonal; it is a character malfunction -- and it isn't anything to laugh about. Neither are teen age girls.
22
The Right whines about the "sissyfication" of America. I love the image of Roger Ailes pouting on his fainting couch, and Hannity's dreamy subscription to Tiger Beat. Yes, they're mean girls, minus the perkiness.
The Right's slur about sissies is code for not wanting woman and gays in power.
They're also wimps when it comes to debating real issues like climate change, instead just chickening-out in fear of the Koch sisters.
The Right's slur about sissies is code for not wanting woman and gays in power.
They're also wimps when it comes to debating real issues like climate change, instead just chickening-out in fear of the Koch sisters.
7
This election season is disastrously long and inconceivably silly even though the outcome could put us on the precipice whoever wins. Ms Dowd is playing with it just as it has evolved where Bill’s behavior is as likely as anything to be next up. But her ” No one worries that Hillary is not tough enough to be president. We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?” slipped into the discourse is not going away in many many minds.
Hillary is the odds-makers favorite and so we will find out soon enough how embedded her hawkishness is and that is more frightening than one cares to imagine.
Hillary is the odds-makers favorite and so we will find out soon enough how embedded her hawkishness is and that is more frightening than one cares to imagine.
1
Can you imagine a female equivalent of Trump or Putin? Let the females rule the world. They are so much more sane than their male counterparts save Ann Coulter of course.
9
All we need to resurrect the old vaudeville slapstick is an xylophone and some juggling clubs to add to the Noble Hillary and He-man Trump shenanigans that are going on as a presidential candidate debate. It is more a burlesque tragedy than anything related to democratic governance.
1
In the end, I'm not actually sure what point is being made here.
10
Here we go again, Maureen Dowd giving Donald Trump another free pass.
Because, only in a warped world of Maureen Dowd would anyone who has a long history acting as a misogynist idiot would be doing women a "favor."
But of course, why should we expect any different for Maureen Dowd, a person blessed with having the luxury of living and working in a pampered, protected, liberal ivory tower world who has never had to contend with a misogynist male boss or abusive husband who treated women as disposable objects, as illustrated in Donald Trump praise of Shariah law for its ability to allow husbands to divorce their lives with the snap of the fingers, for any reason, whatsoever.
Because, only in a warped world of Maureen Dowd would anyone who has a long history acting as a misogynist idiot would be doing women a "favor."
But of course, why should we expect any different for Maureen Dowd, a person blessed with having the luxury of living and working in a pampered, protected, liberal ivory tower world who has never had to contend with a misogynist male boss or abusive husband who treated women as disposable objects, as illustrated in Donald Trump praise of Shariah law for its ability to allow husbands to divorce their lives with the snap of the fingers, for any reason, whatsoever.
14
At last, Maureen has woken from her long slumber and fitful dreams and given us Girl Talk Part II. The wait of many year is worth it. I am not sure what caused her slumber - and the compulsive ranting about all things Hillary, but her description of the mean boys who surround Trump is perfect. All praise Maureen - she has returned to us and been redeemed. How i have longed for this moment. I had almost lost all hope that the author of the Mean Girls Part I which precisely captured the absurdity of the Lewinsky matter had sunk into a permanent sulk. Maureen I have grown old waiting for you, but now in this moment of need you are here.
1
I resent the comment on "13 year- old girls". It insults them. They, by and large, are much smarter.
19
Trump and his posse of reactionary nit-wits are pathetic.
Honestly, they are a national embarrassment. The world is laughing.
Honestly, they are a national embarrassment. The world is laughing.
12
One minor error. Trump is far too primitive to be compared to a 13 year old. An angry three year old who has soiled his pants is more like it.
20
I've worked for and with strong women. I know and respect strong women. Trump is not a strong woman.
21
Trump’s attitudes towards women in general or in particular reveal much in his lack of respect for his country.
In a 1997 interview with Howard Stern, the following article states:
“I’ve been so lucky in terms of that whole world,” Trump told Stern of avoiding STDs. “It is a dangerous world out there. It’s scary, like Vietnam. Sort of like the Vietnam era. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier.” (Trump reportedly avoided serving during the Vietnam War by getting student deferments and a medical deferment.)
Donald Trump Calls Sleeping Around, Avoiding STDs His ‘Personal Vietnam’ in Resurfaced 1997 Interview
August 1, 2016
By Sierra Marquina
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/donald-trump-calls-sleepin...
Bottom Line: Trump cares only about himself and nothing else, whether it is his country, voters or women.
This self-centered egotistical selfish misogynistic clown does not have the qualification to serve as or ever become President.
Trump belongs on “Saturday Night Live” and not in the White House/
In a 1997 interview with Howard Stern, the following article states:
“I’ve been so lucky in terms of that whole world,” Trump told Stern of avoiding STDs. “It is a dangerous world out there. It’s scary, like Vietnam. Sort of like the Vietnam era. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier.” (Trump reportedly avoided serving during the Vietnam War by getting student deferments and a medical deferment.)
Donald Trump Calls Sleeping Around, Avoiding STDs His ‘Personal Vietnam’ in Resurfaced 1997 Interview
August 1, 2016
By Sierra Marquina
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/donald-trump-calls-sleepin...
Bottom Line: Trump cares only about himself and nothing else, whether it is his country, voters or women.
This self-centered egotistical selfish misogynistic clown does not have the qualification to serve as or ever become President.
Trump belongs on “Saturday Night Live” and not in the White House/
18
My nearly 13-year-old daughter is smart, hard-working, and endlessly fair and empathetic. Your concluding comparison is terribly inexact.
26
For public figures we have other politicians and even military figures whose wives stand by their man, as many women do. Women rarely go for the trophy husband. When I see the old man and the young wife you know the attraction is money. Trump is hardly Mr. Charm. He's acting the part of the C-rated actor but the Presidency is not reality TV or wrestling. I cannot imagine him or his family representing the US. He lost the debate - instead of preparing for the next he's down spiraling in tabloid trash..
11
I am sure Trump supporters will continue to support him even if it was revealed that he likes to cross dress in private .
12
I weep for my country.
Especially it's press.
Especially it's press.
15
Mo's version of Where's Waldo is a column about something other than the Clintons that includes a piece about the Clintons. You just have to find it. It ain't hard.
After being brutally criticized by readers for her Trump girl crush puff pieces and a consistent beat down of Hillary (the Times limits negative feedback on her, and they do not respond to repeated questions about why they are protecting her in such a weird way, maybe in order to keep her book tour successful), she has curbed her enthusiasm for Trumpenstein, and is trying desperately to tone down her anti-Hillary tirades. The 12-step program ain't working.
After being brutally criticized by readers for her Trump girl crush puff pieces and a consistent beat down of Hillary (the Times limits negative feedback on her, and they do not respond to repeated questions about why they are protecting her in such a weird way, maybe in order to keep her book tour successful), she has curbed her enthusiasm for Trumpenstein, and is trying desperately to tone down her anti-Hillary tirades. The 12-step program ain't working.
13
If Donald Trump does go after Hillary Clinton on Bill Clinton's womanizing and the way Hillary treated the women, all she has to say is, she said those things in a moment of anger, something many people do in such situations, and if she had to do it over she'd take those comments back.
By contrast, Trump is mean to women when he is at his happiest. He thrives on fat shaming women and rating them as if they are objects. And since he has no sense of introspection, he would never take anything back. That's the difference.
By contrast, Trump is mean to women when he is at his happiest. He thrives on fat shaming women and rating them as if they are objects. And since he has no sense of introspection, he would never take anything back. That's the difference.
11
In my work life, always, there is someone who behaves a bit like Donald Trump. Without exception that person is a white male over 45. No other group has the license to behave like The Donald and not be fired in the next five minutes. If Donald were anything other than Old White Male, we'd never have heard his name.
15
This stuff about women being the petite sex, soft and vulnerable is rubbish. They have babies, for God's sake. Having given birth, many of them had to get back to work in fields or join the gathering with the rest of the women, many of them carrying their children on their backs. That period of birthing and nurturing has made them vulnerable. Often, they assume the little-lady stance to flatter fragile male egos. But given half a chance, women can be as as hard as nails. And good for them!
9
With the exception of two sentences about Gennifer Flowers, Hillary did not attack any of these women in public, what she said in private has been attested to by her "friends." People demonize her for believing her husband, staying with her husband, defending her husband and not divorcing her husband, all of it none of our business. Maureen the mindreader must spend all of her free time and writing time obsessing about Hillary Clinton. I find it sad.
23
Maureen - still harping on what she obviously perceived as an unforgivable slight from Bill Clinton and a chill from the Clintons in general for the past decade, which she has continued to reinforce with her obsessive and idiotic columns, continues her sorry descent into total, pathetic, irrelevance.
In doing so she has alienated the left, the right, or anyone who actually cares about this nation's direction and choice. Like any neurotic, she attempts to lure her therapist's attention in (the reader being her therapist), with a feint toward defending womenkind against the misogyny of Trump (a year late and a billion shy). Then she quickly devolves into her devotion to the Republican meme that Hillary Clinton is metaphysically to blame, and embracing her Catholicity of Sexist Hegemony - she relies on putting down Trump by feminizing him "We should have known that Trump was really a 13 year old girl." No, Ms. Dowd, he's a 70 year old 7 year old tiresome twerp and fraud. You on the other hand are still acting out your 'mean girl' fantasies from parochial school. Get over it and relieve the reader from the tedium of having your neuroses pollute the Sunday ritual of reading what used to be a newspaper.
In doing so she has alienated the left, the right, or anyone who actually cares about this nation's direction and choice. Like any neurotic, she attempts to lure her therapist's attention in (the reader being her therapist), with a feint toward defending womenkind against the misogyny of Trump (a year late and a billion shy). Then she quickly devolves into her devotion to the Republican meme that Hillary Clinton is metaphysically to blame, and embracing her Catholicity of Sexist Hegemony - she relies on putting down Trump by feminizing him "We should have known that Trump was really a 13 year old girl." No, Ms. Dowd, he's a 70 year old 7 year old tiresome twerp and fraud. You on the other hand are still acting out your 'mean girl' fantasies from parochial school. Get over it and relieve the reader from the tedium of having your neuroses pollute the Sunday ritual of reading what used to be a newspaper.
23
This country wants change from the last 8 years, That is why Trump is still standing. They are waiting for him to challenge Hillary on those past years that she has been in office. He has not done that. He is too busy defending himself as Hillary and the press keep bringing up his past instead of hers. Both these candidates are mean and nasty, can't watch either one of them. People will probably vote for the lesser of the two evils.
1
Dowd misrepresents the Washington Post piece. On specifics, it offers the same tired old examples of Hillary "attacking" other women: an uncharitable reaction to a tabloid news piece and a remark made to a friend in confidence, pulled from her diaries after her death. Hardly evidence of a vindictive spirit! That piece offers an entirely different narrative: it seems to critique Hillary for standing by her man. I am glad that she has had the faith to stay with him. They are after all Stronger Together.
16
Really, why even go here Maureen? Another case where some of us ask, really? Is the victimhood of the women who acting with free agency wanted to have sex with a married public figure, and then complain about it, the winning side of the event, Really?
What todays columns by Dowd and Bruni show us is that even supposed intellectuals are easily sucked down into the extraneous and irrelevant ooze of the tabloid culture we have allowed to fester until it has become full blown societal MERSA polluting every aspect of the American experience. Wake up people.
What todays columns by Dowd and Bruni show us is that even supposed intellectuals are easily sucked down into the extraneous and irrelevant ooze of the tabloid culture we have allowed to fester until it has become full blown societal MERSA polluting every aspect of the American experience. Wake up people.
16
"Every minute of every day, Trump debunks that old “science” when he shows that the gossipy, backbiting, scolding, mercurial, overly emotional, shrewish, menopausal one in this race is not the woman.
Trump is surrounded by a bitchy sewing circle of overweight men who are overwrought at the prospect of a distaff Clinton presidency."
Welcome back, Maureen.
Trump is surrounded by a bitchy sewing circle of overweight men who are overwrought at the prospect of a distaff Clinton presidency."
Welcome back, Maureen.
5
So Hillary Clinton was not nice to women who fooled around with her husband. I'd have called them worse than "bimbo" if I were in her shoes. That doesn't excuse Bill Clinton's behavior but it's none of our business how he and his wife dealt with it. The alt-right can't accuse Hillary of marital infidelity so they stick the label "enabler" on her. Yeah right, I believe that and other things they accused the Clintons of like I believe Obama was not born in the USA.
Maureen Dowd makes fun of the Trump coterie but cannot resist sticking it to Hillary Clinton again. Very predictable.
Maureen Dowd makes fun of the Trump coterie but cannot resist sticking it to Hillary Clinton again. Very predictable.
30
No one is better prepared than Hilary -- for the debate or the presidency. But can she think quickly enough on her feet to cut him down unscripted? She missed a great opportunity at the first debate, in a line that should now be broadcast in every advertisement she runs in the rust belt swing states:
She attacked Trump for cheering the housing crash so that he could buy up properties and sell them for a profit, when millions of American were losing their homes. And he muttered under his breath, "That's business!" I wish she had jumped down his throat for being such a glib predator, for thinking it's a virtue to take advantage of struggling Americans and profit from their suffering. The very people who support him now are the ones who lost their homes in the crash.
Buy, hey, "That's business!"
Will Hillary go after him harder next time? I hope so. Go make those ads!
She attacked Trump for cheering the housing crash so that he could buy up properties and sell them for a profit, when millions of American were losing their homes. And he muttered under his breath, "That's business!" I wish she had jumped down his throat for being such a glib predator, for thinking it's a virtue to take advantage of struggling Americans and profit from their suffering. The very people who support him now are the ones who lost their homes in the crash.
Buy, hey, "That's business!"
Will Hillary go after him harder next time? I hope so. Go make those ads!
12
Don't send a boy to do a Woman's job.
A vote for Hillary is a vote for a mature, seasoned veteran of partisan warfare, a person devoted to preservation of democracy and human rights.
HRC upholds our cherished values as a nation: the World holds its breath that we elect a humanistic President fully qualified for this high office.
That President is Hillary Rodham Clinton.
A vote for Hillary is a vote for a mature, seasoned veteran of partisan warfare, a person devoted to preservation of democracy and human rights.
HRC upholds our cherished values as a nation: the World holds its breath that we elect a humanistic President fully qualified for this high office.
That President is Hillary Rodham Clinton.
19
Hold the phone, Maureen! I very much doubt that Donald is aware, considering his views on Mexicans and other deplorable Spanish speaking people, that a woman having a well developed figure is considered highly desirable. So, this Miss Universe must have been in a celebratory mood after her win and just accepted a few too many dinner invitations, and was probably even more admired than before, but Donald couldn't handle it. I don't know, but I heard that.
So, give him the benefit of the doubt, Maureen, Donald takes a while to absorb new information, new facts, new ideas, new polling data.
He'll come around, just get all these girly-men (see Schwarzenegger, A.) away from him and he'll be fine, he'll be great!
Just don't make him play golf this winter with women, they play too slow, even though he will plenty of time.
So, give him the benefit of the doubt, Maureen, Donald takes a while to absorb new information, new facts, new ideas, new polling data.
He'll come around, just get all these girly-men (see Schwarzenegger, A.) away from him and he'll be fine, he'll be great!
Just don't make him play golf this winter with women, they play too slow, even though he will plenty of time.
3
What I am witnessing is the final, shrill, self-inflicted demise of the main stream media, it's so called fact checkers & it's journalistic integrity.
Trump has laid bare the partisan media naked in front of it's enemy (Majority of the American people).
The fact that Trump is playing the media like a fiddle yet ALL of the self identified geniuses in the liberal universe don't seem to understand what is happening. Just ponder for a moment what happens to the integrity & reputation of the NYT when they release a private citizen's partial tax return? ALL the while if one were to look at the NYT's own tax returns they would show it to be a very poorly run entity with a Mexican national as the largest shareholder.
Who is this anonymous leaker of Trump's taxes? My money is that it was in fact Donald J. Trump himself. Why? Because as the NYT desperately & in overtly biased manner against Trump tries (with nothing but an articles of might have or may be) to find fault of a guy running in 2016 by saying he showed a loss of 900+ million in 1995 (almost 21 years ago when he had nothing to do with those who were/are in gov't that caused all the problems) while neglecting ISIS, Wall St funded corporate corruption, rising crime, downward trending personal income, upward trending costs of just surviving while just insulting the pain that real Americans are feeling and liberals are still puzzled as to Trump's support.
ALL of the exasperated responses against Trump helps prove my point.
Trump has laid bare the partisan media naked in front of it's enemy (Majority of the American people).
The fact that Trump is playing the media like a fiddle yet ALL of the self identified geniuses in the liberal universe don't seem to understand what is happening. Just ponder for a moment what happens to the integrity & reputation of the NYT when they release a private citizen's partial tax return? ALL the while if one were to look at the NYT's own tax returns they would show it to be a very poorly run entity with a Mexican national as the largest shareholder.
Who is this anonymous leaker of Trump's taxes? My money is that it was in fact Donald J. Trump himself. Why? Because as the NYT desperately & in overtly biased manner against Trump tries (with nothing but an articles of might have or may be) to find fault of a guy running in 2016 by saying he showed a loss of 900+ million in 1995 (almost 21 years ago when he had nothing to do with those who were/are in gov't that caused all the problems) while neglecting ISIS, Wall St funded corporate corruption, rising crime, downward trending personal income, upward trending costs of just surviving while just insulting the pain that real Americans are feeling and liberals are still puzzled as to Trump's support.
ALL of the exasperated responses against Trump helps prove my point.
Maureen....why is the title "girl talk"? This article simply equates negative traits as purely female. This entire article talks about "bitchiness" etc as men acting as women and the woman acting as a man would. Let's just say that Hillary is smarter, more composed, better informed on issues.....and the men around her cannot stand it! For years men have simply assumed that they were the natural leaders based on their whiteness and sex. Well get ready boys... cause Hillary will be our next President
17
You forgot Trey Gowdy, whose testerical questioning of Mrs. Clinton at the Benghazi hearings certainly earns him a spot at the mean girls table.
15
We finally have a nickname worthy of the story: "Donald Doolittle"
Ann Coulter can play Harry Higgins.
Ann Coulter can play Harry Higgins.
3
For what ever it is worth, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Chris Christie, Roger Ailes, and Rudi Giuliani are like minded GOP thugs, low life and down right lowest level of integrity and decency.
15
"13 year old girl"? Think not. A slur on young girls! His behavior is more like a rich, spoiled Man baby. Hillary may have some faults but she is a grown, smart and focused woman!
18
Way to write, Maureen. They are all very girlish.
1
You were doing so well... then you had to shift gears and put in a few paragraphs dissing both Hillary and Bill Clinton. They were entirely disconnected from what you had already written, and in context made no real sense at all. I guess if you were to write a piece focused only on Trump, without also inflicting some Clinton damage, your world would come to an end!
Too bad. The way this was heading was brilliant. Someday, you may finally get that leaving Clinton Derangement Syndrome behind will be reallly helpful, but not today...
Too bad. The way this was heading was brilliant. Someday, you may finally get that leaving Clinton Derangement Syndrome behind will be reallly helpful, but not today...
12
Maureen, Trump, "The Real Housewives of Trump World" and many others are absolutely fuming because Hillary wouldn't embrace the women who slept with her husband. How dare mean old Hillary lash out at these women ! After all, it was Hillary's fault that she was wronged and she should have only sympathy for those "other women". You tell her, Maureen!
8
It was confusing to find the non sequitor paragraphs about Hilllary's reaction to Bill's women in the middle of a column about Trump. It's almost as if Ms. Dowd can't control her years-long urge to bash Hillary at every opportunity. Rather Trump-like, actually.
Look, how is a betrayed wife supposed to feel towards the women who are helping to undermine her marriage? Everyone talks about one famous country song, "Stand by Your Man", but they forget another: "You Aim't Women Enough to Take My Man."
Look, how is a betrayed wife supposed to feel towards the women who are helping to undermine her marriage? Everyone talks about one famous country song, "Stand by Your Man", but they forget another: "You Aim't Women Enough to Take My Man."
15
From the column: "Trump is surrounded by a bitchy sewing circle of overweight men who are overwrought at the prospect of a distaff Clinton presidency."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are all aging white men and all *formerly* of power and influence. Each has a history of treating women poorly, or worse. Each one knows this is the their last chance to remain relevant and they are desperate to recoup their lost power.
Each has lied, schemed and manipulated to get where they were and each has been found out for who they are. They are a stain upon our nation.
These now irrelevant men are the true deplorables. A pox upon their crumbling houses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are all aging white men and all *formerly* of power and influence. Each has a history of treating women poorly, or worse. Each one knows this is the their last chance to remain relevant and they are desperate to recoup their lost power.
Each has lied, schemed and manipulated to get where they were and each has been found out for who they are. They are a stain upon our nation.
These now irrelevant men are the true deplorables. A pox upon their crumbling houses.
10
Hillary didn't like her husband's sex partners, and tried to discredit them. What was she supposed to do? Go shopping at the mall with them?
12
No, he's an 8 year old boy.
8
Even when writing about Trump she goes out of her way to slip in a little nasty attack of Clinton. Dont know about anyone else but I find Maureen Dowd disgusting.
19
I think this is supposed to be an article about how Trump, even though male, is actually the possessor of all the (negative) stereotypical qualities associated with women.
But carefully inserted into it, is Clinton's response to “bimbo eruptions,”
"'These people are not going to run over us.' This, even though in case after case, Bill Clinton would later admit the women were telling the truth.
As former Clinton consigliere George Stephanopoulos (I see how right there you made him "an advisor to a crime boss", Maureen) wrote in his memoir: 'She had to do what she had always done before: swallow her doubts, stand by her man and savage his enemies.'"
All this comes right after this segue:
"No one worries that Hillary is not tough enough to be president. We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim."
What is being asked of Hillary here? That she apologize for "standing by her man"? That she take up firearms?
Or that she not be so masculine?
Again-
"Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty."
I'm kind of perplexed by this. Virtue is virtue; reputation is something we don't control- it's affected by the opinions and biases of others. I do think Mrs. Clinton is virtuous, and I think you think she's not.
And your writing has reinforced that bias in many other people.
But carefully inserted into it, is Clinton's response to “bimbo eruptions,”
"'These people are not going to run over us.' This, even though in case after case, Bill Clinton would later admit the women were telling the truth.
As former Clinton consigliere George Stephanopoulos (I see how right there you made him "an advisor to a crime boss", Maureen) wrote in his memoir: 'She had to do what she had always done before: swallow her doubts, stand by her man and savage his enemies.'"
All this comes right after this segue:
"No one worries that Hillary is not tough enough to be president. We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim."
What is being asked of Hillary here? That she apologize for "standing by her man"? That she take up firearms?
Or that she not be so masculine?
Again-
"Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty."
I'm kind of perplexed by this. Virtue is virtue; reputation is something we don't control- it's affected by the opinions and biases of others. I do think Mrs. Clinton is virtuous, and I think you think she's not.
And your writing has reinforced that bias in many other people.
12
Hillary Clinton did in a 90 minute debate what 18 Republicans "all stars" with unlimited money and in many debates failed to do. She destroyed Donald Trump.
There is zero evidence that Trump is aware that he suffered a knock out at the hands of a "girl." He will presumably struggle back into the ring in eight days, still overweight, still reeling, and still ill-prepared. His handlers can see the next disaster looming but are powerless to help a man who doesn't even know he need help.
Hillary no doubt recognizes that underneath the orange make-up, the strands of spun golden hair, and the bullying braggadoccio lies a little child who is terrified, so terrified he cannot admit it to himself Perhaps Hillary will treat him a little more tenderly in this next go-round.
There is zero evidence that Trump is aware that he suffered a knock out at the hands of a "girl." He will presumably struggle back into the ring in eight days, still overweight, still reeling, and still ill-prepared. His handlers can see the next disaster looming but are powerless to help a man who doesn't even know he need help.
Hillary no doubt recognizes that underneath the orange make-up, the strands of spun golden hair, and the bullying braggadoccio lies a little child who is terrified, so terrified he cannot admit it to himself Perhaps Hillary will treat him a little more tenderly in this next go-round.
4
Very cute column Maureen. But you never seem to realize that this is no joke. I won't criticize Trump for his 'policies' because I don't believe he really has one except for serving himself and his kids. And even if he had one, I wouldn't expect him to follow through. Which brings us to his most salient flaw, even more disqualifying than his ignorance and recklessness. He is a pathological liar. A person who will lie to your face, who will deny something he's said only a moment before, recorded on video for all to see, cannot be trusted to guide the ship of state. Under Trump, that ship is sure to founder. Will you Maureen have satisfaction knowing that by trivializing Trump's antics - not to mention goring Hillary every chance you get - you will have helped enable his captaincy of said vessel? Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Go ahead and poke fun at rabid Giuliani, bully Christie, and the reigning Republican 'intellectual' Newt Gingrich. None of this is funny. I don't think you'll be laughing when '13-yr-old girl' Donny attempts to shut down your employer as well as the rest of the free press.
12
Maureen is catching up - after years of Clinton bashing. this is where we are now.
4
Yes, Maureen. It looks like a landslide victory for Clinton, now. How can Donald Trump show his face at the next debate?
On to our first woman president. I think that having a woman in the White House will indeed make America greater and greater. It may add confidence in this country and in economic opportunities for women and for men...
I suggest that the Clinton campaign use gestures. They could make the sign of a "W" by bringing both hands together with "V" signs for woman.
One step for (W)oman. One giant leaf for (H)umankind
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On to our first woman president. I think that having a woman in the White House will indeed make America greater and greater. It may add confidence in this country and in economic opportunities for women and for men...
I suggest that the Clinton campaign use gestures. They could make the sign of a "W" by bringing both hands together with "V" signs for woman.
One step for (W)oman. One giant leaf for (H)umankind
--------------------------------------------------------------------
6
I find this column very offensive. Ms Dowd, I understand what you are trying to do, but pointing out that Donald Trump's personality flaws are characteristics typically and negatively associated with women just perpetuates misogyny. The 13 year old girls deserve better from you. We all do.
27
Ok, so how does one make sense of those Stepford Wives and Daughters?
Not sure I am loving the regurgitation of old sexist roles, but ok, point taken. For the record, there are plenty of 13 year old girls who would kick Trump to the curb. Right after the 68 year old one does.
Not sure I am loving the regurgitation of old sexist roles, but ok, point taken. For the record, there are plenty of 13 year old girls who would kick Trump to the curb. Right after the 68 year old one does.
16
Great satire. Trump the Tiger Beat fan, chomping on bubble gum, talking trash and spreading rumors. And his gaggle of chippy girlfriends, trying to replicate the characters from Mean Girls or 10 Things I Hate About You. Precious, we need more of this, then after November 8, less, in fact no more, ever. No more, Trump must be shunned and not allowed in polite company ever. Nice to have you back Maureen.
3
Great insights into Dona J Trump, mean girl, drama queen. His inner teenage girl persona explains the emotional meltdowns when total adoration is not forthcoming; it explains the amateurish orange makeup and the signature reverse pompadour--a pubescent girl can be pretty darn vain (and overdoing makeup in an attempt to appear more mature is classic pubescent maidenliness).
So Donna Trump is conflicted, struggling with sexual identity. No wonder her disgust with real women. Donna has PMS every day of the month(!) without menstruating--total frustration. Her vanity has grown in reverse proportion to her fading looks. Calling real women dogs, calling their bathroom needs disgusting, lashing out at strong, successful women are all expressions of her insecurity.
Perhaps we have been too harsh on Donna? NOT
So Donna Trump is conflicted, struggling with sexual identity. No wonder her disgust with real women. Donna has PMS every day of the month(!) without menstruating--total frustration. Her vanity has grown in reverse proportion to her fading looks. Calling real women dogs, calling their bathroom needs disgusting, lashing out at strong, successful women are all expressions of her insecurity.
Perhaps we have been too harsh on Donna? NOT
4
America is a now like a cheesy horror movie:
a pretty woman with photoshopped features
ignores all common sense and goes into the dark basement
where a sweaty ax murderer waits.
In the old days the pretty woman’s body would be later found
either by another pretty woman, a matronly housewife, or a naive teenage boy. Now, however, we must witness her complete mutilation and possible
consumption by some blind force of incarnate perversion.
a pretty woman with photoshopped features
ignores all common sense and goes into the dark basement
where a sweaty ax murderer waits.
In the old days the pretty woman’s body would be later found
either by another pretty woman, a matronly housewife, or a naive teenage boy. Now, however, we must witness her complete mutilation and possible
consumption by some blind force of incarnate perversion.
2
This is what we get when the class president is actually in the running for US President.
We deserve the demagogue we rise to power.
Until society realizes that it needs smart people in leadership roles and not rich or pretty people, we will flounder along..
We deserve the demagogue we rise to power.
Until society realizes that it needs smart people in leadership roles and not rich or pretty people, we will flounder along..
2
Your piece is almost clever, except that it runs into all the clichés slung at women while trying to paint the ridiculous and odd behavior of Trump. As we have come to recognize, Trump cannot distinguish between legal and moral. Since the Supremes have declared businesses people, we can talk of their immoral behavior. Trump has given us a cascade of idiotic proposals that make absolutely no sense except to the bigots among us, The foolish people who think he cares about the working class despite the FACT that he uses manufacturing locales all over the world except for the USA is beyond ironic. As he said in the debate, his not paying any income tax is smart. What does that make the rest of us who pay? It seems he believes it is also smart to stiff small businesses who do jobs for him by going bankrupt while he personally collects huge salaries at the same time. I, for one, will not judge Hillary on her behavior responding to Bill's moral lapses. I don't think she owes us an explanation for her loyalty to a marriage that many would have abandoned. There are some things that are simply none of our business. I don't care about Trump's bimbo collection. I thinks that that is his personal business. Trump is nothing more than a vulgar lout who ought never have gotten the nomination, and every Republican knows that he shouldn't be representing their party. I don't care how much support he is getting; he is still not worthy of carrying the mantle of a major political party
4
If a "family-values" Republican woman had closed ranks with her cheating husband, fought successfully to save her marriage, and disparaged the outside woman directly or indirectly, the right-wingers and evangelicals would be singing her praises to the tune of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by your Man."
But when it's Hillary Clinton who's been sinned against?
Uh, not so much. Clearly she must have "enabled" the cheating – – in some way deserving it. And her alleged private, bitter remarks to friends about the outside woman? Of course these were not an understandable expression of her pain and anger but rather a crime against half of humanity.
So let's all judge her, right alongside the notorious adulterers Gingrich, Giuliani, Ailes and Trump.
The verdict: Hillary Clinton is a woman-hating misogynist unfit to occupy the presidency. Those decades of tireless work for the interests of women and children were nothing more than a smokescreen.
But when it's Hillary Clinton who's been sinned against?
Uh, not so much. Clearly she must have "enabled" the cheating – – in some way deserving it. And her alleged private, bitter remarks to friends about the outside woman? Of course these were not an understandable expression of her pain and anger but rather a crime against half of humanity.
So let's all judge her, right alongside the notorious adulterers Gingrich, Giuliani, Ailes and Trump.
The verdict: Hillary Clinton is a woman-hating misogynist unfit to occupy the presidency. Those decades of tireless work for the interests of women and children were nothing more than a smokescreen.
11
Precision Darts.
Too Maureen missed the newest handicap scene by Trump from his Saturday night rally in Mannheim PA where he mimicked how Hillary essentially faltered as she was entering her SUV the morning of the 9/11 Commemoration. She had gotten there at 8 AM and it was about an hour and half later of standing and walking. For anyone who has had even light pneumonia, or knows someone who has, it's tricky because your oxygen supply is reduced because of the inflammation. Pneumonia can get be triggered by fatigue when the immune system dips. The event should be a surprise to no one because of her previous month's USA fund-raising tour.
Now once again Trump shoots for the missing armor and goes in for the kill. What is so disturbing is that he transmits that it is OK to hit a vulnerability in any opponent or anyone who has uncovered something or been negative against him.
He is a political sociopath. He has no empathy for his victims and he encourages his followers to throw stones rather than be empathetic and care givers.
Maureen bravo for taking out your precision dart set.
We all wonder if Trump's numbers will start dribbling down or if they will continue to oscillate.
The next debates, of which the next is a Town Hall with questions from both the moderator and the audience, will be the next points of inflection.
Nine women cannot have a baby in one month and I don't see how Donald can pack in knowhow in the next few weeks.
Too Maureen missed the newest handicap scene by Trump from his Saturday night rally in Mannheim PA where he mimicked how Hillary essentially faltered as she was entering her SUV the morning of the 9/11 Commemoration. She had gotten there at 8 AM and it was about an hour and half later of standing and walking. For anyone who has had even light pneumonia, or knows someone who has, it's tricky because your oxygen supply is reduced because of the inflammation. Pneumonia can get be triggered by fatigue when the immune system dips. The event should be a surprise to no one because of her previous month's USA fund-raising tour.
Now once again Trump shoots for the missing armor and goes in for the kill. What is so disturbing is that he transmits that it is OK to hit a vulnerability in any opponent or anyone who has uncovered something or been negative against him.
He is a political sociopath. He has no empathy for his victims and he encourages his followers to throw stones rather than be empathetic and care givers.
Maureen bravo for taking out your precision dart set.
We all wonder if Trump's numbers will start dribbling down or if they will continue to oscillate.
The next debates, of which the next is a Town Hall with questions from both the moderator and the audience, will be the next points of inflection.
Nine women cannot have a baby in one month and I don't see how Donald can pack in knowhow in the next few weeks.
7
A number of readers have come to the defense of 13 year old girls because of Ms Dowds comments at the end of her column.
I raised two girls, both of whom are much smarter than I, graduated from Ivy League Schools, and each of whom are doing far better than I in this Life....they are wonderful people. However, Ms Dowd is correct about 13 year old girls. At the age of 13 each of my daughters was abducted by some alien force and in their respective places were put people who looked like them but who had foul mouths and bad attitudes. It was not until they respectively entered their sophomore years in college that the real daughters were returned by the aliens.
By my observations, Trump has never grown up and is still in the hands of alien abductors.
I raised two girls, both of whom are much smarter than I, graduated from Ivy League Schools, and each of whom are doing far better than I in this Life....they are wonderful people. However, Ms Dowd is correct about 13 year old girls. At the age of 13 each of my daughters was abducted by some alien force and in their respective places were put people who looked like them but who had foul mouths and bad attitudes. It was not until they respectively entered their sophomore years in college that the real daughters were returned by the aliens.
By my observations, Trump has never grown up and is still in the hands of alien abductors.
5
In fairness to both candidates (for just a second), there is a point when we have to decide if ALL private behavior really does provide any insight into future public action. Just as my evangelical brothers and sisters have done, I'm willing to take Donald Trump's serial infidelities off the table. They are between him, his current and former wives and the God he claims to believe in. Frankly, Donald Trump's public behavior is more than enough to shine the necessary light.
Other people's lives are often convenient fodder for theory. Seldom is this equally true when we examine our own lives. I don't know what to make of Hillary Clinton's marriage. What does it demonstrate about her as a public servant? Was she his enabler? Does she secretly hate women? Does she secretly hate men? Is she insatiably hungry for power? Imagine if your own complicated marriage was reduced to such middle school analysis.
We have a proven ignoramus - a dangerous one at that - running against a woman who, in her public and private lives, clearly made mistakes and misjudgments. Finally, is there really any doubt about who the next president should be?
Other people's lives are often convenient fodder for theory. Seldom is this equally true when we examine our own lives. I don't know what to make of Hillary Clinton's marriage. What does it demonstrate about her as a public servant? Was she his enabler? Does she secretly hate women? Does she secretly hate men? Is she insatiably hungry for power? Imagine if your own complicated marriage was reduced to such middle school analysis.
We have a proven ignoramus - a dangerous one at that - running against a woman who, in her public and private lives, clearly made mistakes and misjudgments. Finally, is there really any doubt about who the next president should be?
6
Maureen, I will continue to be hard on Trump. There's nothing he's done that's of service to anyone. Shame on you to think we need someone like Trump to show us we need to behave with respect and dignity towards women, to give women the right be anything they want and be rewarded for it. All Trump has done is promote misogynist views. He promotes taking women back to the kitchen and become objects and trophies.
Although a young man in the 1960s and 1970s, Trump longed for the 1940s and 1950s. Trump is a disservice to women and to all of us that that live in the 21st century.
Now please, stop defending the indefensible.
Although a young man in the 1960s and 1970s, Trump longed for the 1940s and 1950s. Trump is a disservice to women and to all of us that that live in the 21st century.
Now please, stop defending the indefensible.
10
The political, media and business elites of this country say Trump's an existential threat to the Republic.
Perhaps. It's equally likely that at least half of the voters, appalled as they are by this absurd man, nonetheless want to cast a protest vote for him. Why is that?
A suggestion to Ms Dowd and her colleagues: stop looking at screens, get out from your cubicles and talk to people.
Ask them what they think of your Orwellian newspeak about "undocumented workers," or the blatant contempt for law and for the citizenry shown by over 300 American self-declared "sanctuary cities."
The fruits of that policy - whose social benefits no one (aside from some corrupt poultry factory owners and fast-food kings) can articulate - is massive, relentless damage to
- our public schools
- our state and local budgets
- our health care system
- our millions of unemployed unskilled citizens
- our long-ago forgotten national ethos of "out of many, one"
Enough.
Trump is a vehicle for the despair of millions of Americans who have seen their elites trash this country in the name of a cynical open borders policy aimed at securing political advantage.
When they say, "I want my country back," they're saying: I want restoration of rule of law; I want respect for this nation's citizens who obey the laws and are working hard to repair the mess that our foolish and cynical elites have created.
Perhaps. It's equally likely that at least half of the voters, appalled as they are by this absurd man, nonetheless want to cast a protest vote for him. Why is that?
A suggestion to Ms Dowd and her colleagues: stop looking at screens, get out from your cubicles and talk to people.
Ask them what they think of your Orwellian newspeak about "undocumented workers," or the blatant contempt for law and for the citizenry shown by over 300 American self-declared "sanctuary cities."
The fruits of that policy - whose social benefits no one (aside from some corrupt poultry factory owners and fast-food kings) can articulate - is massive, relentless damage to
- our public schools
- our state and local budgets
- our health care system
- our millions of unemployed unskilled citizens
- our long-ago forgotten national ethos of "out of many, one"
Enough.
Trump is a vehicle for the despair of millions of Americans who have seen their elites trash this country in the name of a cynical open borders policy aimed at securing political advantage.
When they say, "I want my country back," they're saying: I want restoration of rule of law; I want respect for this nation's citizens who obey the laws and are working hard to repair the mess that our foolish and cynical elites have created.
2
Excellent! The election decision is now easy: Hillary or Trump. Either way we get a tough talking politician in the White House who has never passed a psychological test confirming emotional stability under pressure.
Over the years I have witnessed numerous examples of marital infidelity among coworkers, employees and friends. I don't recall any instance where the aggrieved wife gave life affirming testimonials about the other woman.
Juxtaposition that with Trump whose wives agreed to prenuptial agreements and both wives and lovers signed nondisclosure agreements. In that or most any light, his arguments ring hollow and petty. One could say desperate.
Juxtaposition that with Trump whose wives agreed to prenuptial agreements and both wives and lovers signed nondisclosure agreements. In that or most any light, his arguments ring hollow and petty. One could say desperate.
12
All things considered an incredible amount of human nature has been at play with all of Hillary and Bill Clinton's escapades through life.
They are gifted bright and were able to jump from non-sophisticated family backgrounds get educated and choose to work in public service. That was their chosen occupation.
Along the way there were great successes and a normal mix of human nature missteps or mishaps that any two people working and living alongside the Republican Party Revolutionary Guard would sooner or later find themselves as targets and vilified as national threats, scandalous, and our nation's disgrace.
When you look at Hillary's role as protector-in-chief of the family and her legal defense training, she has done what she was supposed to do as a defense against the real world right-wing conspiracy.
That was an inartful description at the time but it is real -- very real -- and it has created an alternate universe in which thousands of people and organizations work daily with human nature as their prey.
Donald Trump plagiarized "they send us their rapists" out of Ann Coulter's book and upon her recommendation to use it as red meat in his coming out party.
Donald Trumps campaign has been a 24/7 smear party of red meat because he uses this to shelter from his ignorance about policy. Everyone of his pronouncements on China, trade, NATO, the military, law and order, our American collapse, we don't win anymore are all second-hand. He is a genuine bad idea.
They are gifted bright and were able to jump from non-sophisticated family backgrounds get educated and choose to work in public service. That was their chosen occupation.
Along the way there were great successes and a normal mix of human nature missteps or mishaps that any two people working and living alongside the Republican Party Revolutionary Guard would sooner or later find themselves as targets and vilified as national threats, scandalous, and our nation's disgrace.
When you look at Hillary's role as protector-in-chief of the family and her legal defense training, she has done what she was supposed to do as a defense against the real world right-wing conspiracy.
That was an inartful description at the time but it is real -- very real -- and it has created an alternate universe in which thousands of people and organizations work daily with human nature as their prey.
Donald Trump plagiarized "they send us their rapists" out of Ann Coulter's book and upon her recommendation to use it as red meat in his coming out party.
Donald Trumps campaign has been a 24/7 smear party of red meat because he uses this to shelter from his ignorance about policy. Everyone of his pronouncements on China, trade, NATO, the military, law and order, our American collapse, we don't win anymore are all second-hand. He is a genuine bad idea.
10
And meanwhile the palm trees are starting to sprout north of the Arctic Circle. I would say this grotesque two-year presidential contest is fiddling while Rome burns except that's true for our entire culture where pint-sized gladiators hypnotized by self-love, greed and fear do their best to bash one another's heads in no matter what's happening to the planet and its innocent inhabitants. Wonder when it'll all be over.
3
Maureen was traipsing in a new direction, dissing Trump, until suddenly at the 16th paragraph of her Op-Ed a switch-back,
off on a 5-paragraph Hillary tangent.
Cognitive dissonance: a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors producing a feeling of discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.
off on a 5-paragraph Hillary tangent.
Cognitive dissonance: a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors producing a feeling of discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.
11
This is a piece by a disappointingly problematically prepubescent and thin-skinned girl who keeps tripping and gossiping over and lashing out in jealousy and pain at whom she has singled out as her rival beauty pageant crown contestant who is enjoying a stage that she has been denied.
She grew old with her, but keeps bickering with abandonment in full 13-year old overdrive.
All curled up in the 13-year old seat she identifies all others caught in that seat except herself.
Interestingly this is indeed to a large extent also the baby boy/girl outlook of Trump and his supporters. Except they got yuge grown-up leverage and though they lack male stamina or female resilience, they got male aggression in fits and starts of the low-voice squeal.
And I hate that the ridicule is painting the Trump spectacle as a harmless vaudeville show to grow fond of.
What about grown-up and growing up voters who see malicious intent to abuse power for private (donor) interests in the only two choices with a serious chance to become president that they have, but want to offer themselves and their children a life, while the uberrich are sucking and twisting all life out of it?
Maureen leaves them.
A former American president said America is not a democracy any more but effectively an oligarchy now. There wasn´t even a stir, Sir.
Beholden and slow-to-cope media ain´t helping.
I want to see Times readers re-elect their opinion writers each two years. Welcome in, Gemli, Socrates, Rozenblit etc.
She grew old with her, but keeps bickering with abandonment in full 13-year old overdrive.
All curled up in the 13-year old seat she identifies all others caught in that seat except herself.
Interestingly this is indeed to a large extent also the baby boy/girl outlook of Trump and his supporters. Except they got yuge grown-up leverage and though they lack male stamina or female resilience, they got male aggression in fits and starts of the low-voice squeal.
And I hate that the ridicule is painting the Trump spectacle as a harmless vaudeville show to grow fond of.
What about grown-up and growing up voters who see malicious intent to abuse power for private (donor) interests in the only two choices with a serious chance to become president that they have, but want to offer themselves and their children a life, while the uberrich are sucking and twisting all life out of it?
Maureen leaves them.
A former American president said America is not a democracy any more but effectively an oligarchy now. There wasn´t even a stir, Sir.
Beholden and slow-to-cope media ain´t helping.
I want to see Times readers re-elect their opinion writers each two years. Welcome in, Gemli, Socrates, Rozenblit etc.
13
These are adult men, not 13 year old girls. The difference with these particular adult men is that they are not afraid to say what they are thinking. Not that they are all that different from a significant number of the male persuasion! While this column was funny, it was also sad to see a woman using the "run like a girl" meme to point out the obnoxious behavior of these adult men!
Believe it or not, many men, including those who claim to be feminists, harbor some of these kinds of ingrained "truths" about women. This is not going to change one tiny little thing about gender in politics. Even though you pointed it out, Maureen, most men will deny this. They can't see it. And perhaps never will. It is akin to white people not understanding what racism really is. It is why they don't understand Black Lives Matter. White people don't get it. And men don't get it.
Believe it or not, many men, including those who claim to be feminists, harbor some of these kinds of ingrained "truths" about women. This is not going to change one tiny little thing about gender in politics. Even though you pointed it out, Maureen, most men will deny this. They can't see it. And perhaps never will. It is akin to white people not understanding what racism really is. It is why they don't understand Black Lives Matter. White people don't get it. And men don't get it.
11
Maureen you never disappoint. This was so right on.
5
Does Trump or any of his minions understand the definition of hypocrisy? Evidence would say they definitely do not.
How could any of them think it would be a good idea to attack a woman over her husband's infidelities or her reactions to it. How could any of them not see the problem where an admitted and well documented serial philanderer harps on about the marital difficulties of a couple who were actually able to save their marriage? And if that's not mind boggling enough, how do seemingly normal, even possibly educated people continue to support someone so bereft of ideas that they have to stoop to that tactic and actually believe it will work?
I suspect psychology, sociology and political science students will be studying this election for decades to come. I hope someone figures it out.
How could any of them think it would be a good idea to attack a woman over her husband's infidelities or her reactions to it. How could any of them not see the problem where an admitted and well documented serial philanderer harps on about the marital difficulties of a couple who were actually able to save their marriage? And if that's not mind boggling enough, how do seemingly normal, even possibly educated people continue to support someone so bereft of ideas that they have to stoop to that tactic and actually believe it will work?
I suspect psychology, sociology and political science students will be studying this election for decades to come. I hope someone figures it out.
35
Keeping score, Hillary Clinton has been married to one man for 40 years, her husband has been a philanderer, and she is accused of claiming the other women had questionable virtue or threw themselves at him. She is called “shifty.” No one has any facts to cite, other than her using a private email server, whereby a few emails may have contained classified information.
Clinton has been questioned for many hours by Republicans, which they admit was political, and they came up with nothing except the email sever. She has apologized publicly.
Donald Trump has had three wives and is a serial adulterer. He was given millions by his father and took over the business, which today is worth lots of money – though not as much as if he had bought a mutual fund.
Trump has had four bankruptcies, leaving lenders with losses and stiffing small contractors. He pays no federal income taxes and uses a charitable foundation as his personal piggy bank. He bilked the students at a school he founded, and he used cheap Polish labor to replace Americans on projects – then stiffed the Poles.
Trump has been caught in many lies and regularly bullies people – especially women. He extols violence and admires a Russian autocrat, inviting him to hack the Democrats. Trump sees no reason not to use nukes to settle disputes.
Trump engages in racism, misogyny and anti-religious bigotry. He thinks global warming is a hoax. He has never apologized for anything.
Current tally: A real neck-and-neck race.
Clinton has been questioned for many hours by Republicans, which they admit was political, and they came up with nothing except the email sever. She has apologized publicly.
Donald Trump has had three wives and is a serial adulterer. He was given millions by his father and took over the business, which today is worth lots of money – though not as much as if he had bought a mutual fund.
Trump has had four bankruptcies, leaving lenders with losses and stiffing small contractors. He pays no federal income taxes and uses a charitable foundation as his personal piggy bank. He bilked the students at a school he founded, and he used cheap Polish labor to replace Americans on projects – then stiffed the Poles.
Trump has been caught in many lies and regularly bullies people – especially women. He extols violence and admires a Russian autocrat, inviting him to hack the Democrats. Trump sees no reason not to use nukes to settle disputes.
Trump engages in racism, misogyny and anti-religious bigotry. He thinks global warming is a hoax. He has never apologized for anything.
Current tally: A real neck-and-neck race.
87
And so, you've finally figured out that Trump is a flaming misogynist? Congratulations. That ship has already sailed but you may be in time to get a partial refund on your ticket if your readership allows it. I doubt they will, however.
That's too bad, but as you ended your column: "We should have known..." Most of us did.
That's too bad, but as you ended your column: "We should have known..." Most of us did.
176
Maureen Dowd finally got it right! Donald Trump is a thirteen year old girl!
58
There you go, Maureen, insulting 13 year old girls.
147
They are more than mean girls. They are hypocrites and liars, claiming that their objections to the Clintons have anything to do with their behavior. This is the party of Strom Thurmond, Richard Nixon. Sarah palin and Donald Trump, and they had the nerve to attempt to impeach Clinton due to his affairs, and now to blame Hillary? It is long past time for you to admit that their real objection is to anybody who might raise their taxes, or attempt to do something about global warming, and that they would be willing to question the integrity of Pope Francis if they felt the need. They've attacked the integrity of everyone from military heroes such as Kerry to research scientists, and the accepting the idea that the Clintons are somehow more shifty or deserving of mistrust is a sign that their propaganda war worked.
164
HRC took her wedding vows seriously.
Do you know who hasn't?
Little Hands himself, Rudy Guillianni, Newt Gingrich, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh and scores of other hypocritical rightists adulterers.
So bring up Bill's infidelities all the live long day but do you really think the American people can't see that your current trophy wife is the result of adulterous behavior from the tiny handed twerp that's runnin' for President. Amd that your second wife was the result of cheating on yoyr first wife.
Trust me boy, HRC is ready to turn your obese body into mince meat should you bring up Bill's past and I for one can't wait to see it stuffed right back down yiur throat.
Do you know who hasn't?
Little Hands himself, Rudy Guillianni, Newt Gingrich, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh and scores of other hypocritical rightists adulterers.
So bring up Bill's infidelities all the live long day but do you really think the American people can't see that your current trophy wife is the result of adulterous behavior from the tiny handed twerp that's runnin' for President. Amd that your second wife was the result of cheating on yoyr first wife.
Trust me boy, HRC is ready to turn your obese body into mince meat should you bring up Bill's past and I for one can't wait to see it stuffed right back down yiur throat.
194
I absolutely blame Hillary for her bad behavior towards the women who willingly let Bill "have his way" with them. She was totally wrong to say anything bad about them.
EVERY betrayed wife or girlfriend ALWAYS sends flowers, candy, and commiserates with the woman their husband/lover betrayed with them, They ALWAYS say nice things about them, ALWAYS compliment them for being so clever and cunning that they could overlook the fact the man was married and betraying a wife/lover who had no idea it was happening.
Therefore, I blame Hillary for being human, being hurt, being angry, feeling betrayed and YET continuing to stay in a marriage where she once uttered the lines "for better, for worse, until death do us part."
EVERY betrayed wife or girlfriend ALWAYS sends flowers, candy, and commiserates with the woman their husband/lover betrayed with them, They ALWAYS say nice things about them, ALWAYS compliment them for being so clever and cunning that they could overlook the fact the man was married and betraying a wife/lover who had no idea it was happening.
Therefore, I blame Hillary for being human, being hurt, being angry, feeling betrayed and YET continuing to stay in a marriage where she once uttered the lines "for better, for worse, until death do us part."
237
I think you do a disservice to 13 year old girls!
133
Your column is revealing that Trump is really a 13-year-old girl. which evidently is a bad thing? I understand what you were trying to accomplish with this column, but in the end, it's too clever by half.
18
Another pointless attack on Hillary Clinton disguised as an attack on Trump.
114
"Trump is surrounded by a bitchy sewing circle of overweight men who are overwrought at the prospect of a distaff Clinton presidency."
THIS is exactly why there is so much churn in this election. It reminds me so much of middle school.
THIS is exactly why there is so much churn in this election. It reminds me so much of middle school.
22
Maureen, you really know how to hit the nail on the head!
"We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?"
Bernie and Elizabeth will keep tabs on her and show her when and where she to aim.
"We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?"
Bernie and Elizabeth will keep tabs on her and show her when and where she to aim.
8
I once heard an old-school, unathletic boys soccer coach scream "c'mon LADIES!" at his team for missing a goal. The worst insult he could think of was to call them female. I talked with him after the game to say that first graders did not need to hear him slam women. He was rightly embarrassed.
Fast forward, or rewind to the 50s, to Ms. Dowd - who used her column today to insult Trump and his ilk about their female-style gossip habits and cattiness. Their profound racism, reoeated lying, climate change denial, Putin and Kim Jong-un worship, and direct calls for violence have nothing to do with any female stereotype. Dowd, too, should be embarrassed for her chauvinistic behavior.
This election is not about cattiness and The New York Times is not a tabloid. Seas are rising, guns are killing, children are starving. I urge Ms. Dowd to get on top of the issues and get off of her peculiar, long-running beef against womankind.
Fast forward, or rewind to the 50s, to Ms. Dowd - who used her column today to insult Trump and his ilk about their female-style gossip habits and cattiness. Their profound racism, reoeated lying, climate change denial, Putin and Kim Jong-un worship, and direct calls for violence have nothing to do with any female stereotype. Dowd, too, should be embarrassed for her chauvinistic behavior.
This election is not about cattiness and The New York Times is not a tabloid. Seas are rising, guns are killing, children are starving. I urge Ms. Dowd to get on top of the issues and get off of her peculiar, long-running beef against womankind.
129
Dour Maureen Dowd has never said a kind word about Hillary as long as I've been reading her. And she still hasn't for there was nothing kind about Hillary in this piece either. But she has a problem. Trump is worse, and she knows it. But still can't bring herself to support the person she has spent all these years vilifying. I wonder if she will ever tell us who she will support in the election. It's going to be hard for her. Maybe a third party person? Or no one at all?
89
It was macho muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger who called his political opponents, "girlie men." Now Maureen Dowd has one-upped that by calling out Trump and his "bitchy sewing circle," and dubbing Trump himself as a thirteen year old girlie girl. Wow!! Trump has brought presidential politics to an embarrassing new low. I honestly fear for our country.
48
"This, even though in case after case, Bill Clinton would later admit the women were telling the truth."
So, that would mean Hillary DID NOT know the woman was telling the truth, believed her lying husband (not unreasonable) and was not being catty or vindictive.
Oh, yeah, and in a lot of those cases the women were not telling the truth.
On one talk show today a woman who started an organization called "Latinos For Trump" was asked about Trump's comments about Machado.
The woman replied that Trump's behavior towards women was similar to that of Bill Clinton. When the moderator pointed out that Bill was not running for president the spokesperson said that Hillary is an extension of Bill's behavior and, therefore, there is little difference between Trump's comments and hers.
So, that would mean Hillary DID NOT know the woman was telling the truth, believed her lying husband (not unreasonable) and was not being catty or vindictive.
Oh, yeah, and in a lot of those cases the women were not telling the truth.
On one talk show today a woman who started an organization called "Latinos For Trump" was asked about Trump's comments about Machado.
The woman replied that Trump's behavior towards women was similar to that of Bill Clinton. When the moderator pointed out that Bill was not running for president the spokesperson said that Hillary is an extension of Bill's behavior and, therefore, there is little difference between Trump's comments and hers.
13
No Maureen, you need to stop comparing the disgusting actions of Trump and his surrogates as behavior befitting a female. Make the men own their own shameful actions. You need to apologize to all the 13 year old girls you insulted because most would display more sense than these dudes.
165
How I hate that in Dowd's world, female means weak, silly, girly, and loathesome---and the best way to mock a man is to feminize him. Like Obambi...like Trump's sewing circle (dear God, I can smell the testosterone from here)...I think Trump and his gang of racists would be better off sitting around giving each other home perms and pedicures than trying to run the country, but make no mistake, these guys are alpha, alt-right males. Bring on traditional female values of kindness and tolerance, clichéd or not.
127
Please don't insult 13 year old girls by comparing them to Trump! They are A LOT cooler and smarter and kinder than he is.
The best thing about the Fat Man Adulterers Real Housewives' Club is how their groupthink is destroying the Trump campaign. They sit around and come up with zingers that are only clever or persuasive in their closed universe. Examples of that groupthink: "I finished it!" and "She's no Angel" and "At least I'm awake at 3am!" (It's so stupid you have to laugh.)
To make matter worse (for Trump supporters), the Fat Man Adulterers bully everyone with dissenting viewpoints, so there is zero chance that this campaign will cease being tone deaf.
The best thing about the Fat Man Adulterers Real Housewives' Club is how their groupthink is destroying the Trump campaign. They sit around and come up with zingers that are only clever or persuasive in their closed universe. Examples of that groupthink: "I finished it!" and "She's no Angel" and "At least I'm awake at 3am!" (It's so stupid you have to laugh.)
To make matter worse (for Trump supporters), the Fat Man Adulterers bully everyone with dissenting viewpoints, so there is zero chance that this campaign will cease being tone deaf.
78
We don't need a mastertweeter in the White House!!
32
he speaks in valley girl, for sure, gag me with a spoon.
but what about the 3:00 am tweets? And the sniffing? Shades of Martha, or something less liquid? Isn't that why he said his mic didn't work, it picked up that sniffing? and while Howard ought not to have speculated on the source of those sniffs that Donald defended with a tech explanation, those 3:00 tweets would suggest something to recovered and otherwise fellows, would it not, where or not we dare ask?
but what about the 3:00 am tweets? And the sniffing? Shades of Martha, or something less liquid? Isn't that why he said his mic didn't work, it picked up that sniffing? and while Howard ought not to have speculated on the source of those sniffs that Donald defended with a tech explanation, those 3:00 tweets would suggest something to recovered and otherwise fellows, would it not, where or not we dare ask?
28
"Every minute of every day, Trump debunks that old “science” when he shows that the gossipy, backbiting, scolding, mercurial, overly emotional, shrewish, menopausal one in this race is not the woman."
And his hand size is just right, almost manly even. It is his soul that is stunted beyond belief.
Thank you Maureen.
Incidentally, you were great on Bill Maher's show.
And his hand size is just right, almost manly even. It is his soul that is stunted beyond belief.
Thank you Maureen.
Incidentally, you were great on Bill Maher's show.
46
After 20 years of calling Democratic men women and Democratic women men, Ms. Dowd has begun doing the same type of name-calling towards the GOP. Sadly, this version is just as stupid, depressing, and crude as its predecessor.
20
Razor sharp insight, with such command of our language to so perfectly, to so clearly communicate what so many of us feel about Mr Trump and what he represents. Well done, again, Ms Dowd!
3
Why the cheap shot at Mrs. Clinton? If your hubby cheated, would you send her flowers and candy? So tired of the double standard
121
You are a thoughtful, perspicacious and humorous person, Ms Dowd,
it was a pleasure to see you with Bill Maher and continues with this column.
Thanks.
it was a pleasure to see you with Bill Maher and continues with this column.
Thanks.
2
Yeah. It is kinda ironic that Trump and his cohorts are acting like diva's while Hillary's steadiness and yes a bit of ruthlessness are winning the day :-)
21
Trump is still the 13-year old boy whose parent's had to send him to a military school because he was a mischievous, incorrigible boy.
And nothing has changed in the past 57 years.
And nothing has changed in the past 57 years.
53
Best. Take Down. Ever.
Brilliant writing.
Thank you, Ms. Dowd, for going above and beyond your patriotic duty.
Brilliant writing.
Thank you, Ms. Dowd, for going above and beyond your patriotic duty.
9
"No one worries that Hillary is not tough enough to be president. We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?"
Oh, Maureen … what an odd question to pose, considering the first debate. Hillary knew just where to aim. And she hit the bulls eye, again and again. It was a thing of beauty, witnessed by millions. Mr. Trump is still dazed and confused.
Oh, Maureen … what an odd question to pose, considering the first debate. Hillary knew just where to aim. And she hit the bulls eye, again and again. It was a thing of beauty, witnessed by millions. Mr. Trump is still dazed and confused.
185
Let's stop calling Trump a girl, a woman, a child. It demeans girls, women, and children who are not blighted, by nature, with the qualities Trump displays.
He's just a sorry excuse for a man, a bad excuse for a candidate, and there's no excuse for voting for him.
He's just a sorry excuse for a man, a bad excuse for a candidate, and there's no excuse for voting for him.
992
Agree. Maureen, you are a brilliant writer but that last sentence took all the heft out of every sentence before it. He is not a girl. He's a disgusting example of the male gender.
3
I have a suggestion for Clinton's retort when Trump brings up her husband's activities: "I don't know what goes on in the minds of men regarding these things, perhaps Donald knows more about it". And say no more.
49
One difference between Trump and a 13-year-old girl is that a 13-year-old girl doesn’t have 12 million followers on Twitter. When he goes off on one of his rants it’s not merely gossip among friends. He’s sharing his hate with the world.
Armed with 12 million plus followers he set out to make Alicia Machado’s life a living hell. That’s not the behavior of an adolescent girl. That’s the behavior of a sick man.
Armed with 12 million plus followers he set out to make Alicia Machado’s life a living hell. That’s not the behavior of an adolescent girl. That’s the behavior of a sick man.
553
Trump really is the 10 year old boy in the back row of class, chewing bubble gum and making snarky asides to his buddies.
Watch the debate again when he leans into the microphone to make the snarky comments: "Did not", "Didn't say that", "Ugh".
At the townhall debate I fully expect him to blow a big bubble with his bubblegum.
Watch the debate again when he leans into the microphone to make the snarky comments: "Did not", "Didn't say that", "Ugh".
At the townhall debate I fully expect him to blow a big bubble with his bubblegum.
30
Increasingly, it seems to be the case that for men in powerful position, extramarital affairs are the rule, not the exception. What made Bill Clinton's behavior seem so tawdry was the fact that som of the women he slept with saw their association with him as an opportunity to cash in on the notoriety. If every woman involved in an affair with a politician publicised it, we would be drowning in confessions. What I really don't get is the sexism that suggest that women who knowingly slept with a married man and public official and decide to publicize it somehow desrve the sympathy or protection of the politician's wife. How is that a feminist position?
93
Not only that, but the right wing actively supported any woman willing to make a claim against Bill Clinton, no matter how silly. There was money to be made. Paula Jones, with her makeover and new wardrobe and who knows how much more. The rape thing has been disproven over and over and was deemed legally without merit. The woman involved changed her story over and over. Yet this lie keeps being thrown out as a fact.
Doesn't change that all of us who support him really really wish he hadn't strayed Stupid. But Hillary was the victim. And the women willingly participated.
Doesn't change that all of us who support him really really wish he hadn't strayed Stupid. But Hillary was the victim. And the women willingly participated.
2
DebbieR:
What made Bill Clinton's behavior so tawdry was not the behavior of the women. What made his behavior tawdry was HIS behavior. There may be legitimate criticism of the women too. That does not mean his behavior was not tawdry. Why is it necessary to excuse the Clintons and seek to blame others? The Clintons seem to be competent adults. Let's hold them accountable for their actions. That seems to me to be equality, an aim of feminism.
What made Bill Clinton's behavior so tawdry was not the behavior of the women. What made his behavior tawdry was HIS behavior. There may be legitimate criticism of the women too. That does not mean his behavior was not tawdry. Why is it necessary to excuse the Clintons and seek to blame others? The Clintons seem to be competent adults. Let's hold them accountable for their actions. That seems to me to be equality, an aim of feminism.
"Increasingly"?
Any student of history knows that powerful men have always tended to have multiple sexual partners. Why? Because they can.
Any student of history knows that powerful men have always tended to have multiple sexual partners. Why? Because they can.
3
Maureen Dowd is like a broken record when it comes to Hillary. Maybe women who've had affairs with married men feel that the wives should be nice to them - but I know of no one else who does. Monica Lewinsky was young, but an adult, and certainly knew that Bill Clinton was married when she flashed her thongs at him. If Hillary did say nasty things about her, it makes her human, not sexist, as Trump claims. Perhaps Hillary loves Bill and wants to believe him. Why his sexual conduct should disqualify her from the presidency is beyond me - especially when this thesis is advanced by Trump, Gingrich, and Giuliani, three men with three wives apiece, each with a well documented history of unfaithfulness. Maybe they told their wives that they were "enablers?"
770
Agreed, and also: After years of heaping scorn on Hillary as if her conduct was equivalent to the massive obstruction of government worked by Congressional Republicans, and after after continually referring to our twice-elected President as "Barry," perhaps the chickens have come home to roost on Ms. Dowd. She has the electorate that she helped create.
7
Well documented history of unfaithfulness and meanness if not cruelty.
2
I too am tired of Dowd's diatribes against Hillary. Enough.
3
I hope Hillary, when confronted by Mr Trump with her husband's infidelities, and her responses, assumes responsibility for her reactions. They were not unusual. Many women would "stand by their men", (ironic, in light of her comments back then), and she should admit to that. She would seem like us, human.
80
To say that Trump was a 13-year-old girl is an insult to 13-year-old girls! Trump is a archetype of extremely narcissistic, pathological, and vulgar men. I have seen more men acting as "drama-kings" than women acting as "drama-queens"I simply cannot imagine how anyone can defend this man publicly without a ounce of uneasiness and conscience. I have never and hope will never seen a presidential candidate of US like Trump again. He brings shame upon the country.
100
Yes Maureen, this is a clever put down. But perhaps it is too clever since it presumes women are still "the second sex," and that venomous male sexual harassment, no matter how crude and oafish, is funny. The sad truth is, as Eve Ensler (of "The Vagina Monologues") commented the other day, that we live in a "rape culture" with and epidemic on college campuses and in the military by little Donnies, Rudies, and Newties. And, that sadly, is "no laughing matter." You may still want to savage Hillary, but at least she has stood up to this sexual abuse and humiliation in both her public and private life. It takes a really strong woman to save a marriage (something that Donald, Rudy and Newt know nothing about) and to fight for all women whether or not they trust her or not.
120
Why doesn't Ms. Dowd just come out and say it? Why tiptoe around and then throw in weak jibes at Clinton to provide a sense of some "balance". A Trump presidency is such a horrific and revolting thought that every headline in every paper should be laying waste to the Republican party for nominating this nut. We've run out of words to describe Trump. The English language has been exhausted of its vocabulary and its phrases have run dry. November 8th - bring it on. We have to wake up from this bad dream laced with Twitter nonsense and short fingered pointing from this sick and dim-witted man.
129
The next 5 weeks of the campaign will look like some version of "mutually assured destruction" carried to completion. Instead of using nuclear weapons it will be fought on Twitter with innuendo and smear about the candidate's sex lives. Welcome to a new democracy.
9
Ya gotta wonder where these Trump supporters park their smarts when rushing to the defence of the indefensible. It's possible they're not so smart OK - but it's more likely they are smart but have a self-serving agenda like, say, a seat in the US Cabinet in return for committing intellectual suicide in the hope of an appointment.
I can't help but think these folks are on fool's errands in that his chances of winning are rapidly eroding - but also the everlasting damage to their reputations is rusted, bolted, screwed, cemented, superglued, welded forever to their names. It's going to be hard if not impossible for Giuliani Gingrich Christie Conway et al. to ever remove the stain of championing this blatant misogynist.
As the saying goes - "He that lieth down with dogs..." etc.
I can't help but think these folks are on fool's errands in that his chances of winning are rapidly eroding - but also the everlasting damage to their reputations is rusted, bolted, screwed, cemented, superglued, welded forever to their names. It's going to be hard if not impossible for Giuliani Gingrich Christie Conway et al. to ever remove the stain of championing this blatant misogynist.
As the saying goes - "He that lieth down with dogs..." etc.
58
Tom: I agree. But I wonder if people like Christie and Giuliani (and many, many more) didn't start the sell-out decades ago. We've used fictitious characters like Gordon Gekko to illustrate the corruption that was afoot back then. But we also had the executives and operatives of Enron, and more recently the constructors and salesmen of toxic assets, aka mortgage-based derivatives--which were stamped AAA by the rating agencies while the SEC was asleep. We have business classes and professional classes that are, by and large, ethically challenged, to put it mildly.
4
It's called trading integrity for relevance. But I fear and hope that in this case the relevance will be short-lived.
3
No sympathy here. They are doing it with eyes and pockets wide open.
3
The fun part, if there can be one, of living through the rise, and hopeful fall, of a fascist is witnessing people taking sides.
From George Will's public abandonment of the GOP to Megyn Kelly's shade throwing at Herr Hannity to Pres Bush I owning his Hillary vote, they'll be movies made about who took the right side and who didn't.
And this article will get at least a 3 minute moment that defines how American misogyny died the next level of its long coming death.
I hope Ms Dowd gets the kudos she deserves for owning and calling out the moment in a wonderfully cynical and fun way!
From George Will's public abandonment of the GOP to Megyn Kelly's shade throwing at Herr Hannity to Pres Bush I owning his Hillary vote, they'll be movies made about who took the right side and who didn't.
And this article will get at least a 3 minute moment that defines how American misogyny died the next level of its long coming death.
I hope Ms Dowd gets the kudos she deserves for owning and calling out the moment in a wonderfully cynical and fun way!
21
Maureen, once again as usual you asked the $64,000 question about Hillary Clinton when you wrote, "We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?" That's my biggest worry about her. Will she get us in yet another useless war? But I am a Vietnam veteran. And I'm not ashamed to admit that as a man war really still scares me after what I saw as a medical corpsman. But is she tough enough to be president? She is as tough as nails and is clearly the ultimate survivor of down-and-dirty politics since she circled the wagons after her husband had various "bimbo eruptions" during his first campaign run for the White House. In fact, she makes Richard Nixon look like a wimp. That's my only reservation about her being our next president. And as a political operative, she as shrewd as they come. As senator she voted for GWB's Iraq War resolution, yet she waved the flag during the DNC when she had Mr. & Mrs. Khan, who lost their son, make that dramatic appearance at the convention. And of course, Donald Trump took her bait. hook, line and sinker, when he later lashed out at them. That's the reason why I voted for Senator Bernie Sanders in the Ohio primary. Even though Ohio seems up for grabs in the upcoming election here when it comes to working-class voters. I still think that Hillary will squeeze by and beat Trump in November. Though I will still vote for Dr. Jill Stein. I still regret voting for John Kerry who as a Vietnam veteran also voted for that resolution.
7
@George H. You live in OH, you oppose Trump and apparently see him as the threat to the health and well-being of the republic that he truly is, and yet you're going to vote for him anyway. Because, make no mistake: if you vote for Jill Stein you will have voted for Trump just as surely as if you had actually pulled the lever for him.
33
Hillary has acknowledged and apologized for that vote. Any Bernie supporter that cares about the issues - equal pay, the environment, etc., should know that Hillary is his recommended choice, George. A vote for Stein is a vote for Donald.
7
Interesting that you won't vote for Hillary because of her Iraq War vote (which I too condemn), but you did vote for Kerry, who also supported the War (before he opposed it). Could there, just possibly, be a little misogyny at work here?
A vote for Jill Stein might make sense in a parliamentary democracy, where her Green Party could--like Germany's Greens--make it into parliament and then either be an effective opposition or else a member of coalition administration (as they are in a number of the German states). But in our antiquated and dysfunctional system such a vote is a futile, yes silly, gesture when the only choice is Clinton or, God help us, Trump. Please wake up, Mr. Hoffman, you live in Ohio, your vote really does count!
A vote for Jill Stein might make sense in a parliamentary democracy, where her Green Party could--like Germany's Greens--make it into parliament and then either be an effective opposition or else a member of coalition administration (as they are in a number of the German states). But in our antiquated and dysfunctional system such a vote is a futile, yes silly, gesture when the only choice is Clinton or, God help us, Trump. Please wake up, Mr. Hoffman, you live in Ohio, your vote really does count!
8
Funny and accurate, when depicting girly Trump as a thin-skinned idiot, easily aroused to attack at the least provocation, and his inability to let go. Crooked lying Trump is depicted as a bully, a vulgar one at that, and a coward to boot. He is so immature that he won't think twice attacking others by innuendo, as an excuse to not have to confront facts, nor the truth, in his empty rhetoric. Trump is not 13 anymore, in spite of his attitude; a 70 year-old prune instead, whose decrepit neurons have taken a leave of absence...as they rightfully need some distance from so much incoherence.
40
For Maureen Hillary will always be the mean girl who goes after other women when in fact she is known to have a host of longtime friends who are women. She has been described as having a talent for friendship and collegiality. I don't think she's destroyed anyone and if she confronted anyone involved with her husband she was only being human something most women married to men who stray would understand. As for her deciding to stay married, that is her decision and I respect that.
222
I actually considered voting for Trump until I realized I love the U.S. more than I hate Hillary.
246
I deeply respect your position. Please work to persuade your fellow Georgians.
Based on principles and beliefs that are bone-deep within me, I am a diehard liberal Democrat. I have not voted for one Republican in about 40 years of voting. (On one occasion, I wasted my vote on a third-party candidate – – John Anderson in 1980 – – but that was when I was young and stupid and didn't get that voting is not a "symbolic act.")
As Donald Trump has exposed more and more facets of himself over the past 15 months, there came a point when I posed the following hypothetical to myself: If someone with these characteristics were running for president as a Democrat, could I bring myself to vote for the Republican to stop him or her?
Early on, the answer was no way. Then more time passed and the answer became a weak no. Then the answer was not an answer but a sick feeling of denial and depression for my country. (How did we get here? Will I wake up and discover it's just a night terror?) Finally, at some point along this dreary road – – maybe after the open letter from 50 national security experts or maybe after Trump encouraged Putin during a press conference to hack within the US – – the answer to my hypothetical was yes. If someone like this were running under color of the Democratic Party, I would have to vote Republican.
I feel your pain. This can't be easy for you. But you are doing the right thing as an American.
Based on principles and beliefs that are bone-deep within me, I am a diehard liberal Democrat. I have not voted for one Republican in about 40 years of voting. (On one occasion, I wasted my vote on a third-party candidate – – John Anderson in 1980 – – but that was when I was young and stupid and didn't get that voting is not a "symbolic act.")
As Donald Trump has exposed more and more facets of himself over the past 15 months, there came a point when I posed the following hypothetical to myself: If someone with these characteristics were running for president as a Democrat, could I bring myself to vote for the Republican to stop him or her?
Early on, the answer was no way. Then more time passed and the answer became a weak no. Then the answer was not an answer but a sick feeling of denial and depression for my country. (How did we get here? Will I wake up and discover it's just a night terror?) Finally, at some point along this dreary road – – maybe after the open letter from 50 national security experts or maybe after Trump encouraged Putin during a press conference to hack within the US – – the answer to my hypothetical was yes. If someone like this were running under color of the Democratic Party, I would have to vote Republican.
I feel your pain. This can't be easy for you. But you are doing the right thing as an American.
4
Welcome aboard.
4
And that is what this election is all about.
4
The problem is Trump had to use 50% of his thought process to worry about a microphone which transmitted his thoughts as words loud and clear. We never knew that microphones can be so thought consuming that they should have a warning label for folks like Trump: not to be used while driving, operating machinery or in a Presidential debate. Trump is back on track though talking about a subject he is very familiar with: adultery - having cheated on his wife. Trump reached out for the best and is being coached by two experienced adulterers: Giuliani and Gingrich.
96
Maureen, I like your portrayal of Mr. Trumps advisers as whiny 'girls'. This description of likely Trump team conversation does not bode well for much improvement over the last debate. I am beginning to think that Mr Trump is bordering on delusional with his apparent self developed ideas and home made, on the fly facts. He may not know that is what he is doing. His ephemeral facts don't seem to have any other logical explanation. Incidentally, girls become women and make up more than half of the voter cohort, don't they? Most are not whiny.
31
And what is with the limp limp-wristed, right-hand gestures and the contraposto hip thrusts. In addition to all of the rest, I think there is a trans-gender issue here. Not that there is anything wrong with transgender.
Except in his case, which tends to model a general hypocrisy from the right of personal moral and ethical turpitude combined with a vicious contempt for anyone that expresses non-hetero feelings. The foundation for which is their fierce sense of sexual inadequacy.
His skewed sexuality lies at the base of his corruption.
Except in his case, which tends to model a general hypocrisy from the right of personal moral and ethical turpitude combined with a vicious contempt for anyone that expresses non-hetero feelings. The foundation for which is their fierce sense of sexual inadequacy.
His skewed sexuality lies at the base of his corruption.
33
“These people are not going to run over us.” "These people - "Those people" Hillary has effected a personal way to objectify "people" who pose threat to her ambitions. Possessing a flawed dismissive character Hillary sees her husbands' women as worthless scum. She has never acknowledged any of "these women" - the ones who claimed Bill's charms were unwanted, resisted, and one who even claims rape.
Poor Monica - a kid just like Alicia - when she had her affair with Bill and then had to endure years of psychotherapy after she was savaged by Clinton supporters. Hillary referred to her in words not printable here and saw Monica's reputation destroyed. Over decades Hillary has been no friend to women when it mattered; and when it would have impeded her ambition.
Poor Monica - a kid just like Alicia - when she had her affair with Bill and then had to endure years of psychotherapy after she was savaged by Clinton supporters. Hillary referred to her in words not printable here and saw Monica's reputation destroyed. Over decades Hillary has been no friend to women when it mattered; and when it would have impeded her ambition.
19
I can't imagine ever feeling sympaty for individuals that have affairs with a currently married person. HRC's rreactions are not so out of the ordinary in my view. Why she and her husband stay together is something only they know; I would not expect either of them to disclose such private information. I am continually amazed people care about other people's bedroom activities.
5
@ Jon Dama: Excuse me - Hillary should have been nice to the adult women who fooled around with her husband and who knew perfectly well that that was wrong? As for the rape and harassment allegations: The "alt-right" fingerprints are all over those and have never risen above the level of innuendo and allegation. I do not believe them.
8
What bunk. The Only attribution for this is supposedly a private conversation with a friend. This is made up nonsense.
9
13 year old girls eventually grow up and, hopefully, some of them turn out OK. That's not a possibility with Trump and his enablers.
If he is elected, Trump's 13-year old mind will indeed make the world a very dangerous place.
If he is elected, Trump's 13-year old mind will indeed make the world a very dangerous place.
178
Well Dowd shows she never graduated middle school with her completely fact free Clinton rants.
2
The view from Europe is one of shock and horror. Not for the Presidential race, but for the utter decline in once enviable America. The tone of this piece is an example - in the middle of the race for the most important job on the planet Ms Dowd is talking in the tones of a child.
A country once tall, proud and one to be looked up to now is a disgraced, drunken, once was and never will be again very, very sad figure.
A country once tall, proud and one to be looked up to now is a disgraced, drunken, once was and never will be again very, very sad figure.
218
Maureen isn't speaking in the tone of a child. She is describing someone who is childish and in the running for that important job you mention. It's taken her a while, but she's finally noticed that putting Trump into office would saddle us with a president with the mind and temperament of an especially immature young adolescent.
It is indeed disgraceful that this is what this country has come to. When I was a kid, we were taught that nothing truly terrible politically could happen here, because a free people would always do the right thing. We are seeing that this is not true.
It is indeed disgraceful that this is what this country has come to. When I was a kid, we were taught that nothing truly terrible politically could happen here, because a free people would always do the right thing. We are seeing that this is not true.
22
Ms. Dowd is not running for president jeff; Trump is. You understand the difference, don't you?
10
Jeff, this is an opinion piece about the double standard and misogyny of Herr Drumpf and his a barrage of his equally overweight 'advisors', two of them also on their third marriages as Il Trumpolini, and one having lost his job at Faux Noise because of sexual harassment.
They are responsible for pulling this race into the gutter, by following their Fuehrer in both deeds and words.
As a naturalized US citizen born in Europe, the double standard of a man's and a woman's role in society and politics has long ceased to exist on your side of the pond.
And when reading European publications, the only shock and horror now is about the ascent of a know-nothing, vulgar man with fascist tendencies making it all the way to the nomination of his party, and that such a large percentage of the electorate is not only clueless, but very ill-informed.
It has nothing to do with the 'tone of this piece'. As a matter of fact, while not being a fan of Ms. Dowd, she has a way with words. That little word menopausal referring to Herr Drumpf is indeed priceless.
They are responsible for pulling this race into the gutter, by following their Fuehrer in both deeds and words.
As a naturalized US citizen born in Europe, the double standard of a man's and a woman's role in society and politics has long ceased to exist on your side of the pond.
And when reading European publications, the only shock and horror now is about the ascent of a know-nothing, vulgar man with fascist tendencies making it all the way to the nomination of his party, and that such a large percentage of the electorate is not only clueless, but very ill-informed.
It has nothing to do with the 'tone of this piece'. As a matter of fact, while not being a fan of Ms. Dowd, she has a way with words. That little word menopausal referring to Herr Drumpf is indeed priceless.
6
This was excellent, Maureen.
Every time Trump says "That's not fair! I'm not being treated fairly!", it brings me right back to junior high school and the crowd of mean girls who used to try to get the teachers to change their grades, just because they wouldn't study anything.
He also kind of reminds me of the character of the racist, vengeful Velma Van Tussle in John Waters' movie "Hairspray."
"I was Miss Soft Crab of 1947 and I earned that title!"
The next debate has a town hall format, where undecided voters in the audience (and the whole audience will be undecided voters) will get to ask Trump and Hillary Clinton questions.
How will he react if an obese middle-aged woman asks him a question? I shudder to think..."
If (I pray "when") he loses the election, he may call for a "do-over".
Every time Trump says "That's not fair! I'm not being treated fairly!", it brings me right back to junior high school and the crowd of mean girls who used to try to get the teachers to change their grades, just because they wouldn't study anything.
He also kind of reminds me of the character of the racist, vengeful Velma Van Tussle in John Waters' movie "Hairspray."
"I was Miss Soft Crab of 1947 and I earned that title!"
The next debate has a town hall format, where undecided voters in the audience (and the whole audience will be undecided voters) will get to ask Trump and Hillary Clinton questions.
How will he react if an obese middle-aged woman asks him a question? I shudder to think..."
If (I pray "when") he loses the election, he may call for a "do-over".
11
As an ardent admirer of women, I can't characterize Mr. Trump's behavior as anything like theirs. He's in his own category, neither male nor female in his displays of anger, pettiness and greed, along with his complete, pathological propensity for lying and lashing out.
I think we're going through some predictable stages with Mr. Trump's campaign. It started as a novelty and became a curiosity before it transformed into an ugly mission with a lot of momentum. Now he has hordes of supporters who are so totally invested in their early stage curiosity (and their bitter hatred of Hillary Clinton) that they can't find a way to step back gracefully from their embarrassing position. Even Newt Gingrich, whose triple-digit IQ is approximately equal to his waistline (as measured in centimeters, that is), was enlisted to lecture us on the obligations of beauty pageant winners to avoid weight gains.
If I might borrow a notion from Spinal Tap, the absurdity amplifier now goes to 11.
I think we're going through some predictable stages with Mr. Trump's campaign. It started as a novelty and became a curiosity before it transformed into an ugly mission with a lot of momentum. Now he has hordes of supporters who are so totally invested in their early stage curiosity (and their bitter hatred of Hillary Clinton) that they can't find a way to step back gracefully from their embarrassing position. Even Newt Gingrich, whose triple-digit IQ is approximately equal to his waistline (as measured in centimeters, that is), was enlisted to lecture us on the obligations of beauty pageant winners to avoid weight gains.
If I might borrow a notion from Spinal Tap, the absurdity amplifier now goes to 11.
14
Hillary Clinton has a key historical role to play given the nature of the other candidate and she is rising to the occasion but the fact that she did a much better job than her opponent in the first debate doesn’t guarantee the final victory. Bush looked really nervous, awful and immature in one of the debates with Gore and see what happened at the end. Beware of the Machado trap. The story has been very effective in revealing the nature of the other candidate but it is time to leave it to the surrogates and move on to issues of policy and Hilary Clinton’s vision on the nation’s future and its role and place in the world.
11
Back in my days as a high school English teacher, I taught a unit on literary devices. One of these devices - synecdoche - would apply to Mr. Trump. An example of synecdoche would be the substitution of "hands" for shipmates, as in the expression "All hands on deck." In Mr. Trump's case, if he were to become President (Heaven forbid), perhaps the females in his cabinet would be referred to as his vaginas, the most salient feature of women in Mr. Trump's world.
7
The ridicule that is being heaped on Trump almost makes me feel sorry for the man, except that it is mostly true and this man is running for President. There are some really disturbing trends in this country that need tending to, but all the air in the room is being sucked up by Trump madness and all the commentators, deep thinkers and spin mongers are focused on one thin skinned, ignorant, egotistical, old man while the country drifts rudderless.
Once every four years the American public is roused from their stupor for a few months and asked to think about the future of this country. Not this go round, it's all Trump madness. And after the election everyone will wakeup from this nightmare with a really bad hangover and turn a deaf ear to all the discussions we needed to be having.
Like Obama, Clinton will do a journeyman's job, keep the ship afloat and maybe make some progress despite a dysfunctional congress. Then we'll have to do this all over again and see if we can, just maybe, act like adults and have a rational discussion and contest of ideas. Just maybe.
Once every four years the American public is roused from their stupor for a few months and asked to think about the future of this country. Not this go round, it's all Trump madness. And after the election everyone will wakeup from this nightmare with a really bad hangover and turn a deaf ear to all the discussions we needed to be having.
Like Obama, Clinton will do a journeyman's job, keep the ship afloat and maybe make some progress despite a dysfunctional congress. Then we'll have to do this all over again and see if we can, just maybe, act like adults and have a rational discussion and contest of ideas. Just maybe.
21
Although Dowd's humor is fantastic, I find one problem with her essay: Her discussion of Hillary's reaction to her husband's infidelities.
Dowd seems to be buying the Trump bait that we should denounce Hillary for allegedly "savaging" Bill's other women. For goodness sake's, Hillary is a human being, not a Madonna. Most women would want to scratch the eyes out of women who slept with their husbands, and their wrath is understandable. Let's allow Hillary her human emotions. As for the notion that she was too quick to "stand by her man," I will say that at least this disproves the notion that she's a man-hating ice-queen of a feminist who has no tender feelings for men. Also, perhaps she stood by Bill because she concluded that she shouldn't let decades of love go down the drain because of a 15 minute indiscretion brought on by being human. Finally, she may have stood by her man because of an unusual but ultimately feminist conviction: She might have believed that men are weaker than women and more subject to temptation and should be forgiven their sins.
Dowd seems to be buying the Trump bait that we should denounce Hillary for allegedly "savaging" Bill's other women. For goodness sake's, Hillary is a human being, not a Madonna. Most women would want to scratch the eyes out of women who slept with their husbands, and their wrath is understandable. Let's allow Hillary her human emotions. As for the notion that she was too quick to "stand by her man," I will say that at least this disproves the notion that she's a man-hating ice-queen of a feminist who has no tender feelings for men. Also, perhaps she stood by Bill because she concluded that she shouldn't let decades of love go down the drain because of a 15 minute indiscretion brought on by being human. Finally, she may have stood by her man because of an unusual but ultimately feminist conviction: She might have believed that men are weaker than women and more subject to temptation and should be forgiven their sins.
38
Interesting column. When these views are coupled with your interview with Gwen Ifill, I can sense that you clearly see Mr. Trump for what he is. He should not be the standard bearer for the GOP. There is no way for him to gain the maturity and judgment to do the job.
He simply does not know what he does not know.
His immature behavior is an embarrassment to his family and to men everywhere.
In contrast, Mrs. C is an exceptional candidate and she has huge potential to show the World what a resilient, smart woman, who recognizes her mistakes, can do. I think after over 200 years, she has a chance to be a great force for good and build a better life for the whole world without war.
There are many domestic reforms and foreign policy initiatives to be implemented and I hope she will keep listening to people and digging in on how we have developed some of our big social and economic challenges and discuss and educate the American men and women, and foreign leaders on policy proposals that will make life better for people.
Every week there is something new coming out of this contest, such as the need for tax reform. Our system is rigged as one of her proponents, Senator Warren, has said and Mrs. C has the moxie to explain the rigging to the public and gain their support for transforming government to make life a lot better for our families.
He simply does not know what he does not know.
His immature behavior is an embarrassment to his family and to men everywhere.
In contrast, Mrs. C is an exceptional candidate and she has huge potential to show the World what a resilient, smart woman, who recognizes her mistakes, can do. I think after over 200 years, she has a chance to be a great force for good and build a better life for the whole world without war.
There are many domestic reforms and foreign policy initiatives to be implemented and I hope she will keep listening to people and digging in on how we have developed some of our big social and economic challenges and discuss and educate the American men and women, and foreign leaders on policy proposals that will make life better for people.
Every week there is something new coming out of this contest, such as the need for tax reform. Our system is rigged as one of her proponents, Senator Warren, has said and Mrs. C has the moxie to explain the rigging to the public and gain their support for transforming government to make life a lot better for our families.
23
"After working with psychologists to figure out how to goad Trump into an outburst in the first debate, the commanding Hillary saved the Machado provocation until the end."
So it was mostly about goading Trump, and not really about respect for women, or over-weight, first place international beauty pageant winners from South America?
I'm not sure that is the loftier reason college-educated white men were expecting to embrace to change parties and vote for Clinton.
But it might motivate more women to vote.
All either candidate needs is a way to get a small portion of the 40 percent who usually do not vote, to get out and vote this time.
Trump, goaded by a psychologist's scheme , might still gain more support from that 40 percent
So it was mostly about goading Trump, and not really about respect for women, or over-weight, first place international beauty pageant winners from South America?
I'm not sure that is the loftier reason college-educated white men were expecting to embrace to change parties and vote for Clinton.
But it might motivate more women to vote.
All either candidate needs is a way to get a small portion of the 40 percent who usually do not vote, to get out and vote this time.
Trump, goaded by a psychologist's scheme , might still gain more support from that 40 percent
3
As a woman and former 13 year old girl, I resent Maureen's attributing all the tawdry traits and despicable deeds of Big Orange Monster and his band of hypocritical toadies to women and girls.
Maureen really went out of her way to dig up all the old nasty stereotypes and lies about women - which always equate any actual or supposed female trait as negative or weak or "less than." No wonder the ultimate insult is to call a man that word that rhymes with "wussy."
The women I'm close to - family, friends, colleagues, members of my church and volunteer groups - are all strong women with strong ethics and integrity and impressive achievements they don't need to constantly brag about.
Trump and his toadies truly are a deplorable band of low-lifes. So good of you, Maureen, to finally start pointing that out. But don't drag us women down with them. Don the Con and his repellent lackeys are strictly "old-white-men-gone-wild" - wildly racist, misogynist, and demented.
And oh yeah - stop throwing in the off-subject digs at Ms. Clinton. It's lousy writing - and it makes you look obsessed - like a certain old creep who stays up all night tweeting insults about a former Miss Universe.
Maureen really went out of her way to dig up all the old nasty stereotypes and lies about women - which always equate any actual or supposed female trait as negative or weak or "less than." No wonder the ultimate insult is to call a man that word that rhymes with "wussy."
The women I'm close to - family, friends, colleagues, members of my church and volunteer groups - are all strong women with strong ethics and integrity and impressive achievements they don't need to constantly brag about.
Trump and his toadies truly are a deplorable band of low-lifes. So good of you, Maureen, to finally start pointing that out. But don't drag us women down with them. Don the Con and his repellent lackeys are strictly "old-white-men-gone-wild" - wildly racist, misogynist, and demented.
And oh yeah - stop throwing in the off-subject digs at Ms. Clinton. It's lousy writing - and it makes you look obsessed - like a certain old creep who stays up all night tweeting insults about a former Miss Universe.
150
It took 3.5 billion years of evolution to produce Homo sapiens. Now the most powerful country in the history of Homo sapiens finds Donald Trump a hair's-breadth away from presidency. What is there left to say? Is this even real? I would rather believe that we are just a simulation run on a computer by an alien with a really sick sense of humor.
41
Close, Mo'. But not quite.
Trump is a 10 year-old boy. Emotionally stuck in pre-adolescence by failed parenting and superficial substitutions. Adolescent girls have feelings and are empathetic and socially connected.
It's clear to all of those in psychiatry that Trump is the classic narcissist with histrionic and antisocial tendencies. This is not news, but what I do find refreshing, and desperately needed, is that more Americans are waking up and seeing him for what he really is.
Trump will lose in November and we will be studying this how this phenomenon occurred for years to come. Let's all put him in the past where he belongs, right next to his hissy fits, toys and Oreo cookies.
Trump is a 10 year-old boy. Emotionally stuck in pre-adolescence by failed parenting and superficial substitutions. Adolescent girls have feelings and are empathetic and socially connected.
It's clear to all of those in psychiatry that Trump is the classic narcissist with histrionic and antisocial tendencies. This is not news, but what I do find refreshing, and desperately needed, is that more Americans are waking up and seeing him for what he really is.
Trump will lose in November and we will be studying this how this phenomenon occurred for years to come. Let's all put him in the past where he belongs, right next to his hissy fits, toys and Oreo cookies.
46
I'll always believe that Trump's existence as a presidential candidate is payback to the American electorate for neglecting their country's political well being.
Since post war 1945, Americans have been obsessed with making as much money as possible to the detriment of sustaining the souls of the country's citizens. The public school system has been allowed to deteriorate as the one safeguard for arming citizens with the knowledge they need to maintain America's integrity.
Instead, our neglect has led to a corrupt political system that few decent people want to participate in. Trump and Clinton are a natural outcome of our country's tragic moral decline!
Since post war 1945, Americans have been obsessed with making as much money as possible to the detriment of sustaining the souls of the country's citizens. The public school system has been allowed to deteriorate as the one safeguard for arming citizens with the knowledge they need to maintain America's integrity.
Instead, our neglect has led to a corrupt political system that few decent people want to participate in. Trump and Clinton are a natural outcome of our country's tragic moral decline!
26
Suggested title for a book about the day after this election: A Sad Day in November. It will be for so many of us when either of the two is elected. At some point is the lesser "evil" not so "evil" that we cannot pull the lever? Are we supposed to breathe a sigh of relief b/c at least they aren't as bad as say - Hitler and Mao? Lucky us. Most people will vote for one of them and right now, it looks like more of them prefer her delusions and dishonesty to his. And it will be dispiriting and sad for so many of us when they celebrate, claiming that people gave their candidate a mandate - and when the winner says, let me guess, your candidate says, we will be the most ethical, transparent government in history. Because we know better.
Perhaps sadder is that we will collectively do nothing to end the power of these two withered parties, one centered on identity politics and one fractured by it. Both joined in continuing practices both say are unsustainable.
Of course, I have many friends who will be relieved if their candidate wins, but I know few who will be truly excited about it, except that the other one didn't win. Whoever green light movies, make ones that give people hope, because you will make money.
Perhaps sadder is that we will collectively do nothing to end the power of these two withered parties, one centered on identity politics and one fractured by it. Both joined in continuing practices both say are unsustainable.
Of course, I have many friends who will be relieved if their candidate wins, but I know few who will be truly excited about it, except that the other one didn't win. Whoever green light movies, make ones that give people hope, because you will make money.
I teach young women, and they are kind, intelligent, idealistic, compassionate, intellectually curious, spiritually sensitive, empathetic, and loyal. My two teenage granddaughters are, in addition, sweet-tempered, patient, generous, loving to animals, defenders of the bullied, and protectors of the weak. They love babies, kittens, the earth, their dog, horses, swimming, basketball, choir, the cello, gymnastics, their teachers, their parents, their grandparents, their friends, their church, and their country. They do not like Donald Trump. This country and this world would be so much improved if more of the grown ups in it behaved half as well as our adolescent girls.
124
Time for Dowd to leave Clinton alone. There is no comparison between her and Trump.
He is a habitual liar, narcissist and reactive, belligerent child with no attention span. She is a life-long activist for women and children who defended her husband against attacks made by his political enemies. That those enemies exploited Bill'/ philandering for their own purposes was obvious. That his wife believed him for too long - was sometimes the last to know - makes her a human being.
Maureen, I am a life-long feminist. I marched in that first big feminist march down Fifth Avenue, back in 1970. Yet if anyone, male or female, had made public accusations - be they true or false - against my husband, to whom I've now been married for 42 years, I'd have knocked his or her head off. Then I'd have knocked my husband's head off - but in the privacy of our own home.
The Clinton's marriage has survived his infidelities because Hillary loves him, and he loves her. People who love one another defend one another.
I only hope that Trump, the misogynistic child, goes after Clinton on the women issue. She's ready for him. It's a trap, one that Donald Dupe may be unable to resist.
He is a habitual liar, narcissist and reactive, belligerent child with no attention span. She is a life-long activist for women and children who defended her husband against attacks made by his political enemies. That those enemies exploited Bill'/ philandering for their own purposes was obvious. That his wife believed him for too long - was sometimes the last to know - makes her a human being.
Maureen, I am a life-long feminist. I marched in that first big feminist march down Fifth Avenue, back in 1970. Yet if anyone, male or female, had made public accusations - be they true or false - against my husband, to whom I've now been married for 42 years, I'd have knocked his or her head off. Then I'd have knocked my husband's head off - but in the privacy of our own home.
The Clinton's marriage has survived his infidelities because Hillary loves him, and he loves her. People who love one another defend one another.
I only hope that Trump, the misogynistic child, goes after Clinton on the women issue. She's ready for him. It's a trap, one that Donald Dupe may be unable to resist.
56
It's healthy for Hillary to have opposition and critic otherwise there's fear of her becoming royalty or beloved dictator. In a democracy we need checks and balances, unfortunately Obama got more opposition than support from congress and Maureen, although the majority people here and abroad remained fond of him.
We are the world's true superpower with both a massive economy and military. We have nominated a man who behaves like a spoiled adolescent on a regular basis to be President of the United States. Before Trump rode the down escalator the bigots and the lady-haters stayed out of sight away from the spotlight but they made life for some people more dificult everyday. Donald J Trump, a self-made bigot, announced racism to be a political vision for America's future of greatness. And millions of Americans applauded. America needs borders just like we need regulations and laws. But we also need a sense of humanity, dignity and respect for others.
Trump is the anti-dignity candidate.
Trump is the anti-dignity candidate.
23
I am so tired of misogyny in this election. Actually, I am so tired of misogyny in our culture, our history, in every aspect of women's daily lives. Dowd's humor becomes more and more obscure to me. You insult women by using misogynistic stereotypes to characterize Trump and his conspirators. Why not just paint them as vile human beings instead of painting them as girlie-men. You can't write this sort of column without deepening the insult to women.
I remember once standing on the sidelines as an elementary school soccer coach yelled at my son's team, addressing the boys over and over as "ladies" and "girls" as an insult. Later, I pulled the coach aside and reminded him that the most famous and skilled soccer player in America at that time was Mia Hamm, and so his "insults" were nonsensical. They were passe. They made no sense and made him look like a fool.
Today, the most dignified and skilled politician in our country -- and the one most qualified to govern -- is a woman, Hillary Clinton. This fact makes the Republican candidate, and the writer of this piece look like fools. The female-hating stereotypes and slurs are so last century.
I remember once standing on the sidelines as an elementary school soccer coach yelled at my son's team, addressing the boys over and over as "ladies" and "girls" as an insult. Later, I pulled the coach aside and reminded him that the most famous and skilled soccer player in America at that time was Mia Hamm, and so his "insults" were nonsensical. They were passe. They made no sense and made him look like a fool.
Today, the most dignified and skilled politician in our country -- and the one most qualified to govern -- is a woman, Hillary Clinton. This fact makes the Republican candidate, and the writer of this piece look like fools. The female-hating stereotypes and slurs are so last century.
69
ML,
I think I know why Ms Dowd used "misogynistic stereotypes to characterize Trump and his conspirators". To Trump, "painting them as vile human beings" would mean nothing. You see, they think, and seem to know, that "vile human beings" is something a certain portion of our culture (Trumpeters) finds admirable and respectable. What they won't be able to respect and what will really, really get under their skin is for them to hear themselves characterized by their own misogynistic stereotypes. It is how they think and what they understand. Unfortunate, to be sure.
I think I know why Ms Dowd used "misogynistic stereotypes to characterize Trump and his conspirators". To Trump, "painting them as vile human beings" would mean nothing. You see, they think, and seem to know, that "vile human beings" is something a certain portion of our culture (Trumpeters) finds admirable and respectable. What they won't be able to respect and what will really, really get under their skin is for them to hear themselves characterized by their own misogynistic stereotypes. It is how they think and what they understand. Unfortunate, to be sure.
1
Wow, it's pretty obvious Maureen is mocking the stereotype labels here. It seems some people are unable to find humor in anything when they can instead find some way to be offended.
2
I really do hope that the debate preparation team for our next President, Hillary Clinton, will consider this comment: one facet of debate preparation should be to write a list of the likely questions, attacks, and topics that will come up and to formulate the answer to each of those. Those should almost be handled as flash cards. Another set of flash cards would consist of the items that she Secretary Clinton would like to bring up if possible. Given limited time for debate preparation, flash card practice seems just as efficient as a certain amount of simulated debate. With the upcoming Town Hall format, a certain amount of special discussion should be conducted about how to handle the voter questioners, along with the moderators and the beastly opponent all at the same time.
4
"For centuries, women were seen as unfit to hold public office. Ambition, power and business were the province of men."
No. Those things were the province of a very, very small minority of men. Even the vote was the province of a small minority of men for most of history.
Men, generally, only got the vote about 50 years before women did, and men by contrast had to agree to be drafted to die in wars, as millions did, in return for the privilege of voting. Women, of course, did not pay for the vote with their blood, as men did.
What would Ms. Dowd do if she had to get honest and stop conflating the privileges of 1 or 2% of the most fortunate, powerful men, with those of all men? Her rhetoric would collapse like a house of cards in a hurricane.
No. Those things were the province of a very, very small minority of men. Even the vote was the province of a small minority of men for most of history.
Men, generally, only got the vote about 50 years before women did, and men by contrast had to agree to be drafted to die in wars, as millions did, in return for the privilege of voting. Women, of course, did not pay for the vote with their blood, as men did.
What would Ms. Dowd do if she had to get honest and stop conflating the privileges of 1 or 2% of the most fortunate, powerful men, with those of all men? Her rhetoric would collapse like a house of cards in a hurricane.
4
Black men got the right to vote 50 years before women, 1870, 1920. There was male voting from the inception of our settling in this land.
3
I enjoyed reading this put-down of Trump- even if it is not quite as smoothly crafted as a typical Dowd column. Her book tour is probably taking a toll and, with proper rest, she will likely be back to form.
The injection of Hillary in the middle of the column seems particularly disjointed, like a throw-in she felt obligated to include. For Hillary's supporters, the idea that Hillary "wasn't going to let these people run over us" seems an entirely natural response, because some of these woman were being financed by conservative interests to promote their stories and all the stories were being pushed for political purposes.
Only the president of the United States is subjected to this kind of media scrutiny of their private sex lives and our political system is worse off for it. Certainly, the brilliant Bill Clinton would have been a better president were he not distracted by the revelations of his perfectly legal dalliances.
I doubt Trump's efforts to paint Hillary as being rough on woman in general because she was rough on her sexual rivals will get much traction with woman voters. Particularly in regards to Lewinsky, who was half her age at the time. Trump seems to have no stories about any Clinton mistreatment to her female employees, which would be the only thing comparable to his cruel treatment of Ms Macado.
The injection of Hillary in the middle of the column seems particularly disjointed, like a throw-in she felt obligated to include. For Hillary's supporters, the idea that Hillary "wasn't going to let these people run over us" seems an entirely natural response, because some of these woman were being financed by conservative interests to promote their stories and all the stories were being pushed for political purposes.
Only the president of the United States is subjected to this kind of media scrutiny of their private sex lives and our political system is worse off for it. Certainly, the brilliant Bill Clinton would have been a better president were he not distracted by the revelations of his perfectly legal dalliances.
I doubt Trump's efforts to paint Hillary as being rough on woman in general because she was rough on her sexual rivals will get much traction with woman voters. Particularly in regards to Lewinsky, who was half her age at the time. Trump seems to have no stories about any Clinton mistreatment to her female employees, which would be the only thing comparable to his cruel treatment of Ms Macado.
18
The thing about this Election is that, with each passing day, it is boiling down to the question, or the matter, of "if Hillary wins" who, or whom, has she really beaten, defeated, conquered, etc.? In so many senses Hillary may as well be really unopposed in an uncontested election. If there were questions as to whether or not Mitt Romney wanted to be president, there are "reality tv"-size questions as to whether Mr. Trump really wants to be president. His candidacy is only a game by which to waste the Nation's & Hillary's time, money & energy. His campaign is a marketing exercise for Trump, not for election.
This campaign isn't a Nixon/McGovern situation. If McGovern had won we might, just might, be in better shape today. We are still in the shadows of the War In Vietnam, or our War in Indochina --Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. This is still playing out in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, & other parts of the Middle & parts of Africa as well. Nixon won the '72 Election & we saw how that all turned out.
Forget about Hillary carrying Barack's "legacy" forward; we stand more of a chance repeating Nixon's imperial presidency with Hillary on the throne in the Oval Office. The woman isn't a woman of The People. She does not maintain the common touch as the saying goes.
This election does not prove, test, question, inspect, evaluate, etc. either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump. Either 1 may take office next January with the nation having no idea what to expect. This election is a farce.
This campaign isn't a Nixon/McGovern situation. If McGovern had won we might, just might, be in better shape today. We are still in the shadows of the War In Vietnam, or our War in Indochina --Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. This is still playing out in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, & other parts of the Middle & parts of Africa as well. Nixon won the '72 Election & we saw how that all turned out.
Forget about Hillary carrying Barack's "legacy" forward; we stand more of a chance repeating Nixon's imperial presidency with Hillary on the throne in the Oval Office. The woman isn't a woman of The People. She does not maintain the common touch as the saying goes.
This election does not prove, test, question, inspect, evaluate, etc. either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump. Either 1 may take office next January with the nation having no idea what to expect. This election is a farce.
1
I must say that again, you were strong from the gate, but is it at all possible for you to simply say:
Donald Trump is not funny. He is not entertaining. He is extremely dangerous.
HRC is the the only thing that stands between him and a very scary tomorrow, your obvious disdain not withstanding.
Donald Trump is not funny. He is not entertaining. He is extremely dangerous.
HRC is the the only thing that stands between him and a very scary tomorrow, your obvious disdain not withstanding.
93
A 70-year-old man nursing a 20-year-old grudge and tweeting about non-existent sex tapes at three in the morning should be in a mental health facility, not in a presidential campaign.
157
Frontline dropped a particularly good overview of the two candidates this past week. They disclosed that in the reshaping of Trump's real estate holdings out of cataclysmic debt, the only salvageable thing was the Trump brand. I suspect that's what we'd find in those *missing* tax returns: he's all brand asset, with no substance, no real capital. Fitting I'd say.
As for our gal, Hillary, I suppose you've been right all along, Maureen, she's the true Mean Girl. Before Lindsay Lohan, before Miley, there was Hil, cutting her teeth on the Watergate hearings, coloring her hair to fit in with the Arkansas Steel Magnolias, casting aside her feminist value structure to stand by her man when the going got rough: not just to preserve her family, but also because no President has ever been divorced. Calculated? yes. Heartless? maybe.
So here we stand, 5 weeks out, Trump and Bill wrestling over who has the larger *Binder full of women*, and Hillary still talking about policy in her pants suits.
Yep, we've flipped the equation. I'm good with that.
As for our gal, Hillary, I suppose you've been right all along, Maureen, she's the true Mean Girl. Before Lindsay Lohan, before Miley, there was Hil, cutting her teeth on the Watergate hearings, coloring her hair to fit in with the Arkansas Steel Magnolias, casting aside her feminist value structure to stand by her man when the going got rough: not just to preserve her family, but also because no President has ever been divorced. Calculated? yes. Heartless? maybe.
So here we stand, 5 weeks out, Trump and Bill wrestling over who has the larger *Binder full of women*, and Hillary still talking about policy in her pants suits.
Yep, we've flipped the equation. I'm good with that.
15
Now that Trumpty-Dumpy has raised the issue of a sex tape for which he offers no evidence, it may be time to counter with the very real sex tape of Melania Trump, candidate for First Lady.
Another article in the NY Times suggests Clinton should present positive solutions instead of attacking Trump. She can--and should--do both. She can present her own previous work and her future plans on issues of racial and gender equality with a contrast to Trumpty's bigotry. She can contrast her plans for future prosperity with Trumpty's suggestion that America file for bankruptcy like his failed businesses.
Another article in the NY Times suggests Clinton should present positive solutions instead of attacking Trump. She can--and should--do both. She can present her own previous work and her future plans on issues of racial and gender equality with a contrast to Trumpty's bigotry. She can contrast her plans for future prosperity with Trumpty's suggestion that America file for bankruptcy like his failed businesses.
23
So funny to see the Fatboys Philanderers Club dispensing advice to Terrible Trump. This will make a great comedy someday!
21
Trump and his henchmen are not "mean girls" Maureen. Hannity, Giuliani, Ailes, Gingrich, Christie et al are teenage boys behaving very very badly and egging on each other's worst impulses. They, and their bully-in-chief Trump, must be kept away from the levers of power at all costs.
65
Tellement vrai, Susan.
All true, but to call them teenage boys, rather than girls, would lose the requisite edge of snarkiness.
I cannot explain the delightfulness of this Maureen article , reminds me the Empire Cheney reign.
Maureen disembowel any person creating the same mystery and interest as jack the ripper. Trump, Giuliani, Christy and Hannity disemboweled and left on the pavement.
That was the writing my friends, nobody can write like Maureen, she is the master no doubt.
But I would like to say something about it.
All those years one after other , Bill's infidelity surfaced and first denied after accepted, and this cycle repeated it self almost 15 years and it occurred one can be in the laser pointer piercing focus of Presidential office, Hillary on the side of his husband who is the power at that time, stand but never crumbled or crushed under this extreme emotional destruction, at least she kept her composure , never cried , never betrayed , never turned away from her husband.
This proves one thing, this is a lady who cannot be beaten by any means, because her mom was abandoned by family and she learned life from her. She taught what life can throw you.
No cheated woman or man show sympathy so far other side of woman or man. If there is one example is exist , I would like to see that.
I do not blame for anything Hillary to attacking to Lewinsky or others, she has a lot of thing to loose but gain nothing. She choose to stand with his husband even though she couldn't digest the concept.
Hillary did right thing for herself , her family. period.
Maureen disembowel any person creating the same mystery and interest as jack the ripper. Trump, Giuliani, Christy and Hannity disemboweled and left on the pavement.
That was the writing my friends, nobody can write like Maureen, she is the master no doubt.
But I would like to say something about it.
All those years one after other , Bill's infidelity surfaced and first denied after accepted, and this cycle repeated it self almost 15 years and it occurred one can be in the laser pointer piercing focus of Presidential office, Hillary on the side of his husband who is the power at that time, stand but never crumbled or crushed under this extreme emotional destruction, at least she kept her composure , never cried , never betrayed , never turned away from her husband.
This proves one thing, this is a lady who cannot be beaten by any means, because her mom was abandoned by family and she learned life from her. She taught what life can throw you.
No cheated woman or man show sympathy so far other side of woman or man. If there is one example is exist , I would like to see that.
I do not blame for anything Hillary to attacking to Lewinsky or others, she has a lot of thing to loose but gain nothing. She choose to stand with his husband even though she couldn't digest the concept.
Hillary did right thing for herself , her family. period.
32
Must you insult 13-year-old girls????
74
I have difficulty writing because my ribs are hurting from laughing so hard and tears are rolling down my face!!!
I recommend that Maureen is invited to the inauguration to read this column. Our nation will needs comic relief after a year of the thirteen year old competing so hard to be the meanest of all.
I recommend that Maureen is invited to the inauguration to read this column. Our nation will needs comic relief after a year of the thirteen year old competing so hard to be the meanest of all.
8
You've shared equally Maureen. Are you going to be one of the non-voters?
Trump's crew is truly one of the more despicable groups in politics today . It's a jump ball as to which takes 2nd lead to Trump. I believe Trump is unhinged- erratic and narcissistic while the others are in it for the power trip (though Giuliani was seemed unhinged on occasion). To many it seems a delight to see them kowtow to Trump. He certainly knows how to make people squirm. Like the means girls, Trump has it down pat.
As for Bill's indiscretions, they are there- we all know about them- not new news. I'm sort of tired hearing about the poor women- they entered into the relationships with Bill with their eyes open- just like Marla did with Trump. We all know 'thou shall not commit adultery'- so drop it already,Trump babies.
Maureen, give it up too, we all know how you feel. If you don't four years of Madame President will put you over the edge.
Trump's crew is truly one of the more despicable groups in politics today . It's a jump ball as to which takes 2nd lead to Trump. I believe Trump is unhinged- erratic and narcissistic while the others are in it for the power trip (though Giuliani was seemed unhinged on occasion). To many it seems a delight to see them kowtow to Trump. He certainly knows how to make people squirm. Like the means girls, Trump has it down pat.
As for Bill's indiscretions, they are there- we all know about them- not new news. I'm sort of tired hearing about the poor women- they entered into the relationships with Bill with their eyes open- just like Marla did with Trump. We all know 'thou shall not commit adultery'- so drop it already,Trump babies.
Maureen, give it up too, we all know how you feel. If you don't four years of Madame President will put you over the edge.
64
The image of all those pudgy, aging, white men supporting a candidate who not only attacked a Latina beauty queen for being overweight years ago, but also crazily continued it this week in the middle of the night--all the while trying to court hispanics, undecideds and suburban housewives--is just precious.
I chortled at Dowd's image of these porcine losers--Newt, Chris, Rudy and The Don himself--as The Real Housewives. Fabulous image. Perfect.
I chortled at Dowd's image of these porcine losers--Newt, Chris, Rudy and The Don himself--as The Real Housewives. Fabulous image. Perfect.
23
Trump, Gingrich, Giuliani, Hannity.
Mo, you've managed to include a who's who of male chauvinist piggies, the cream of the crop so to speak, a wrecking crew of misogyny, dirty jokes, insulting asides about women, the whole package.
And who can forget the unmentionables you left out, the Rogers, Ailes and Stone. Did you think you had enough reeking machismo already inhabiting your article, Mo? You can never have enough piggies.
And there you have it, a locker room fantasy of ribald humor, towel snapping, a mass showering scene of manly men together, laughing, pointing in sordid detail, comparing the size of each others manhood. What a pretty picture painted here, oui?
I could imagine how much fun The Boys had pre-debate, ridiculing that sick, weak, fragile, lacking "Stamina", that's "Stamina" folks, Hillary. The way you, The Donald, was going to make mincemeat out of her. That night you were there to put one of the last three nails into her coffin.
Donald, what happened? Like Elvis, we counted on our macho man King to crown the Queen with her own tiara, then put a crown of thorns firmly upon her head.
Instead, Hillary kept her head while you were losing yours. Post-debate you went on a 24/7 twitter tirade explaining, insulting, explaining further and insulting more how your mic malfunctioned (we of the 80 plus million at home heard you loud and clear, Mr. Sniffles).
While The Donald slid away, Hillary could be heard humming "It's Raining Men".
DD
Manhattan
Mo, you've managed to include a who's who of male chauvinist piggies, the cream of the crop so to speak, a wrecking crew of misogyny, dirty jokes, insulting asides about women, the whole package.
And who can forget the unmentionables you left out, the Rogers, Ailes and Stone. Did you think you had enough reeking machismo already inhabiting your article, Mo? You can never have enough piggies.
And there you have it, a locker room fantasy of ribald humor, towel snapping, a mass showering scene of manly men together, laughing, pointing in sordid detail, comparing the size of each others manhood. What a pretty picture painted here, oui?
I could imagine how much fun The Boys had pre-debate, ridiculing that sick, weak, fragile, lacking "Stamina", that's "Stamina" folks, Hillary. The way you, The Donald, was going to make mincemeat out of her. That night you were there to put one of the last three nails into her coffin.
Donald, what happened? Like Elvis, we counted on our macho man King to crown the Queen with her own tiara, then put a crown of thorns firmly upon her head.
Instead, Hillary kept her head while you were losing yours. Post-debate you went on a 24/7 twitter tirade explaining, insulting, explaining further and insulting more how your mic malfunctioned (we of the 80 plus million at home heard you loud and clear, Mr. Sniffles).
While The Donald slid away, Hillary could be heard humming "It's Raining Men".
DD
Manhattan
38
Well said, Dennis.
1
Who would have known the woman hater is a thirteen year old girl?
This explain Trump's extreme obsession and his repeated references to breasts, it is all deep envy because even with a bloated belly does not have enough.
This explain Trump's extreme obsession and his repeated references to breasts, it is all deep envy because even with a bloated belly does not have enough.
12
I laughed so hard while reading this...but then started to cry because it's all true.
Welcome to the USA 2016. We are an exceptional country!
Welcome to the USA 2016. We are an exceptional country!
22
Dowd insults all women by telling us that Trump's appalling characteristics are actually female ones--that Trump is like a 13-year old girl. Ugh. Maureen, there are so many ways to disparage Trump as indeed he needs to be disparaged without bringing your own self-loathing in to it.
158
One might think that you fail to discern irony wielded sarcastically as a weapon (as in this case). One might just as easily say the column lampoons the stereotypes even as it pastes them on a gaggle of deserving targets (pointing out that these character traits are universal in their sliminess).
1
EB: Your comments totally express what I was feeling and thinking. If something is horribly wrong, where is the sense in mimicking the identical attitudes and behaviors?
It situations of cruelty and violence, for example, it is evil at work, infecting victims and their concerned defenders who want revenge. Well, same here. Surely we can hold ourselves, our words and actions above the disgusting biases of these loathsome, hypocritical men!
I just don't get Dowd these days. She used to be so perceptive. Nowadays, she seems shallow and far too obsessed with cutting HRC off at the knees.
Who's she really mad at?
It situations of cruelty and violence, for example, it is evil at work, infecting victims and their concerned defenders who want revenge. Well, same here. Surely we can hold ourselves, our words and actions above the disgusting biases of these loathsome, hypocritical men!
I just don't get Dowd these days. She used to be so perceptive. Nowadays, she seems shallow and far too obsessed with cutting HRC off at the knees.
Who's she really mad at?
3
"LET’S stop being so hard on Donald Trump."
When did you ever start, Maureen? Just after the debate or before?
You've been giving Donald Trump a pass most of this election season, giving nothing but perfunctory criticism you couldn't avoid and every single time (including this one) segueing into a harsh attack on Hillary Clinton for the slightest real or imagined infraction. Yes, we all KNOW you hate as much as you hate Bill, and even (if it's possible) more than you hate President Obama.
It's a false equivalence to compare Donald Trump's 30 or 40 years of both public and private constant abuse of women, both verbally and otherwise with a spouse not wanting to believe accusations against her husband, which, lest anyone forget, ended with the Lewinsky affair 17 years ago.
That anyone could believe the ugly crew of misogynists centered around Donald Trump (and everyone keeps forgetting Breitbart's Stephen Bannon is as disgusting re: women as Trump, Ailes, Giuliani, and Gingrich) is in ANY position to criticize Hillary Clinton would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic!
When did you ever start, Maureen? Just after the debate or before?
You've been giving Donald Trump a pass most of this election season, giving nothing but perfunctory criticism you couldn't avoid and every single time (including this one) segueing into a harsh attack on Hillary Clinton for the slightest real or imagined infraction. Yes, we all KNOW you hate as much as you hate Bill, and even (if it's possible) more than you hate President Obama.
It's a false equivalence to compare Donald Trump's 30 or 40 years of both public and private constant abuse of women, both verbally and otherwise with a spouse not wanting to believe accusations against her husband, which, lest anyone forget, ended with the Lewinsky affair 17 years ago.
That anyone could believe the ugly crew of misogynists centered around Donald Trump (and everyone keeps forgetting Breitbart's Stephen Bannon is as disgusting re: women as Trump, Ailes, Giuliani, and Gingrich) is in ANY position to criticize Hillary Clinton would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic!
143
Trump's rising poll number almost made me rush to my shrink. But in the debate, Hillary blew my worries away, and thanks Maureen, you are Ms. Good housekeeping to clean rubbish and lint in my mind, piled up by those spinners of the old science and the conspiracy.
Laughing is the best medicine. However I wonder what gynecologists prescribe Trump and his menopausal sewing circle.
Laughing is the best medicine. However I wonder what gynecologists prescribe Trump and his menopausal sewing circle.
29
Whatever it is they prescribe, it isn't strong enough!
1
The audacity of these sleaze balls like of Newt Gingrich!, Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie (ugh!) justifying Trump's calling Ms Machado, Ms Piggy - is beyond words. Trump owns the pageant not the contestants! Fat shaming by the very obese Trump! Does the man look in the mirror and see all that oozing fat in his jowls, midriff? Sex tapes? Unbelievable, a Presidential Candidate is discussing sex tapes! This op-ed would have been great hitting against Donald's sleaze and fetish. But for the fact that again you swiped Hillary as shifty. Why not instead write about her win at the Debate, cutting him down to size sharply, efficiently with words leaving Donald seriously injured, sliding, unraveling. And for a man who says he's smart, his vocabulary seems to be worse than a third-grader.
97
"We should have known then that Trump was really a 13-year-old girl."
Why speak ill of 13-year-old girls? They will mature. At 70, Thing Donny is as mature as (he/she/it) will ever get.
Why speak ill of 13-year-old girls? They will mature. At 70, Thing Donny is as mature as (he/she/it) will ever get.
68
Wow, Maureen, this should earn you the honor of a new nickname, one you don't have to share. But I'm not sure he'll be able to think straight with all the shaking with rage or more likely, quaking with fear. You've really done it this time. Comparing men to little girls: there is no worse offense for them, embedded misogyny and all.
Hopefully, eight years of Hillary will help to exorcise this, or at least loosen the lid a bit.
Hopefully, eight years of Hillary will help to exorcise this, or at least loosen the lid a bit.
24
You're right on the mark in terms of Trump's behavior, but you've missed the mark, too. By using negative stereotypes associated with women to underscore what's wrong with Trump, you've flipped things around. He's the craziness wrongly associated with menopause. But you've kept everything in its place, too. The worst accusations you can throw at Trump are those strongly associated with women. Not a good strategy if you yourself want to avoid perpetuating sexism.
40
Ms. Dowd, please consider for a moment that your essay has insulted thirteen-year-old girls and women of all ages. Why is it that, frequently, when some people wish to insult boys and men, those people compare them to women? I find that so demeaning to girls and women.
Trump is not like any thirteen-year-old girls that I know. Those girls are kind, generous, and very mature for their age. Thirteen-year-old girls are also smarter, more intelligent, and less likely than boys to flub their way through when they don't know an answer.
Trump and his acolytes are also not like the mature women I know. Those women, too, are kind, generous, and smart. They defy your stereotypical description series that includes "menopausal."
Perhaps we need to call out these so-called "men" for what they are: immature individuals who cannot control their thoughts, emotions, or sex-drives. This behavior does not make them like girls and women. This behavior shows them to be on the lowest rung of the male ladder.
Trump is not like any thirteen-year-old girls that I know. Those girls are kind, generous, and very mature for their age. Thirteen-year-old girls are also smarter, more intelligent, and less likely than boys to flub their way through when they don't know an answer.
Trump and his acolytes are also not like the mature women I know. Those women, too, are kind, generous, and smart. They defy your stereotypical description series that includes "menopausal."
Perhaps we need to call out these so-called "men" for what they are: immature individuals who cannot control their thoughts, emotions, or sex-drives. This behavior does not make them like girls and women. This behavior shows them to be on the lowest rung of the male ladder.
1388
I think Maureen is using poetic license in this column, trying to use humor to convey her point. She is deliberately using examples of stereotypically female behavior to make the comparison to the behavior of Trump and his minions, suggesting that they exhibit very similar traits, also. Which puts the whole concept of stereotypes in the first place on its head.
4
I'm not sure Maureen made it clear but she is talking about the stereotypical mean girl. (I think Maureen might be one.) They do exist but as a former teacher I also knew many girls who didn't fit that stereotype. I think the mean girl stereotype applies to a small minority of girls. Trump's persona is more like a small child who blames everyone else for his misdeeds and throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. A good parent will redirect the child to deal with life in a better way. Apparently Trump didn't have parents who did that.
2
Quite right. This column strikes me as virulently sexist, as demeaning to women as to the man it sets out (justifiably) to trash. We need new tropes.
2
Thanks Maureen that was the cat strike (couldn't resist) Trump and his crew deserved. Early on Bill Maher described Trump as a whiny b----. There is a reason Hillary appropriately wears pants suits.
8
So, I like this column because it calls out so many of the really painful critiques and stereotypes that men (and other women) have hurled at women during the decades I came of age.
Then again, I guess you could make an argument that there is a "run like a girl" aspect to all this commentary. Should we really even bother or dignify the idea that you can, metaphorically speaking run like a girl-- or a guy anymore at all? Why prolong these stereotypes by flipping them, even if the sex-based critique is well deserved?
Still, either way, I find myself laughing out loud as I read this. It only took thirty years of adulthood to get a little revenge for all those sexist slurs coming from men who were actually meaner, heavier, diehard purveyors of gossip and more passive-aggressive than any southern belle. This political season has indeed often reversed stereotypes. When Trump says he isn't politically correct I have finally figured out what he really means is he has no intention of cutting out the gossip and trading it for diplomacy and dignity.
Then again, I guess you could make an argument that there is a "run like a girl" aspect to all this commentary. Should we really even bother or dignify the idea that you can, metaphorically speaking run like a girl-- or a guy anymore at all? Why prolong these stereotypes by flipping them, even if the sex-based critique is well deserved?
Still, either way, I find myself laughing out loud as I read this. It only took thirty years of adulthood to get a little revenge for all those sexist slurs coming from men who were actually meaner, heavier, diehard purveyors of gossip and more passive-aggressive than any southern belle. This political season has indeed often reversed stereotypes. When Trump says he isn't politically correct I have finally figured out what he really means is he has no intention of cutting out the gossip and trading it for diplomacy and dignity.
274
A psychologist helped Hillary figure out how to get under Trump's skin? Is that even ethical? Bizarre.
1
Well, there IS plenty of room there under The Donald's skin.
1
The moon is made of green cheese.
2
Yes, Lynn, it is, and not bizarre at all.
3
" Thirteen old girl?"
Nah... A thirteen-year-old girl would have the courage to tell the Mexican President , to his face, that Mexico would have to pay for the Wall. His signature platform piece? he swallowed the impulse like a 5-year-old girl.
Nah... A thirteen-year-old girl would have the courage to tell the Mexican President , to his face, that Mexico would have to pay for the Wall. His signature platform piece? he swallowed the impulse like a 5-year-old girl.
6
When is the Times finally going to get around to putting an astrologer on the payroll?
Why isn’t it obvious to Maureen that Trump has a Uranus problem?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-turns-70-astrology...
Why isn’t it obvious to Maureen that Trump has a Uranus problem?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-turns-70-astrology...
8
We are a month away from the election and we are discussing overweight men and what they think about women's bodies. Something is very wrong with Trump, Gingrich and his pals.
613
With every passing day, the evidence mounts of something very ugly and disturbing residing in the hearts and minds of the leaders of the Republican Party. They have given us a presidential candidate who has taken this country's politics into the sewer. Trump's disastrous performance in the debate, both in terms of temperament and issues, proved his manifest unfitness to be president. He then doubled down on the evidence of his having serious mental problems by spending days delivering a diatribe against a former beauty queen.
Republican leaders reactions? They double down on their advocacy of Trump and their desperate unleashing of personal attacks on Hillary. Speaker Paul Ryan has led the pack, lavishing praise on Trump's debate performance. Republicans are now so far off the scale of normal, many of us begin to fear for our future, even if Hillary wins.
Republican leaders reactions? They double down on their advocacy of Trump and their desperate unleashing of personal attacks on Hillary. Speaker Paul Ryan has led the pack, lavishing praise on Trump's debate performance. Republicans are now so far off the scale of normal, many of us begin to fear for our future, even if Hillary wins.
18
Agreed, these people are terrifying.
5
Donald Trump belongs on the Howard Stern Show....Hillary Clinton belongs in the White House...
There has never been, nor will there ever be an easier choice in an election on whom to vote for,,.
There has never been, nor will there ever be an easier choice in an election on whom to vote for,,.
81
You know that your column is going to generate a withering response from thin-skinned Trump.
Since we are long past the telegram era, Ms. Dowd, expect an early morning mean tweet from Trump with "Strong letter to follow" appended to the tweet.
Since we are long past the telegram era, Ms. Dowd, expect an early morning mean tweet from Trump with "Strong letter to follow" appended to the tweet.
10
RK loves stuff where, despite his failings, Hillary is trashed. That's how people like Dowd, the supposed member of the intelligentsia, helped to provide Trump with a level playing field in this election. Without people like Dowd giving him a huge edge by savaging Hillary, Donald would not have had a chance in this election. Trump is cheering Dowd not criticizing her.
2
So Trump is going to make Hillary`s wayward husband to be the debate topic ?
I say go for it , be down and dirty and wrestle in mud alone.
Hillary is preparing right now how to be Presidential as Donald tweets at 3 AM like a mean girl attacking the sex life of Miss Universe.
I say go for it , be down and dirty and wrestle in mud alone.
Hillary is preparing right now how to be Presidential as Donald tweets at 3 AM like a mean girl attacking the sex life of Miss Universe.
18
They're not thirteen year-old girls, Ms. Dowd (if I were a thirteen year-old girl, I'd be disappointed with your comparison), they're frat boys. Only thinking of themselves as titans of power and control; be it Gingrich's abuse of his cancer stricken wife; Giuliani's publicly humiliating his second wife by announcing his divorce to the media before informing her; or the leeching and leering Ailes and his attempts to extort Gretchen Carlson for sex.
They're proud manipulators of women and sworn disciples of a white man's nativist entitled creed. I'll bet they get together to swap stories and guffaw at each other's testosterone aggression, proclaiming it destiny; despicable, narcissistic captains of industry.
How biting it must have been for their Lyin'King Trump, being served up to the Lioness Clinton, despite his eighth grade distractions of interruptions and condescending smirking. Don't think there's not a woman in the world who hasn't seen such behavior.
Masculine,Clinton (no more of the feminine Nom De Guerre "Hillary") knows how to fend for herself, having learned from her mother, Dorothy, once an abandoned child. Clinton also fended for her family at the Rose law firm when Bill lost the Arkansas gubernatorial election in the Reagan landslide of 1980.
I applaud her success. Were she a man, she wouldn't be forced to dummy down with a forced demure sensibility. But she'll go for Trump's jugular alright and with subtlety. After all, "revenge is best served cold."
They're proud manipulators of women and sworn disciples of a white man's nativist entitled creed. I'll bet they get together to swap stories and guffaw at each other's testosterone aggression, proclaiming it destiny; despicable, narcissistic captains of industry.
How biting it must have been for their Lyin'King Trump, being served up to the Lioness Clinton, despite his eighth grade distractions of interruptions and condescending smirking. Don't think there's not a woman in the world who hasn't seen such behavior.
Masculine,Clinton (no more of the feminine Nom De Guerre "Hillary") knows how to fend for herself, having learned from her mother, Dorothy, once an abandoned child. Clinton also fended for her family at the Rose law firm when Bill lost the Arkansas gubernatorial election in the Reagan landslide of 1980.
I applaud her success. Were she a man, she wouldn't be forced to dummy down with a forced demure sensibility. But she'll go for Trump's jugular alright and with subtlety. After all, "revenge is best served cold."
820
For months Maureen Dowd used her clout as a NYTimes columnist to tout Trump and his candidacy no matter how utterly nutty his ideas and observations were. Part of that was due to her pathological obsession with Hillary Clinton and the looming nightmare-- in Maureen's mind, that is--of a Clinton presidency.
Lately, however, she's hopped off the sinking Trump ship and is paddling desperately away trying to avoid the undertow. It won't work. Her credibility sank beneath the waves years ago. Now I read her columns with pity.
Lately, however, she's hopped off the sinking Trump ship and is paddling desperately away trying to avoid the undertow. It won't work. Her credibility sank beneath the waves years ago. Now I read her columns with pity.
104
The bad-girl analogy by Maureen is amusing. What is not amusing is what a President Trump with nearly unlimited military power would do when his demons overtake him at 4:30 AM as he fumes about an insult from some third-rate dictator of a tiny nation on the other side of the globe.
Crazed and vindictive tweets in deep dark of night about a beauty contestant's weight (only five weeks before the election!) are lurid evidence that Trump is partially deranged.
This urban cowboy can't shoot straight or discern what is a true threat, so he shoots at everything in sight. Let's consider that as we vote for the next Commander in Chief.
Crazed and vindictive tweets in deep dark of night about a beauty contestant's weight (only five weeks before the election!) are lurid evidence that Trump is partially deranged.
This urban cowboy can't shoot straight or discern what is a true threat, so he shoots at everything in sight. Let's consider that as we vote for the next Commander in Chief.
26
Unfortunately he's a Blanch DuBois who relies not on the kindness of strangers, but their coarseness.
8
Great column, Maureen. Man, honestly hadn't read you in awhile, but you freaking nailed it with this column. Damn. A favorite line, "bitchy sewing circle of overweight men." Hahahaha!
4
You attribute much of the misogyny to his surrogates but Trump stands out as the ultimate sexist leader, not only in this political campaign but in the entire basket of deplorables.
By focusing on the surrogates you allow Trump to stay in the shadows and it's about time that your analysis of the Trump disaster with women escapes the perimeter of surrogates while exclusively place the blame squarely where it belongs: on Trump.
By focusing on the surrogates you allow Trump to stay in the shadows and it's about time that your analysis of the Trump disaster with women escapes the perimeter of surrogates while exclusively place the blame squarely where it belongs: on Trump.
18
I was always under the impression that Trump was beyond sex. Normally sex takes place between two or more people. Of course, there is masturbation, but Trump loves himself so much the involvement of any other being real or neoprene could only ruin the experience. Only his fingers know for sure.
I worked in the corporate world for many years. I never met a woman that acted like the proverbial "B__ch", but I met plenty of guys that did.
I worked in the corporate world for many years. I never met a woman that acted like the proverbial "B__ch", but I met plenty of guys that did.
21
Anyone can see the charlatan Trump is.
Maureen savaged Trump - what else could she do being an intelligent woman? But I waited with bated breath for her usual Hillary bashing and was not disappointed. It arrived like the sun rises every morning- one can count on it.
It must be a difficult time for Maureen- a toss up between Trump and Hillary left her no choice.
Maureen savaged Trump - what else could she do being an intelligent woman? But I waited with bated breath for her usual Hillary bashing and was not disappointed. It arrived like the sun rises every morning- one can count on it.
It must be a difficult time for Maureen- a toss up between Trump and Hillary left her no choice.
23
Why is that even when Maureen Dowd is on the same side of things that I am, she puts my teeth on edge?
Why should her metaphor for the flaws and weaknesses and incoherence of Trump and Company be that they are like stereotypes of women? How about just that they are infantile, puerile and generally despicable?
Why should her metaphor for the flaws and weaknesses and incoherence of Trump and Company be that they are like stereotypes of women? How about just that they are infantile, puerile and generally despicable?
72
Watching him melt down this past week, I got to feeling really sorry for Melania. There can’t be many wives of billionaires -- or wives of any kind for that matter -- with tougher rows to hoe.
16
Melania lives better than Marie Antionette, for heaven's sake. She made a Faustian bargain, and she continues to reap the benefits. If she's crying, it's while she's on the way to the bank. She can always divorce the clod, take the money, and run. Into the arms of any sexy stud she chooses.
11
It's good to see Ms. Dowd finally see the light on Trump. Hope she's regretting ever saying a kind word about that misogynistic, fascist, ignorant, inexperienced, incompetent loudmouth.
Of course after this essay, Trump will tweet out all sorts of horrible things about Ms. Dowd, about how she is noticeably overweight, has several sex tapes out there, is a communist, and has a father who was involved in assassinating Kennedy. So her access is probably gone, but that's just as well, I think it'd be best if Trump cuts off access to all journalists over the next six weeks, so that we very rarely have to hear from him ever again.
Oh and it should always be pointed out, Trump is obese himself, and filmed a sex tape with Playboy, and says he'd like to have sex with his daughter, and has had two marriages fail because of his adultery. Never forget all that, it helps to remind y'all what a lying, amoral fool Trump is.
Of course after this essay, Trump will tweet out all sorts of horrible things about Ms. Dowd, about how she is noticeably overweight, has several sex tapes out there, is a communist, and has a father who was involved in assassinating Kennedy. So her access is probably gone, but that's just as well, I think it'd be best if Trump cuts off access to all journalists over the next six weeks, so that we very rarely have to hear from him ever again.
Oh and it should always be pointed out, Trump is obese himself, and filmed a sex tape with Playboy, and says he'd like to have sex with his daughter, and has had two marriages fail because of his adultery. Never forget all that, it helps to remind y'all what a lying, amoral fool Trump is.
25
You really know how to hurt 13-year old girls.
11
While putting down Trump it is interesting you used stereotypical qualities men usually attribute to women: A Trump meltdown is "go(ing) all PMS", "Trump unraveled all week...unraveling ..into a bout of hysteria" "a supremely catty (tweet)" "he was in true Mean Girl form", and on and on, and ending with an affront to 13 year old young women, by comparing Trump to one. Donald Trump was not standing on that debate stage acting like a 13 year old girl. He was a man standing on that stage being a misogynist.
As for the Clintons marriage, I certainly do not know what went on inside that marriage. I have known many women who have been in Hillary Clinton's position of having to bear the humiliation of a husband's affair becoming painfully public. Some stayed in the marriage and some ended it. Most were not kind about the women with whom their husbands had liaisons. Why Clinton decided to stay in the marriage is her business. It could even be because she actually loves Bill and wanted her family to stay intact. At any rate, Clinton's marriage has nothing to do with her ability to be President. Zero. That is a Republican red herring. Odd the "family values party" excoriating someone for staying in a marriage.
I am glad that finally, even though you will never endorse Clinton, you do see Donald Trump does not have the temperament to be President of this country. Was it the thought of all those nukes flying if Trump were elected President and he and mentor Putin had a tiff?
As for the Clintons marriage, I certainly do not know what went on inside that marriage. I have known many women who have been in Hillary Clinton's position of having to bear the humiliation of a husband's affair becoming painfully public. Some stayed in the marriage and some ended it. Most were not kind about the women with whom their husbands had liaisons. Why Clinton decided to stay in the marriage is her business. It could even be because she actually loves Bill and wanted her family to stay intact. At any rate, Clinton's marriage has nothing to do with her ability to be President. Zero. That is a Republican red herring. Odd the "family values party" excoriating someone for staying in a marriage.
I am glad that finally, even though you will never endorse Clinton, you do see Donald Trump does not have the temperament to be President of this country. Was it the thought of all those nukes flying if Trump were elected President and he and mentor Putin had a tiff?
36
Ms. Dowd, will you begin to take Trump seriously and stop seeing him as a toon when he is elected president? He stopped being funny ages ago. Can't you judge by what is happening now? So the Hillary didn't leave Bill--that's their business. It doesn't matter why she never left the marriage. It has no relevance to her qualifications to be president.
And it's an insult to women to describe Trump as a 13-year old girl--he's more of an adolescent boy who never was taught manners.
And it's an insult to women to describe Trump as a 13-year old girl--he's more of an adolescent boy who never was taught manners.
548
“No one worries that Hillary is not tough enough to be president. We know that she can pull the trigger, but does she know where to aim?”
My take on the nastiness contest is that Hillary is just as capable as Mr. Trump is of dishing it out, when circumstances warrant.
Mr. Trump, however, specializes in dishing it out to women and, to me, that indicates a need for psychiatry.
My take on the nastiness contest is that Hillary is just as capable as Mr. Trump is of dishing it out, when circumstances warrant.
Mr. Trump, however, specializes in dishing it out to women and, to me, that indicates a need for psychiatry.
17
Maureen: You do a disservice to 13 year old girls by comparing them to Donald Trump.
19
Your hatred of Hillary has done you in-you can no longer speak rationally about the election and that is why you have 7 people commenting on this "article".
19
Who knew? A petulant adolescent could be President. But. As you say. Probably not. Since if sexism still reigns, Trump is truly the girl.
3
Great NY Times non article (opinion piece), written like a perfect privileged sorority cheer leading queen with no other purpose then to spew cattiness because it upsets her status quo. Trump is iconic because if he wins it will be a slap in the face to the elitist that hold themselves above the common ground of most American citizens (man woman and child). The politicians, pundits, financiers, academia that have forgotten their roots and fail to realize that the common man/woman, not perfect, but practical and with a caginess called street smarts might overturn their cart of better than thow, simply by being boldly failable and popping their balloons.
2
I know there is going to be a closely contested battle when this election is over for the title of Trump’s Most Repulsive and Stomach-Turning Supporter.
The competition for this title will be brutally fierce.
KellyAnne Conway, Stephen Bannon, Roger Ailes, Mayor Giuliani, Chris Christie and Sean Hannity are no shrinking violets when it comes to portraying themselves as odious human beings.
Everyone is entitled to their own personal favorite.
Mine at this moment is Eric Trump, one of the Trump kids.
Everything about him -- his squeaky voice, the way he combs his hair and the preposterous lies he tells to cover- up his father’s fraudulent business dealings -- repels me.
He is an apple -- now gone rotten -- that never fell out of his father’s apple tree; and that alone should be reason enough to award him the title. Besides which, Donald always like to see good things go to his own family.
The competition for this title will be brutally fierce.
KellyAnne Conway, Stephen Bannon, Roger Ailes, Mayor Giuliani, Chris Christie and Sean Hannity are no shrinking violets when it comes to portraying themselves as odious human beings.
Everyone is entitled to their own personal favorite.
Mine at this moment is Eric Trump, one of the Trump kids.
Everything about him -- his squeaky voice, the way he combs his hair and the preposterous lies he tells to cover- up his father’s fraudulent business dealings -- repels me.
He is an apple -- now gone rotten -- that never fell out of his father’s apple tree; and that alone should be reason enough to award him the title. Besides which, Donald always like to see good things go to his own family.
19
Just couldn't resist getting in a vicious dig at Hillary, could you?
44
Boy, was that column ever all over the place, but true to form Maureen managed to get in her Clinton licks when the true focus of the column started with and should have remained on the fat-boys club's demagogues-are-us bluster.
52
Dowd's analysis of Trump is roughly accurate. However, her dislike for Clinton blinds her to obvious and critical points of distinction between venal, ugly stupidity in Trump, versus old-fashioned hardball politics by a seasoned pro, in Sec. Clinton.
It's time for Dowd to get on board for the good of her country. She should bide her time until after the election, before going back to her inevitable criticizing of Clinton. The stakes are just too high.
It's time for Dowd to get on board for the good of her country. She should bide her time until after the election, before going back to her inevitable criticizing of Clinton. The stakes are just too high.
35
"Menopausal Trump", Maureen? Those fat guys around Donald Trump - Newt, Christie, Roger Ailes, Rudy Giuliani, his friends and enemies - are so tubby they can't see their appendages below their bellies. Mrs. Clinton won that first Presidential Debate - especially when she brought up the zinger about Trump calling his Miss Universe - Alicia Machado - "Miss Piggy" and "The Housekeeper" for putting on some weight after winning her crown. Dollars to Krispy Kremes Trump won't be caught unprepared for the next debate. He thought the first one would be duck soup and animal crackers, and it wasn't, so he is probably boning up on his preparations to bring Bill Clinton's major trespasses, sins,"Bimbo Eruptions" to scare Hillary next go-round. And he'll probably mention that The Big Dog was almost impeached for his doggish behaviour with a plethora of women from Arkansas to the White House. Can a Casanova be called a misogynist, Maureen? Or just a Don Juan? Donald, yes, somewhat obese, with his orange face and creamsicle-colored croissant of a sprayed stiff combover resting on his forehead like a small animal won't be fooled again by Hillary. "Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice..." Did you see the Dalai Lama's imitation of Donald Trump, the Lama's hand on his forehead? Bless his heart, he got Donald's number. Hilarious, Donald confiding in Howard Stern - that "- - - - - -'' is expensive! Maureen, ya think we should stop being so hard on Donald Trump? Fat chance!
10
Bill Clinton wasn't almost impeached; he was impeached. He wasn't almost removed, either. They never came close to having the horses.
Maureen Dowd can't write a column about Trump without slipping in an egregious attack on Hillary Clinton. The Washington Post story she cites was actually sympathetic and nuanced. Dowd writes, "Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty." Gee, I wonder where she got that reputation, Ms. Dowd? When Bill Maher (during “Real Time” last week) called you out on your role in helping create the narrative of “shifty Hillary,” I heard your nervous laughter. But no one else was laughing because Maher had it exactly right.
91
A little domestic soap opera is harmless fun. The candidate who says "Let them eat cake" should worry.
2
How is any of this old news relevant to electing a president? So what? Hillary supported her philandering husband. They are still married. Philandering Donald publicly dragged his two exes through mud in highly acrimonious divorces. He's on his third marriage. What's your point, Donald?
34
No he is not a thirteen year old girl. My daughter is a thirteen year old girl.
My daughter would not fat-shame and use twitter to bully.
Why don't you just tell it like it is without bashing innocent pre-teens. Here, I'll help.
Trump is a big whining man-baby.
My daughter would not fat-shame and use twitter to bully.
Why don't you just tell it like it is without bashing innocent pre-teens. Here, I'll help.
Trump is a big whining man-baby.
63
Trump, Christie, Gingrich, Ailes, Giuliani, Breitbart and Manafort are "The Magnificent Seven Tons".
18
Taking bets: how long before Trump's next anguished tweet lambasting Dowd? Will he wait until 3:00 a.m. Sunday?
13
Well, when a woman gets involved with a married man (like Bill Clinton), for whatever reason, is it so surprising that the man's wife drops a ton of bricks on her?
Hillary can deal with Bill in however it goes down within their marriage... but is she supposed to give some kind of support to these women?
There are certain things in life that are unforgivable, and I'm sorry, jumping into bed with another woman's husband is not one of them.
Call me old fashioned
Hillary can deal with Bill in however it goes down within their marriage... but is she supposed to give some kind of support to these women?
There are certain things in life that are unforgivable, and I'm sorry, jumping into bed with another woman's husband is not one of them.
Call me old fashioned
38
Behold the power of women. IN eastern mythology women are both the compassionate, gentle and nurturing Force as well as the wrathful deities, the destroyer, recycler and regenerator of universe and all life. They are worshipped, revered, in awe, for their ability to slay the demon (unlike western mythology where a white knight on the horse comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress). In the east, the female power not only rescues the damsel with her various efficient and accurate weapons, but brings peace, prosperity, light, wealth and justice to ALL, bar none.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi
12
Maureen,
Reading and admiring your work since you started.
This is beneath (so to speak) you. Not funny, facile and sexist enough to offend even a totally non-PC person like me.
Reading and admiring your work since you started.
This is beneath (so to speak) you. Not funny, facile and sexist enough to offend even a totally non-PC person like me.
12
Shouldn't Maureen Dowd be out there on some book tour promoting her latest book featuring the best of her recycled columns??
Anyhow all this talk about weight and beauty pageants reminded me of a side splitting satire Mad Magazine did in the late 1960's called "If We Picked The President The Way We Pick Miss America." The revamped presidential contest would feature the prerequisite swimsuit, evening gown and talent contests. Mad Magazine was really on to something way back when. It's certainly worth a try--imagine the spectacle of Donald Trump going against Hillary Clinton in the Swimsuit Competition!!! The ratings would go through the roof.
Over 100 years ago America elected William Howard Taft, who tipped the scales at over 300 pounds, as our president. Taft wasn't the only Chief Executive who was overweight. I'm surprised that Dowd doesn't remember that her nemesis Bill Clinton also struggled with the battle of the bulge. The old joke about Bill Clinton was that his idea of exercise was to jog to McDonalds for an order of fries.
However we don't expect our politicians to toe the line when it comes to weight. Miss Universe is expected to be the ideal woman that men fantasize about and other women want to emulate--thin, sexy and drop dead gorgeous. Is this the level the media has sunk down to--digging up an old tabloid scandal about a long forgotten beauty contest that no one cares about anymore?
Anyhow all this talk about weight and beauty pageants reminded me of a side splitting satire Mad Magazine did in the late 1960's called "If We Picked The President The Way We Pick Miss America." The revamped presidential contest would feature the prerequisite swimsuit, evening gown and talent contests. Mad Magazine was really on to something way back when. It's certainly worth a try--imagine the spectacle of Donald Trump going against Hillary Clinton in the Swimsuit Competition!!! The ratings would go through the roof.
Over 100 years ago America elected William Howard Taft, who tipped the scales at over 300 pounds, as our president. Taft wasn't the only Chief Executive who was overweight. I'm surprised that Dowd doesn't remember that her nemesis Bill Clinton also struggled with the battle of the bulge. The old joke about Bill Clinton was that his idea of exercise was to jog to McDonalds for an order of fries.
However we don't expect our politicians to toe the line when it comes to weight. Miss Universe is expected to be the ideal woman that men fantasize about and other women want to emulate--thin, sexy and drop dead gorgeous. Is this the level the media has sunk down to--digging up an old tabloid scandal about a long forgotten beauty contest that no one cares about anymore?
1
It looks like the “13-year-old girl” had a bad week and let loose his posse of “mean girls” – including “Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Roger Ailes and Rudy Giuliani” – for revenge…
Ms. Dowd, welcome back to the catfight, oops, I meant the presidential race! Seriously, we are less than 40 days from the election and the Trump team wants to drudge up Bill Clinton’s peccadilloes from the 1990s?
Do these “Really Desperate Housewives of Trumpworld” seriously believe that people have forgotten the unprecedented peace and prosperity that we witnessed back then? So they’d rather speculate about what Hillary Clinton might or might not have done under trying circumstances to “stand by her man?” Are they really trying to lose the few women voters, who still support Trump, as well?
Is Kellyanne Conway still in charge or has the Trump campaign become a free for all? Ms. Conway, you know the old saying, “desperate diseases require desperate remedies,” right; so ever considered begging the Russians to hack into Trump’s Twitter account?
Ms. Dowd, welcome back to the catfight, oops, I meant the presidential race! Seriously, we are less than 40 days from the election and the Trump team wants to drudge up Bill Clinton’s peccadilloes from the 1990s?
Do these “Really Desperate Housewives of Trumpworld” seriously believe that people have forgotten the unprecedented peace and prosperity that we witnessed back then? So they’d rather speculate about what Hillary Clinton might or might not have done under trying circumstances to “stand by her man?” Are they really trying to lose the few women voters, who still support Trump, as well?
Is Kellyanne Conway still in charge or has the Trump campaign become a free for all? Ms. Conway, you know the old saying, “desperate diseases require desperate remedies,” right; so ever considered begging the Russians to hack into Trump’s Twitter account?
6
"His team is tiptoeing around him, trying to figure out how to persuade him that he lost the debate and how to make him work harder for the next one."
If Trump can't handle a debate, or its preparations, how could he possibly handle the awesome responsibilities of the presidency?
From this window alone, we see that Trump wants 'yes-men' who tell him what he wants to hear; that he can't acknowledge, let alone take responsibility for, his failings; that he is not interested in matters of substance, only in self-promotion and personal attacks; and that he cannot think on his feet.
Trump floated through the primaries because his opponents were too personally and politically cowardly to really take him on, but at this campaign stage, it is clear he is in way out of his depths. He will drown us all if given the chance.
If Trump can't handle a debate, or its preparations, how could he possibly handle the awesome responsibilities of the presidency?
From this window alone, we see that Trump wants 'yes-men' who tell him what he wants to hear; that he can't acknowledge, let alone take responsibility for, his failings; that he is not interested in matters of substance, only in self-promotion and personal attacks; and that he cannot think on his feet.
Trump floated through the primaries because his opponents were too personally and politically cowardly to really take him on, but at this campaign stage, it is clear he is in way out of his depths. He will drown us all if given the chance.
31
Like all of us, our two candidates led complicated lives. A women who from childhood learned to hide things from her friends and public: father's abuse toward her mother, husband's inability to control his lustful urges, and even her ankles. Transparency doesn't come easy for her. A man who never grew up and is still the adolescent seeking approval from the "cool kids" who really don't like him and the prettiest girls (only). Now the "Rebel with a Cause." Maybe his mother babied him or his father badgered him. Plus he's just not that smart or intellectually curious; a factor that can stunt growth.
Hopefully, these are the last of the Boomers to run for the presidency; we may be too complicated a generation. (Obama had hoped his candidacy was the end; alas)
Hopefully, these are the last of the Boomers to run for the presidency; we may be too complicated a generation. (Obama had hoped his candidacy was the end; alas)
1
While some Americans consider the US the most modern progressive nation the world has ever known, other nations around the world have been electing women to be heads-of-state for more than the past fifty years. So it isn't simply a gender issue, it is an American gender issue.
581
The USA is by no means the "most" modern progressive nation in the world, particularly concerning social or cultural issues.
10
Once again we get a line like this from Maureen:
" Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty."
without facts or examples to back it up. Generalizations without justification. Over and over again this happens!!
" Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not because of her reputation for being shifty."
without facts or examples to back it up. Generalizations without justification. Over and over again this happens!!
56
Ah, Ms. Dowd is off her book tour and back to Hillary bashing. Hillary, says Dowd, has a reputation for being "shifty." What does that mean? As a human being, as a woman, as The First Lady, as Chelsea's mother, as Bill's wife, does it mean she didn't exactly know how to handle herself with a thousand microphones & camera punching at her face? If not knowing how to behave in public when something as humiliating as Bill's philandering in the Oval Office hit the papers is shifty behavior, then, please, call me shifty.
59
Hillary Clinton fought to protect her marriage, and she succeeded. Women voters can understand that. Attacking the Other Woman isn't a mortal sin. It's a natural reaction. You can bet she also gave Bill what-for in private.
Clinton didn't want vicious, hateful Republicans and conservative media goons to have the satisfaction of breaking up her marriage. That's understandable, too.
Clinton didn't want vicious, hateful Republicans and conservative media goons to have the satisfaction of breaking up her marriage. That's understandable, too.
56
Loved the piece. But just to be clear, we should dislike him because him behaves like a mean girl rather than because he behaves like a woman, yes ?
Bad behavior is just that, and the fact that it seems to appeal to so many of the electorate is an indictment of parenting skills. Frankly I weep for the lack of basic manners and civility on display.
Bad behavior is just that, and the fact that it seems to appeal to so many of the electorate is an indictment of parenting skills. Frankly I weep for the lack of basic manners and civility on display.
6
So, Maureen, what happened? You're not on board with trump anymore? Oh poor Maureen...slapped down for kissing trump's butt for months. But, alas, she still has to get in her one liners on the Clintons. Sad Maureen...turned away from trumps inner circle because she was a tad bit critical of him. Turned away from the rest of us because she never shuts up about "Barry", Hillary and Bill. Now you want redemption by writing a scathing editorial about trump? No thanks, you are a fake and everyone who's followed you for years knows it.
What you have just apparently discovered we all knew about trump, like...FOREVER! He's a small minded, perverted, mysogynist who is self-centered, bigoted and elitist. He never was nor ever will be presidential material. Something it took Ms. Dowd an eternity to discover.
What you have just apparently discovered we all knew about trump, like...FOREVER! He's a small minded, perverted, mysogynist who is self-centered, bigoted and elitist. He never was nor ever will be presidential material. Something it took Ms. Dowd an eternity to discover.
68
Maureen, you got your groove back. Hysterical!
2
As a foreigner (or a British citizen to be precise) who genuinely had the greatest respect for the office of the US's president, even when a man I totally disagree with like Bush Jnr, occupied that office, I never thought I would see the day the likes of Mr Trump will be running for that august office.
And by that I mean I could really forgive a candidate who is less than wholesome when it comes to his politics. Or a candidate who has a weakness for a dog-whistle racist undertones. And in fact, I could even look the other way, if a candidate play fast and loose with basic budget arithmetic, like most Republican presidents in my experience of observing US's politics.
But in life of me, I can't really fathom a candidate, like Trump, who basically have no sense of shame, decency, to the point that he is happy to discuss sex-tape, woman's menstrual cycle, and some alleged weight-problem in which someone may have.
It really beggars belief how much he degrade and defile the very office he is seeking every time he speaks. And what is more astounding is that there are voters out there who far be it for them to be scandalize by his conduct, are on the contrary rather much more in favor of his kind of boorish conduct.
Moreover they even seem to see nothing wrong with that sort of person occupying the highest office in the land, which is, if we need to remind ourselves, the same office in which the likes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt once have occupied it.
And by that I mean I could really forgive a candidate who is less than wholesome when it comes to his politics. Or a candidate who has a weakness for a dog-whistle racist undertones. And in fact, I could even look the other way, if a candidate play fast and loose with basic budget arithmetic, like most Republican presidents in my experience of observing US's politics.
But in life of me, I can't really fathom a candidate, like Trump, who basically have no sense of shame, decency, to the point that he is happy to discuss sex-tape, woman's menstrual cycle, and some alleged weight-problem in which someone may have.
It really beggars belief how much he degrade and defile the very office he is seeking every time he speaks. And what is more astounding is that there are voters out there who far be it for them to be scandalize by his conduct, are on the contrary rather much more in favor of his kind of boorish conduct.
Moreover they even seem to see nothing wrong with that sort of person occupying the highest office in the land, which is, if we need to remind ourselves, the same office in which the likes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt once have occupied it.
49
We have a nation of idiots.
Trump has the 40% goober vote locked up. African Americans vote 95% for Hillary, even though the 11 million illegals are taking unskilled labor jobs that would otherwise go to Blacks.
Women are overwhelmingly for Hillary, even though she has savaged any woman who had the bad judgment to sleep with her husband.
As Maureen herself put it, Bill and Hillary are the Tom and Daisy Buchanan of American politics.
Trump has the 40% goober vote locked up. African Americans vote 95% for Hillary, even though the 11 million illegals are taking unskilled labor jobs that would otherwise go to Blacks.
Women are overwhelmingly for Hillary, even though she has savaged any woman who had the bad judgment to sleep with her husband.
As Maureen herself put it, Bill and Hillary are the Tom and Daisy Buchanan of American politics.
1
Kellyanne Conway described the entire Trump phenomenon perfectly when she defended Trump against accusations of lying by saying: "a lie would mean that he knew..."
That would be accurate. Trump knows nothing.
He doesn't know how to distinguish facts from conspiracies. He doesn't know issues and details. He doesn't know planing and preparation. He doesn't know how to exercise self-control or manage his outsized ego. He doesn't know what is meant by the right temperament. He doesn't know when to respond and when to let go. He doesn't know how to treat women. He doesn't know how to behave when around people different from him. He doesn't know how to turn around his failing companies. He doesn't know how to bring people together. He doesn't know how to build a ground game. He doesn't know what a good surrogate looks like. He doesn't know what makes a good team, which endorsements to seek and which to avoid... The list goes on and on.
Trump is a know nothing. He is unfit in terms of temperament, personal qualities, experience, and competence for the office of the President.
That would be accurate. Trump knows nothing.
He doesn't know how to distinguish facts from conspiracies. He doesn't know issues and details. He doesn't know planing and preparation. He doesn't know how to exercise self-control or manage his outsized ego. He doesn't know what is meant by the right temperament. He doesn't know when to respond and when to let go. He doesn't know how to treat women. He doesn't know how to behave when around people different from him. He doesn't know how to turn around his failing companies. He doesn't know how to bring people together. He doesn't know how to build a ground game. He doesn't know what a good surrogate looks like. He doesn't know what makes a good team, which endorsements to seek and which to avoid... The list goes on and on.
Trump is a know nothing. He is unfit in terms of temperament, personal qualities, experience, and competence for the office of the President.
36
Ms. Dowd, please read A Streetcar Named Desire again (or perhaps for the first time). Blanche DuBois is so far removed from Diva Donald Trump as to make Tennessee Williams gnash his teeth from the grave. Ms. DuBois may have been ah, Dotty, but she had a heart.
If you're looking for a literary similarity to your diva, how about the quintessentially clueless Scarlett O'Hara?
Trump's "tomorrow's another day" 3:00 a.m. tweets will surely rank down there with "Ashley... oh, Ashley"
If you're looking for a literary similarity to your diva, how about the quintessentially clueless Scarlett O'Hara?
Trump's "tomorrow's another day" 3:00 a.m. tweets will surely rank down there with "Ashley... oh, Ashley"
12
I love it. Not a real, actual individual girl, who could be anybody and be engaged in doing anything, but that stupidly infantile girl stereotype that Trump believes is what girls really are. That certainly is who Trump turns out to be. Vain and insecure, mean and obstinate because he is such a primadonna he can convince himself he is getting away with it. A temperamental and flamboyant queen.
33
Actually, Bill Maher came up with the best suggestion as to how Hillary should have responded to The Donald's endless interruptions at Monday night's debate: "Hush, dear; Mommy's talking." I'm sure that tactic would prove to be equally appropriate at their next debate.
73
Ms. Dowd takes the worst caricatures of women and girls and dumps them on Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Roger Ailes and Rudy Giuliani.
But these five gruesome excuses for human beings are actually the worst, most despicable manifestations of white male privilege.
But these five gruesome excuses for human beings are actually the worst, most despicable manifestations of white male privilege.
169
The other day, Nicholas Kristof put this in his column: "Middle school is the wrenching, jungle stage of life that we all must struggle through."
Today Maureen Dowd puts in hers: "We should have known then that Trump was really a 13-year-old girl."
Two columnists with unhappy childhoods?
Today Maureen Dowd puts in hers: "We should have known then that Trump was really a 13-year-old girl."
Two columnists with unhappy childhoods?
8
No, two people who know what they are looking at.
2
"We should have known then that Trump was really a 13-year-old girl."
No, just the 13-year-old that Maureen Dowd likely was.
No, just the 13-year-old that Maureen Dowd likely was.
88
I must have missed it, but I can not recall Hillary attacking any of Bill's female participants. As far as I can remember, she just kept her mouth shut as far as the public goes, but I will bet he got it.
It was she who pulled him out of a financial crisis after he lost the governors job, it was she who got him back in. Women can't govern, I think history shows different. You wouldn't want to cross Catherine the Great, or Mary Queen of Scots for instance. We see in Hillary someone who has planned well ahead for this. Yes she is ambitious and that is supposed to be a fault, except if it is some male CEO, then it is a man thing.
She has broken the mold when it comes to women in U.S. politics. It seems to be O.K. in Britain, Germany, France, but they do not have that good old boy culture from the swamps and bayous, the rugged westerner in the plains and woods, who think only men can do the job.
it pretty much looks like we are going to see just how tough she is. Will she call down Ryan, will she challenge him to a shootout on Pennsylvania Ave?
I do not think she will be saying "Please Ryan,", I think she will be saying you are paid to do your job, now do it.
Well it should be fun to watch the show as those manly GOP boys try to figure out how to deal with her. They have been avoiding it for lo these many years, they have treated her miserably, now I hope they pay for it.
It was she who pulled him out of a financial crisis after he lost the governors job, it was she who got him back in. Women can't govern, I think history shows different. You wouldn't want to cross Catherine the Great, or Mary Queen of Scots for instance. We see in Hillary someone who has planned well ahead for this. Yes she is ambitious and that is supposed to be a fault, except if it is some male CEO, then it is a man thing.
She has broken the mold when it comes to women in U.S. politics. It seems to be O.K. in Britain, Germany, France, but they do not have that good old boy culture from the swamps and bayous, the rugged westerner in the plains and woods, who think only men can do the job.
it pretty much looks like we are going to see just how tough she is. Will she call down Ryan, will she challenge him to a shootout on Pennsylvania Ave?
I do not think she will be saying "Please Ryan,", I think she will be saying you are paid to do your job, now do it.
Well it should be fun to watch the show as those manly GOP boys try to figure out how to deal with her. They have been avoiding it for lo these many years, they have treated her miserably, now I hope they pay for it.
214
She did, rather. The way I read it is she believed him when he didn't admit it; I know I did at the time. Her demeanor changed a lot when she found out it was real.
Many of us have had experience with false accusations, and it's a bit of a razor's edge. Teenagers, in particular, have a reputation for manipulation. I know one case of a man whose career was almost ruined by such an attack.
In any case, the life partner has a difficult path, particularly when she's stuck forever with the consequences, which have little to do with her ideals and effectiveness.
Many of us have had experience with false accusations, and it's a bit of a razor's edge. Teenagers, in particular, have a reputation for manipulation. I know one case of a man whose career was almost ruined by such an attack.
In any case, the life partner has a difficult path, particularly when she's stuck forever with the consequences, which have little to do with her ideals and effectiveness.
35
Mary of Scots couldn't govern. The Russian Catherines and Elizabeths could. Elizabeth Tudor could. The Medici Queens governed France, Isabella Spain and Marie Therese Austria. In modern times we have had Indira Ghandi, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel. Talent knows not gender.
45
Cute ... but ...
I listened to Maureen Dowd's interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS and was set to cut her some slack and stop assuming the worst, but she seems unable to leave it alone. "shifty", forsooth! Give it a rest already.
Hillary Clinton has been given an impossible job, to present herself in perspective without being defensive, while under continuous attack. No press report appears to be complete without quoting the negative branding that began when she tried in her wonkish way to figure out how to get health care for all. She's corrupt when she gets pneumonia. Chaffetz and Republicans vote to defund embassy security and spend millions trying to pin the result on her. The Clinton Foundation leverages power and wealth to help many millions, and it's all about pay for play (the proof is absence; the evidence does not support this, but reporters want "the story" not the truth).
At least Maureen Dowd doesn't seem to be offering Trump a stage or looking like she wants favors from him any more. It's no longer possible to condone the obvious crossing of multiple boundaries.
There's one unconfirmed story about Bill Clinton that doesn't involve the willing participation of the woman, but that doesn't make men using power to get favors OK. But it's not the wife's fault when she stands by her man. Nor is it her fault that she had ideas and ideals and didn't want them taken down by exploitative tactics.
I listened to Maureen Dowd's interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS and was set to cut her some slack and stop assuming the worst, but she seems unable to leave it alone. "shifty", forsooth! Give it a rest already.
Hillary Clinton has been given an impossible job, to present herself in perspective without being defensive, while under continuous attack. No press report appears to be complete without quoting the negative branding that began when she tried in her wonkish way to figure out how to get health care for all. She's corrupt when she gets pneumonia. Chaffetz and Republicans vote to defund embassy security and spend millions trying to pin the result on her. The Clinton Foundation leverages power and wealth to help many millions, and it's all about pay for play (the proof is absence; the evidence does not support this, but reporters want "the story" not the truth).
At least Maureen Dowd doesn't seem to be offering Trump a stage or looking like she wants favors from him any more. It's no longer possible to condone the obvious crossing of multiple boundaries.
There's one unconfirmed story about Bill Clinton that doesn't involve the willing participation of the woman, but that doesn't make men using power to get favors OK. But it's not the wife's fault when she stands by her man. Nor is it her fault that she had ideas and ideals and didn't want them taken down by exploitative tactics.
268
Well said. Hillary is so unappreciated--She has to take on the heavy burden to run for the first female president. It's not easy..
like what you said:
Hillary Clinton has been given an impossible job, to present herself in perspective without being defensive, while under continuous attack. No press report appears to be complete without quoting the negative branding that began when she tried in her wonkish way to figure out how to get health care for all. She's corrupt when she gets pneumonia. Chaffetz and Republicans vote to defund embassy security and spend millions trying to pin the result on her. The Clinton Foundation leverages power and wealth to help many millions, and it's all about pay for play (the proof is absence; the evidence does not support this, but reporters want "the story" not the truth)
like what you said:
Hillary Clinton has been given an impossible job, to present herself in perspective without being defensive, while under continuous attack. No press report appears to be complete without quoting the negative branding that began when she tried in her wonkish way to figure out how to get health care for all. She's corrupt when she gets pneumonia. Chaffetz and Republicans vote to defund embassy security and spend millions trying to pin the result on her. The Clinton Foundation leverages power and wealth to help many millions, and it's all about pay for play (the proof is absence; the evidence does not support this, but reporters want "the story" not the truth)
13
My thoughts too. Better expressed, though. In India Bollywood has made a number of movies that show that woman is woman's worst enemy. In the US, Maureen Down exhibits a similar docudramas olmost every week.
16
Now I am reading that Ivanka is turning on Kelly Ann after her appearance on "The View" saying no one ever tells her father what to do. Well, that's Kelly Ann's job!! This after Kelly Ann got his poll numbers up until he couldn't hold in his inner beast. I was wondering how long that relationship would last? They better pay her a lot to keep her mouth shut although I am sure there is some confidentiality clause. (If he loses, please, please write a book!!!!)
This all coming on the heels of some Republicans offering their endorsements. They still have time to take it back and tell the GOP they can go "F" themselves for threatening to take away any financial support towards their re-election.
As for the Hillary section of this column--while true, Hillary still has to rise above it. She doesn't do well in open forums against Trump, but hopefully she is preparing better than she did for the Matt Lauer fiasco and will be able to rise above it.
We cannot elect the nation's biggest crybaby into the highest office in the land!!
This all coming on the heels of some Republicans offering their endorsements. They still have time to take it back and tell the GOP they can go "F" themselves for threatening to take away any financial support towards their re-election.
As for the Hillary section of this column--while true, Hillary still has to rise above it. She doesn't do well in open forums against Trump, but hopefully she is preparing better than she did for the Matt Lauer fiasco and will be able to rise above it.
We cannot elect the nation's biggest crybaby into the highest office in the land!!
73
@ Linda: I hadn't seen the Ivanka quote, but I would infer that what she is really upset about is that Kellyanne, a lawyer no less, unwittingly spilled the beans on The View that Trump had indeed violated the Cuba embargo even as she was denying it.
Meanwhile, Ivanka herself spilled the beans in saying that no one ever tells her father what to do. Not that it was news, but it's always worth a reminder to people who are still under Trump's spell. Not exactly the best attitude for the President of a constitutional republic if we want to keep it that way.
Meanwhile, Ivanka herself spilled the beans in saying that no one ever tells her father what to do. Not that it was news, but it's always worth a reminder to people who are still under Trump's spell. Not exactly the best attitude for the President of a constitutional republic if we want to keep it that way.
104
its hard to get Trump's excuses straight. But her standard answer usually is "You will have to ask Mr.Trump about that."
12
If Ivanka is upset, could that mean the 3rd campaign manager will exit stage right? What a wonderful October surprise that would be! Time to bring back Corey!
2
My 13-year-old daughter would be offended by that last line, because Trump is the ultimate laughingstock among middle schoolers. Which gives me hope for the future of the republic, no matter how this election turns out.
470
I wouldn't normally give a hoot about a candidate's domestic and extracurricular arrangements. But it blows my mind that that the Trump contingent (including Trump himself) setting their sights on making hay about the Clinton marriage includes three serial adulterers who have had nine spouses (and who knows how many other "acquaintances") between them; and furthermore who, none of them, seemed to be too concerned about going about their betrayals in public.
What I really wonder, though, is what those holier-than-thou evangelicals (including pastors, no less) are thinking who are sticking by Trump. Can they actually face themselves in the mirror?
Add to this narrative that Trump is a totally unqualified, unstable and egotistical character who has advanced his career by cheating and lying to employees, clients, customers, contractors and taxpayers (you and me, folks).
Who could write fiction like this? Oh yes, there was that movie "The Candidate", which ended up with the out-of-his-depth but successful candidate saying "what do we do now?".
What I really wonder, though, is what those holier-than-thou evangelicals (including pastors, no less) are thinking who are sticking by Trump. Can they actually face themselves in the mirror?
Add to this narrative that Trump is a totally unqualified, unstable and egotistical character who has advanced his career by cheating and lying to employees, clients, customers, contractors and taxpayers (you and me, folks).
Who could write fiction like this? Oh yes, there was that movie "The Candidate", which ended up with the out-of-his-depth but successful candidate saying "what do we do now?".
725
Isn't it interesting that the men who carried on affairs while married, and then divorced their wives to marry their then-current mistress - are criticizing Hillary for "standing by her man" and not divorcing him. The difference between Hillary and these jerks is that she actually honored her word and held to her marriage vows. Doesn't that make her far more trustworthy than Mr. Trump, Mr. Gingrich, or Mr. Giuliani?
405
YES IT DOES! and this is what I've tried to tell people all along how does the fact the Bill cheated and Hilary stayed the faithful spouse make her a poor candidate for President? These Trump people are all Insane and not in a cool way either.
22
Yeah, but in "The Candidate," at least the candidate was very easy on the eyes -- which can't be said about Trump.
13
Andi Zeisler, founder of Bitch Media, wrote in the New York Times three weeks ago that Hillary Clinton was 'The Bitch America Needs'.
How did Zeisler overlook the real bitch, who always clicks those Trumpian bone-spurred, Vietnam-draft-dodging heels of his anytime it gets too hot in the room ?
Last August, Trump said he's "the most fabulous whiner" to CNN's Chris Cuomo.
"I do whine because I want to win and I'm not happy about not winning and I am a whiner and I keep whining and whining until I win." said Lady Man Trump at the time.
Whining about Megyn Kelly’s queries regarding his mysogynistic record of belittling and insulting women, Trump also moaned last August, “I think Megyn behaved very nasty to me. I thought it was an unfair question. They didn’t ask those questions of anybody else. So I thought it was an unfair question.”
What about US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, Donald, who is presiding over the Trump University fraud case that unfairly took customers' money and gave them Trump change in return ?
"The judge has treated me very unfairly, he's treated me in a hostile manner. And there's something going on."
After debate moderator (and registered Republican) Lester Holt asked Donald Trump quite fairly about his major claim to political fame - the nakedly racist 5-year Birther Lie Trump campaign that catapulted Trump to 1st place in the Whites R Us nationalist party - Donald said the question was “unfair”.
Make America Menstruate Again: TRUMP 2016
How did Zeisler overlook the real bitch, who always clicks those Trumpian bone-spurred, Vietnam-draft-dodging heels of his anytime it gets too hot in the room ?
Last August, Trump said he's "the most fabulous whiner" to CNN's Chris Cuomo.
"I do whine because I want to win and I'm not happy about not winning and I am a whiner and I keep whining and whining until I win." said Lady Man Trump at the time.
Whining about Megyn Kelly’s queries regarding his mysogynistic record of belittling and insulting women, Trump also moaned last August, “I think Megyn behaved very nasty to me. I thought it was an unfair question. They didn’t ask those questions of anybody else. So I thought it was an unfair question.”
What about US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, Donald, who is presiding over the Trump University fraud case that unfairly took customers' money and gave them Trump change in return ?
"The judge has treated me very unfairly, he's treated me in a hostile manner. And there's something going on."
After debate moderator (and registered Republican) Lester Holt asked Donald Trump quite fairly about his major claim to political fame - the nakedly racist 5-year Birther Lie Trump campaign that catapulted Trump to 1st place in the Whites R Us nationalist party - Donald said the question was “unfair”.
Make America Menstruate Again: TRUMP 2016
486
Bravo!! A tour de farce!!
4
Does Maureen Dowd understand that writing about Trump having a PMS moment just underscores the sexism about women and menstruation. Does Socrates get it any better? Is Dowd capable of thinking critically about what she is writing? I have to say "no" to all three questions.
10
The world is probably rarely fair to a spoiled brat.
6
To mix a metaphor, Hillary Clinton has figured out how to push Trump's buttons and is now playing him like a fiddle.
It will get worse if Trump goes after Hillary's marriage. The Clintons have been defending that ever since they emerged on the national scene closely followed by the Gennifer Flowers scandal. Hillary can handle anything Trump comes up with.
However, can Trump handle Hillary when she asks questions about his multiple marriages? I'm sure Hillary has done her preparation on this. I'm sure she has some really cutting comments prepared on that topic. This could be her opportunity to send him into a nuclear meltdown.
It will get worse if Trump goes after Hillary's marriage. The Clintons have been defending that ever since they emerged on the national scene closely followed by the Gennifer Flowers scandal. Hillary can handle anything Trump comes up with.
However, can Trump handle Hillary when she asks questions about his multiple marriages? I'm sure Hillary has done her preparation on this. I'm sure she has some really cutting comments prepared on that topic. This could be her opportunity to send him into a nuclear meltdown.
405
Please don't use the words "Trump" and "nuclear meltdown" in the same paragraph - I may not sleep tonight!
1
Real men don't talk tough. They are tough and everyone knows it.
Real women have to talk tough because no one believes they are.
Real women have to talk tough because no one believes they are.
373
Maureen, Maureen
Your hatchet job is keen
Excoriating Trump is great
Still Hillary's byzantine.
Maureen, Maureen
The surplus of your spleen
Still ends up scarring Hillary
She dominates your scene.
D Trump and all his acolytes
May be misogynistic sights
But all your venom, all your blights
Post-debate on Ms C alights.
Your hatchet job is keen
Excoriating Trump is great
Still Hillary's byzantine.
Maureen, Maureen
The surplus of your spleen
Still ends up scarring Hillary
She dominates your scene.
D Trump and all his acolytes
May be misogynistic sights
But all your venom, all your blights
Post-debate on Ms C alights.
797
Wonder how long he's been waiting to use that set piece?
"The surplus of your spleen"--love it!
1
I come to the comments to look for your posts as they make my day--thank you from the flyover state of diminishing influence.
2
Maybe Trump is a hermaphrodite. That way, he gets to have it all. It might account for some of the Rubio taunts, and it certainly accounts for his both churlish and girlish behavior.
Your observation, not new mind you, was still very much on point: what are a bunch of fat guys doing defending Trump from fat-shaming Alicia Machado? Whatever you say about Hillary, Maureen--and I know you say a lot--she was a lot tougher than Trump in doing oppo research to dig up Ms. Universe, which gave us the treat of watching old videos of Donald Trump supervising Alicia's exercise classes. He reminded me a bit of Simon Legree, practically whipping the poor girl to keep biking. Geesh.
Just when you think Trump and company can't sink any lower, they do. I know his supporters don't care, but seeing a "future" US president tweeting about sex videos seems, well, just a tad undignified, don't you think?
All this would be funny, except at a certain point, it isn't. The fact that peccadillos, not policies, seem to be commanding the news cycles should give everyone pause. Perhaps the next debate, the one where Trump confronts Hillary about Bill's sexual affairs, should be moved to midnight. You know, the children and all. I'm curious how that topic gets worked into the Town Hall format, based on audience questions.
There could be one advantage to having a midnight town hall. Trump could start tweeting immediately without even having to wake himself up.
Your observation, not new mind you, was still very much on point: what are a bunch of fat guys doing defending Trump from fat-shaming Alicia Machado? Whatever you say about Hillary, Maureen--and I know you say a lot--she was a lot tougher than Trump in doing oppo research to dig up Ms. Universe, which gave us the treat of watching old videos of Donald Trump supervising Alicia's exercise classes. He reminded me a bit of Simon Legree, practically whipping the poor girl to keep biking. Geesh.
Just when you think Trump and company can't sink any lower, they do. I know his supporters don't care, but seeing a "future" US president tweeting about sex videos seems, well, just a tad undignified, don't you think?
All this would be funny, except at a certain point, it isn't. The fact that peccadillos, not policies, seem to be commanding the news cycles should give everyone pause. Perhaps the next debate, the one where Trump confronts Hillary about Bill's sexual affairs, should be moved to midnight. You know, the children and all. I'm curious how that topic gets worked into the Town Hall format, based on audience questions.
There could be one advantage to having a midnight town hall. Trump could start tweeting immediately without even having to wake himself up.
449
And maybe your candidate is a despicable money grubbing liar.
1
This column and your comment have given me the first real laugh this campaign has provided. Thanks, I need to lighten up.
5
The fact that he drew 84 million viewers to watch his ;Bedlam' act is the scariest part! I don't think that a Clinton/Kasich would have drawn that!
1
Right in the middle of a column about Trump, Dowd goes off topic to offer:
"Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not."
Then she recites the way she destroyed other women, endless "bimbos, "This, even though in case after case, Bill Clinton would later admit the women were telling the truth."
She concludes that Hillary has a "reputation for being shifty."
Then back to talking about Trump.
Why put this in the middle? Was this the only way to get these comments past her editor?
"Usually women candidates have the so-called virtue advantage, but Hillary does not."
Then she recites the way she destroyed other women, endless "bimbos, "This, even though in case after case, Bill Clinton would later admit the women were telling the truth."
She concludes that Hillary has a "reputation for being shifty."
Then back to talking about Trump.
Why put this in the middle? Was this the only way to get these comments past her editor?
1361
Ms Dowd has a weird obsession with Ms Clinton. When Bill Maher mentioned this on his show, Dowd just sat there and didn't say a word. I'd love to know the reason behind it.
Maybe Dowd is jealous. She thinks she should be the first woman President. Or maybe there is something personal between the two women. Perhaps Dowd blames Hillary for breaking up one of her romantic relationships. After all, they both have Hollywood friends. Hillary could have leaked something from Dowd's FBI file to one of Dowd's boyfriends.
It's a shame really. I quite enjoy Ms Dowd. She is the souffle of opinion writers, tasty and insubstantial. However, I don't see her surviving a Hillary administration. The Times will need a peace offering for the new President, and Dowd's head would be well received by President Hillary Clinton.
Maybe Dowd is jealous. She thinks she should be the first woman President. Or maybe there is something personal between the two women. Perhaps Dowd blames Hillary for breaking up one of her romantic relationships. After all, they both have Hollywood friends. Hillary could have leaked something from Dowd's FBI file to one of Dowd's boyfriends.
It's a shame really. I quite enjoy Ms Dowd. She is the souffle of opinion writers, tasty and insubstantial. However, I don't see her surviving a Hillary administration. The Times will need a peace offering for the new President, and Dowd's head would be well received by President Hillary Clinton.
322
"The Times will need a peace offering for the new President"
The Times blatant campaign for Hillary and to attack Trump has entirely taken over its pages. That is all the "peace offering" needed to get the NYT inside the Hillary Admin's good graces.
This moment of hyper partisanship is unusual for the NYT. They will want a way back to balance, and Dowd will give them that path.
Anyway, as soon as Hillary is safely President, the NYT and the entire liberal elite will turn on her and savage her for being as far right as she is, hawk and neolib and corporate panderer and the rest. Dowd is the near future for the NYT.
The Times blatant campaign for Hillary and to attack Trump has entirely taken over its pages. That is all the "peace offering" needed to get the NYT inside the Hillary Admin's good graces.
This moment of hyper partisanship is unusual for the NYT. They will want a way back to balance, and Dowd will give them that path.
Anyway, as soon as Hillary is safely President, the NYT and the entire liberal elite will turn on her and savage her for being as far right as she is, hawk and neolib and corporate panderer and the rest. Dowd is the near future for the NYT.
25
A better question is, why put it in at all?
122
I so detest Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Roger Ailes and Rudy Giuliani that it is a real delight to see Trump abuse them, as they simper and take it. Trump has their numbers.
576
Mark.
Well said. Trump's toadies, Gingrich, Christie, Ailes and Giuliani, to name just a few, have the same gravitas as the has beens that regularly appeared on 'The Apprentice'.
Losers all.
Let's celebrate the dregs!
Well said. Trump's toadies, Gingrich, Christie, Ailes and Giuliani, to name just a few, have the same gravitas as the has beens that regularly appeared on 'The Apprentice'.
Losers all.
Let's celebrate the dregs!
4
Truly the "Deplorables". Giuliani has reached the nadir of loathsomeness.
7
Maureen’s been at this for so long that she’s inspired many younger writers – one of Ann Coulter’s trademark putdowns is girlie-man accusations. But Maureen’s still the queen, largely because when she gets on this kick she’s relentless.
One doesn’t need to suggest images of girlie-men and 13-year-old girls when the truer one is four male courtiers/advisors surrounding Louis XIV, trying to get him to have Richelieu assassinated. I honestly can’t imagine what cabinet chair Gingrich would occupy in ANYONE’S administration, and Christie won’t be able to compete with Rudy for AG from a jail cell, which may well be where he’s headed.
But girlie-man putdowns play, even to supporters of the targets with senses of humor. Which is why Trump should never Tweet HIMSELF, about ANYTHING. Food for thought, sweetie.
One doesn’t need to suggest images of girlie-men and 13-year-old girls when the truer one is four male courtiers/advisors surrounding Louis XIV, trying to get him to have Richelieu assassinated. I honestly can’t imagine what cabinet chair Gingrich would occupy in ANYONE’S administration, and Christie won’t be able to compete with Rudy for AG from a jail cell, which may well be where he’s headed.
But girlie-man putdowns play, even to supporters of the targets with senses of humor. Which is why Trump should never Tweet HIMSELF, about ANYTHING. Food for thought, sweetie.
56
Ann Coulter doesn't deserve to be referenced by anyone, anywhere. That only stirs up the toxins and lets them spread through the environment. Think of her words as sort of like the PCBs on the bottom of the Hudson. Just a thought.
212
John:
Ann loves all liberals despite nasty words they cast at her with such regularity. I do need to remind some occasionally, though, that despite their confidence that she was burned at the stake two years ago, she's still alive, well and supporting Trump.
Ann loves all liberals despite nasty words they cast at her with such regularity. I do need to remind some occasionally, though, that despite their confidence that she was burned at the stake two years ago, she's still alive, well and supporting Trump.
2
Richard: Perhaps Trump and Christie may end up as cell-mates. One's got a bridge to deal with; the other a university (as well as a potentially illegal attempt to breach an embargo).
29
So many stereotypes, so little time, Ms Dowd.
Whatever behind that bedroom door, it is none of other people's business. At least according to most of the non-puritanical boomers, if not other generations. That goes to President Clinton, Mrs Clinton and yes, Mr Trump. Really, if the Donald has any sex tape himself, more power to him, so long as he doesn't rile everyone up with false modesty. And of course, he is never modest. Not with his alleged wealth and not with his alleged sense of beauty.
The scary thing is now we know what Donald is doing 3 in the morning. So he behaves like the asian dictators when he gets slight. One has to wonder if his handlers could keep the nuclear football from him if he became the POTUS.
One of the attack ads on TV compared Mrs Clinton with President Nixon - that is actually funny in an unintended way, considering Roger Stone's connection to the late Nixon - but it is really the Faux News Inc. helping Donald go after their collective enemies. Just because the other Roger lost his title there doesn't mean he wasn't directing the show.
Ultimately, in the age of gender fluidity, calling Donald Inc. 13 year old girl is not as precise as putting them in the right place, the basket of deplorable
Whatever behind that bedroom door, it is none of other people's business. At least according to most of the non-puritanical boomers, if not other generations. That goes to President Clinton, Mrs Clinton and yes, Mr Trump. Really, if the Donald has any sex tape himself, more power to him, so long as he doesn't rile everyone up with false modesty. And of course, he is never modest. Not with his alleged wealth and not with his alleged sense of beauty.
The scary thing is now we know what Donald is doing 3 in the morning. So he behaves like the asian dictators when he gets slight. One has to wonder if his handlers could keep the nuclear football from him if he became the POTUS.
One of the attack ads on TV compared Mrs Clinton with President Nixon - that is actually funny in an unintended way, considering Roger Stone's connection to the late Nixon - but it is really the Faux News Inc. helping Donald go after their collective enemies. Just because the other Roger lost his title there doesn't mean he wasn't directing the show.
Ultimately, in the age of gender fluidity, calling Donald Inc. 13 year old girl is not as precise as putting them in the right place, the basket of deplorable
183
"if the Donald has any sex tape himself"
I wish I could unread this line. I need the forgetty-light they used in Men in Black.
I wish I could unread this line. I need the forgetty-light they used in Men in Black.
3
It’s an insult to women to imagine that Trump is the girl in this political match-up. He’s every bit the man we know him to be: crude, inarticulate, shallow, vain and unaware of the image he presents to the world. He thinks he’s suave, and that his vulgar jabs and threats are devastating, while the rest of us roll our eyes and wonder how this man-child has made it this far.
He thinks he’s a predator on the savanna, demonstrating his power by savaging the weak. He’ll twitch to mock a disabled journalist or make demeaning comments about the mother of a dead soldier. He’ll project his own lack of stamina onto Clinton, and imagine that no one will notice that he’s the weaker of the two. He’ll humiliate a beauty queen, and double-down when people around him wince in disgust at the inappropriateness of his behavior.
He didn’t prepare for the last debate because preparation requires discipline, and it takes focus that someone with the intellect and maturity of a squirmy five-year-old finds intolerable. He wants the presidency, but he wants it handed to him on a silver platter.
If he loses, I can imagine his lower lip quivering as he shouts accusations of how people were mean to him, and how they didn’t give him a fair chance. He’ll cry and stomp his feet. He’ll blame the world for his woes.
If he wins, God help us.
He thinks he’s a predator on the savanna, demonstrating his power by savaging the weak. He’ll twitch to mock a disabled journalist or make demeaning comments about the mother of a dead soldier. He’ll project his own lack of stamina onto Clinton, and imagine that no one will notice that he’s the weaker of the two. He’ll humiliate a beauty queen, and double-down when people around him wince in disgust at the inappropriateness of his behavior.
He didn’t prepare for the last debate because preparation requires discipline, and it takes focus that someone with the intellect and maturity of a squirmy five-year-old finds intolerable. He wants the presidency, but he wants it handed to him on a silver platter.
If he loses, I can imagine his lower lip quivering as he shouts accusations of how people were mean to him, and how they didn’t give him a fair chance. He’ll cry and stomp his feet. He’ll blame the world for his woes.
If he wins, God help us.
1746
God helps those who help themselves. We are to blame our selves.
9
Silver platter? This is Trump we're talking about, he believes he deserves it on a ridiculously ornate gold platter.
13
Trump has already said that if he loses, it will be because the election was rigged. His sense of entitlement is so deeply ingrained that losing is literally, pathologically inconceivable to him. They one way it is possible is if the contest is unfairly stacked against him. That he is, in fact, a loser, will never cross his mind.
20
We come not to neuter Trump, but to spay him.
Forget the standard nip and tuck in the nether regions for this misogynist who spews his vitriol as freely as a tomcat sprays his whatever from his wherever. Trump needs the full invasive procedure, without the anesthesia. If he couldn't be bothered to do debate prep, then why should we bother with surgical prep? Let's take Trump at his word and show him that he can, indeed, be treated as unfairly as he currently only imagines he is.
Unfortunately, because Maureen is compelled to yet again drag Hillary Clinton into her Trump operating theater, we never quite see the end of the procedure. I suppose the rationale is, when writing a catty piece about male cattiness, a catty polemicist simply cannot resist.
To Maureen, Hillary is pure catnip. What starts out as kneading the keyboard quickly pivots into the unsheathing of the claws. Trump licks his wounds just like an embarrassed but unharmed gib caught falling off his luxury perch. Enter Hillary, once more portrayed as the coldest,cattiest creature of them all, what with her purrfect plotting against the "bimbo eruptions."
Maureen has effectively neutered her own anti-GOP, anti-sexist argument. It's one more example of false equivalency. Trump and his catty clowder of chowderheads are bad in their way, Hillary is bad in hers. Who's the lesser evil, and who's the evil lesser?
Enough of this cheap reality show supplanting democracy.
We are citizens. Hear us yowl!
Forget the standard nip and tuck in the nether regions for this misogynist who spews his vitriol as freely as a tomcat sprays his whatever from his wherever. Trump needs the full invasive procedure, without the anesthesia. If he couldn't be bothered to do debate prep, then why should we bother with surgical prep? Let's take Trump at his word and show him that he can, indeed, be treated as unfairly as he currently only imagines he is.
Unfortunately, because Maureen is compelled to yet again drag Hillary Clinton into her Trump operating theater, we never quite see the end of the procedure. I suppose the rationale is, when writing a catty piece about male cattiness, a catty polemicist simply cannot resist.
To Maureen, Hillary is pure catnip. What starts out as kneading the keyboard quickly pivots into the unsheathing of the claws. Trump licks his wounds just like an embarrassed but unharmed gib caught falling off his luxury perch. Enter Hillary, once more portrayed as the coldest,cattiest creature of them all, what with her purrfect plotting against the "bimbo eruptions."
Maureen has effectively neutered her own anti-GOP, anti-sexist argument. It's one more example of false equivalency. Trump and his catty clowder of chowderheads are bad in their way, Hillary is bad in hers. Who's the lesser evil, and who's the evil lesser?
Enough of this cheap reality show supplanting democracy.
We are citizens. Hear us yowl!
1158
Beautiful! Get on the ballot and I'm all Ms. Garcia's.
11
@Karen
Well done!! Where have you been? I’ve missed your brilliant writing Ms. Garcia!
Well done!! Where have you been? I’ve missed your brilliant writing Ms. Garcia!
20
I just want to thank you for knowing the technical term for a group of cats, using it, then rhyming it with chowder. If I had a hat, it would be off to you.
11
In defending her husband during the bimbo eruptions, Hillary was defending a Democratic administration and its ability to get anything done, against opponents who would stop at nothing to bring it down. Slick Willie's bimbos had the misfortune to be caught in the crossfire in an ongoing political battle. Hillary put the future of the country and the fortunes of her party above sisterhood, truth, and dealing transparently with her marital problems and partner.
She was tough and resolute enough to do what was politically necessary, which involved the sorts of lies and character assassination that have become routine in our politics and standard for Republicans. Any list of what Republicans have said about Obama will demonstrate their habits; on a similar list of what Democrats said about dubya, the items would be only slightly less unflattering but many would turn out to be accurate, since he is a top candidate for our worst president ever.
Hillary knows how to keep her eye on the ball. Trump doesnt.
She was tough and resolute enough to do what was politically necessary, which involved the sorts of lies and character assassination that have become routine in our politics and standard for Republicans. Any list of what Republicans have said about Obama will demonstrate their habits; on a similar list of what Democrats said about dubya, the items would be only slightly less unflattering but many would turn out to be accurate, since he is a top candidate for our worst president ever.
Hillary knows how to keep her eye on the ball. Trump doesnt.
857
It is rich that Trump and his pals Giuliani and Gingrich would have the chutzpah to bring this up. Trump was a notorious philanderer and his affair with Marlla Maples was quite public. Giuliani actually announced that he was divorcing his second wife at a press conference, without previously informing her. And Gingrich was carrying on an affair as he pursued Bill Clinton with impeachment. As I understand it Newt asked his then wife for a divorce while she was in the hospital getting chemotherapy. Among these gentlemen we have nine, count them, nine marriages. None of them has a record which would allow them to comment on the Clintons' marriage. Hillary Clinton was cheated on, not a cheater like any of these three. It ill behooves them to lecture her on mistreating women who fooled around with her husband. None of them is a paragon of virtue in this regard. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. There are some who would say that Hillary Clinton should be admired for trying to keep her marriage together. Whether she did this or ended that marriage is between her and Bill. Trump should be careful about the Pandora's box he is opening with this. On the other hand, I would like him to alienate voters, particularly women, more to ensure that he loses.
By the way, have we gotten to the bottom of Melania's immigrant status when she was working in the US years ago? Will someone get the divorce documents with respect to Ivana released? Trump should look to his own marriage.
By the way, have we gotten to the bottom of Melania's immigrant status when she was working in the US years ago? Will someone get the divorce documents with respect to Ivana released? Trump should look to his own marriage.
42
i disagree..... i saw her actions and words as an attempt to protect her personal life. what happened between monica and bill and hillary by extension? was PRIVATE. it had no effect on his ability to govern or state secrets.... unlike David Petraeus' adventures.
if the american public and ken starr had acted like adults this whole thing would have meant NOTHING.
if the american public and ken starr had acted like adults this whole thing would have meant NOTHING.
45
So true, except that when a woman candidate (Hillary Clinton or others) gets angry, loud, or critical, she is castigated as being "bitchy," but when Trump behaves like that he is lauded by his supporters.
345
So Maureen, Drumpf is apparently about to make Hillary's marriage the focal point his presidential campaign. I guess when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
Still, if this shift in emphasis is indeed so, then turnabout is only fair play - and we immediately need to gain access to those divorce records where Ivana claims that Drumpf raped her. We need to understand precisely what she meant by her use of the word rape - marital rape (which I'm sure happens quite often in neanderthal circles), emotional rape, psychological rape, etc. What was she getting at? Given that he is now a contender for the highest office in the land, a position accompanied by immense power over others, we need to know precisely what kind of rapist she was accusing him of being?
We know that he was dumping her like an old model car for a fancy new one at the time, after repeatedly taking the new model for a spin sans ownership - and then trying to stiff Ivana on the alimony front.
We know that he has similarly tried to get over on his business vendors, promising them a honeymoon if they do right by him, and then, at the end, giving them the backside of his hand - and a challenge to take it up with his high-priced lawyers if they have a problem being kicked to the curb like Ivana.
Yes, Drump has the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old - but is it the maturity of a boy deserving a smack or of one who deserved to serve time in a juvenile detention facility?
Still, if this shift in emphasis is indeed so, then turnabout is only fair play - and we immediately need to gain access to those divorce records where Ivana claims that Drumpf raped her. We need to understand precisely what she meant by her use of the word rape - marital rape (which I'm sure happens quite often in neanderthal circles), emotional rape, psychological rape, etc. What was she getting at? Given that he is now a contender for the highest office in the land, a position accompanied by immense power over others, we need to know precisely what kind of rapist she was accusing him of being?
We know that he was dumping her like an old model car for a fancy new one at the time, after repeatedly taking the new model for a spin sans ownership - and then trying to stiff Ivana on the alimony front.
We know that he has similarly tried to get over on his business vendors, promising them a honeymoon if they do right by him, and then, at the end, giving them the backside of his hand - and a challenge to take it up with his high-priced lawyers if they have a problem being kicked to the curb like Ivana.
Yes, Drump has the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old - but is it the maturity of a boy deserving a smack or of one who deserved to serve time in a juvenile detention facility?
645
Oh, it was "rape" - not the psychological kind. It's part of the public record now.
4
While Donald Trump is overtly misogynistic, this piece is coyly misogynistic. The implicit conceit is that there is no more insulting thing to call truly odious males than females.
45
Thin skin and Teflon rubber.
1
Get over it, Maureen. This election is too important.