Trump is POTUS. Yes he is the Commander in Chief what else ? The CEO of America ? We will judge him after three quarters like all newly Général Managers . Wait and see.
6
Can President Trump be Presidential? I fear that the answer is no, except for photo ops. Trump has proven himself to be shallow, lazy, vindictive, and petty. He is a divider, not a concilliator. I expect the Trump Administration to be as ethically deficient as the Harding Administration, but on a larger scale with the threat of nuclear conflict added. Trump's the President, but being Presidential is beyond his capacities and always will be.
34
I watched him speaking at his inauguration.
Seemed pretty presidential to me.
I didn't vote for him but I, as all of us, must accept the will of the American people.
Whether we like it or not, for the next four years and possibly longer, he is our leader.
If we do not support the office of the president then we are disloyal to our land.
He will change things and in many ways that is something to look forward to.
That is why he was elected.
Seemed pretty presidential to me.
I didn't vote for him but I, as all of us, must accept the will of the American people.
Whether we like it or not, for the next four years and possibly longer, he is our leader.
If we do not support the office of the president then we are disloyal to our land.
He will change things and in many ways that is something to look forward to.
That is why he was elected.
6
Donald Trump? Presidential? A contradiction in terms.
26
I saw the motion picture Nocturnal Animals the other night. It seems it was about a naysayer being proven wrong in an unusual act of revenge.
Well, President Trumpetski, new resident of Moscow on the Potomac, I am a naysayer.
PROVE ME WRONG!
Well, President Trumpetski, new resident of Moscow on the Potomac, I am a naysayer.
PROVE ME WRONG!
5
How many times have we already asked, can Donald Trump can be presidential? How many times have we been given the same answer: no, no, no he can't! So why are we still asking this ridiculous question?
25
David Brooks had a pretty good column about this today, but at the end of it he lapsed into one of his inevitable false equivalences, comparing the Democrats boycotting this catastrophe to the yahoos and nut cases Trump is bringing into the corridors of power. When your laudable hopes are dashed upon the rocks in Trump's head, it will be past time for people on both sides to deal with the reality we face. We can all start by calling a spade a spade and ditching the false hopes.
8
“Imagine a gentleman, and you have imagined everything that he was not.” (Referring to William Jennings Bryan)
“By an inferior man I mean one who knows nothing that is not known to every adult, who can do nothing that could not be learned by anyone in a few weeks, and who meanly admires mean things.”
“What it (the word aristocrat) connotes ... is simply the best" type of man—that is, the man whose aspirations are directed to the achievement of what is rare and difficult, and not to the achievement of what is easy and mean—the man, in brief, whose capacities differ positively from those of the average man, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, and whose activity is spent in doing what the average man is unable to do or afraid to do.”
-- H.L. Mencken
President Obama may be the last approximation of a true gentleman and aristocrat ever to be elected and serve as President of the United States during our lifetimes. I hope that his doctors are preserving some of his DNA for use by future generations.
“By an inferior man I mean one who knows nothing that is not known to every adult, who can do nothing that could not be learned by anyone in a few weeks, and who meanly admires mean things.”
“What it (the word aristocrat) connotes ... is simply the best" type of man—that is, the man whose aspirations are directed to the achievement of what is rare and difficult, and not to the achievement of what is easy and mean—the man, in brief, whose capacities differ positively from those of the average man, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, and whose activity is spent in doing what the average man is unable to do or afraid to do.”
-- H.L. Mencken
President Obama may be the last approximation of a true gentleman and aristocrat ever to be elected and serve as President of the United States during our lifetimes. I hope that his doctors are preserving some of his DNA for use by future generations.
19
Ironic that Trump's "windmill chasing" is mentioned invoking a Don Quixote theme-- Because Trump really does see himself as a self-appointed "knight errant" of sorts out to save America from itself.
6
He has taken the oath of office and is now the POTUS. So henceforth, during his term or terms in office, his works will serve to define the meaning of "presidential"....
4
President Trump was certainly very presidential in his first appearance as President.
There was nothing with which to disagree in his speech today, unless you are not looking out for America's interests.
There was nothing with which to disagree in his speech today, unless you are not looking out for America's interests.
8
I felt so proud watching Donald Trump getting inaugurated that I just had to go out and grab me some ------, an mimic a disabled person. Then I came home and peed all over my TV. It is a great day to be American.
19
You know what? I'm sick to death of politicians who look good, spout all the right politically correct platitudes and do nothing or worse than nothing. If Trump in his own inimitable way can unclog the sclerotic arteries of the current dysfunctional political system, fix some of the glaring problems and get some results forget the appearances - that will be more than "Presidential" enough for me and lots of other Americans.
7
"If Trump in his own inimitable way"? That would be by lying, cheating, by not paying people what they're owed, and by refusing to ever come clean about anything at all.
You think a chronic liar with a thin skin has some magic way to "unclog the sclerotic arteries" of government? Not when those arteries are sclerotic b/c the GOP *decided* they'd be that way for Obama's entire presidency.
You know what *I'm* sick to death of? People who believe anything Trump says, that's what I'm sick of.
You ought to be asking what's wrong with the GOP, that they obstructed a sitting president - and by extension, all the citizens of this country - for 8 full years. And why? Just because of the color of the president's skin.
Let's see what the Great White Whale can get accomplished, now that he is holding all the cards.
You think a chronic liar with a thin skin has some magic way to "unclog the sclerotic arteries" of government? Not when those arteries are sclerotic b/c the GOP *decided* they'd be that way for Obama's entire presidency.
You know what *I'm* sick to death of? People who believe anything Trump says, that's what I'm sick of.
You ought to be asking what's wrong with the GOP, that they obstructed a sitting president - and by extension, all the citizens of this country - for 8 full years. And why? Just because of the color of the president's skin.
Let's see what the Great White Whale can get accomplished, now that he is holding all the cards.
33
At least we will know if the real Trump is ever secretly replaced by a Trump lookalike - when he acts presidential.
If he is funny, we will all know it is a Baldwin who has replaced him.
This also means Trump cannot play hookie if he tries to leave the USA to have secret meetings with comrade Putin or transact business deals for himself.
If he is funny, we will all know it is a Baldwin who has replaced him.
This also means Trump cannot play hookie if he tries to leave the USA to have secret meetings with comrade Putin or transact business deals for himself.
7
Yeah, and a lot better than Obama!
3
Lovely piece NYT, thank you. Like prayer flags blowing in the wind outside a Buddhist temple in Nepal.
We just watched the Inauguration speech. Worse than expected. He had some great lines, like, “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
But it was embarrassing. He can solve all our problems. No one else deserves any credit for what he inherits. He inherits a disgraceful disaster. This is about as true as his statement that he won by a landslide. If Trump succeeds, it will because the Obama team has set up the country to succeed.
We just watched the Inauguration speech. Worse than expected. He had some great lines, like, “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
But it was embarrassing. He can solve all our problems. No one else deserves any credit for what he inherits. He inherits a disgraceful disaster. This is about as true as his statement that he won by a landslide. If Trump succeeds, it will because the Obama team has set up the country to succeed.
34
January 20,2017
An electronic social media driven presidency incorporates the consensus for Trump's decision making path toward the one purpose his reelection in four years: for what else need be the objectives that is Trump's paradigmatic presidential body politic in truth. This Trump redefining 'his' presidential office core by leading; or rather bypassing party politics rudiments in tradition: and thus brazen - flying by the seat of your pants.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
An electronic social media driven presidency incorporates the consensus for Trump's decision making path toward the one purpose his reelection in four years: for what else need be the objectives that is Trump's paradigmatic presidential body politic in truth. This Trump redefining 'his' presidential office core by leading; or rather bypassing party politics rudiments in tradition: and thus brazen - flying by the seat of your pants.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
3
Putin's poodle assumes power. Sad.
18
Wait for it. Once the republican congress gets everything they want from him, they will impeach him. They just have to wait until the majority of Americans loose confidence in him. Actually.....
9
Since anti-slavery days my family has been Republican and with rare exception have supported Republican candidates. Donald Trump is not by any measure a Republican, in fact it is impossible to put a label on him. Insofar as I am aware, no member of my family voted for Trump. That being said, like it or not, Donald Trump is now president and we as Americans must wish him a peaceful, prosperous and humane presidency.
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC!
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC!
8
You are either with Trump or against him.
To invite unification is to show weakness.
To invite unification is to show weakness.
3
At a local Myrtle Beach restaurant, I was surprised and secretly pleased to hear it said that at his inauguration,Trump looks as unhappy to be there, as the rest of us are that he's there.
Finally, some common ground.
Finally, some common ground.
24
Better question: Can the NYT do actual reporting?
The 'fake news' coming from the MSM is getting pretty thick.
The 'fake news' coming from the MSM is getting pretty thick.
6
America not only has the answer to this question. It has the solid proof.
And the answer is NO.
Donald Trump has not once exhibited any kind of behavior that could even be vaguely decribed as "presidential".
He bullied and insulted his way through the Primaries and Debates.
Sent out hysterical tweets and threats to those who did not kneel quickly enough to his will.
Took every opportunity to use racially offensive slurs to egg on his supporters. Taunted people who didn't not meet his beauty standards -- even going so far as to cruelly imitating a person with physical disabilities.
How it is possible to even ask a question like this strains credulity, when the answer is so painfully obvious.
And the answer is NO.
Donald Trump has not once exhibited any kind of behavior that could even be vaguely decribed as "presidential".
He bullied and insulted his way through the Primaries and Debates.
Sent out hysterical tweets and threats to those who did not kneel quickly enough to his will.
Took every opportunity to use racially offensive slurs to egg on his supporters. Taunted people who didn't not meet his beauty standards -- even going so far as to cruelly imitating a person with physical disabilities.
How it is possible to even ask a question like this strains credulity, when the answer is so painfully obvious.
13
If it wasn't for the fact that Trump has the nuclear football, this administration would have been fun to watch as pure entertainment. Just like a reality show. I hope the Generals and others in command/control have the ability to avoid war.
6
In my humble opinion he will not change and hopefully it will be his downfall. And this is what I think that most of the elected GOP House and Senate members think. They will give him enough rope to hang himself and then when he is gone Vice President Pence will be President and he is a known quantity that they can deal with. I like Pence even less and hope that while our nation will suffer from the time Trump and Pence are in office the nation will come out of it better off, especially when Americans see how the GOP led them down this path.
11
NO he can't. .how many times are you gonna ask? !
16
Why not something more possible,...
Like asking Eli Manning to be a Gangsta Rapper?
Like asking Eli Manning to be a Gangsta Rapper?
8
Respectfully, to be calling for efforts at "presidentiality" - even feckless ones, by a going-thru-the motions president who, like a recalcitrant, petulant misbehaving child, is likely to have been barely convinced of the need to make them by his handlers - is to be drawing up plans for re-positioning the White House deck chairs.
Yes, this Republican House is virtually certain never to vote charges of impeachment, but obvious are the matters of presidential misconduct that are nevertheless screaming to be publicly tested - though symbolically - against the Constitution's predicates of high crimes and misdemeanors, by the country's best and most patriotic lawyers.
They are, of course, failure to reveal the extent and nature of his business and personal assets, as reflected not only in tax returns but also in/from all sources needed to make disclosure full and complete; and failure to put in place the blindest of such trusts and/or other mechanisms, to avoid impropriety's subatomic appearance.
One need go no further than the recent, annual symbolic legislative calls for the repeal of ACA, for a precedent in a matter infinitesimal by comparison with P T's failures in regard to disclosing and isolating his assets.
Perhaps obvious is that the above is calculated to bring about the fullest public awareness of these lapses and all their implications, in turn - ideally - resulting in P T's compliance, or impeachment. Meanwhile, I respectfully suggest presidentiality be stowed.
Yes, this Republican House is virtually certain never to vote charges of impeachment, but obvious are the matters of presidential misconduct that are nevertheless screaming to be publicly tested - though symbolically - against the Constitution's predicates of high crimes and misdemeanors, by the country's best and most patriotic lawyers.
They are, of course, failure to reveal the extent and nature of his business and personal assets, as reflected not only in tax returns but also in/from all sources needed to make disclosure full and complete; and failure to put in place the blindest of such trusts and/or other mechanisms, to avoid impropriety's subatomic appearance.
One need go no further than the recent, annual symbolic legislative calls for the repeal of ACA, for a precedent in a matter infinitesimal by comparison with P T's failures in regard to disclosing and isolating his assets.
Perhaps obvious is that the above is calculated to bring about the fullest public awareness of these lapses and all their implications, in turn - ideally - resulting in P T's compliance, or impeachment. Meanwhile, I respectfully suggest presidentiality be stowed.
7
Countdown to impeachment has begun.
10
Anxiously awaiting Bill Maher's program tonight.
Any antidote for Trump's bellicose bombast is welcome.
Any antidote for Trump's bellicose bombast is welcome.
9
No.
8
Can Caligula be presidential?
10
Simple answer to your question: no.
7
Those masked violent so called 'protesters' were NOT the resistance!
Trump and his cronies would want to place these people to discredit his huge (peaceful and fervently serious) opposition.
See you tomorrow for a whole lot more PEACEFUL opposition.
Trump and his cronies would want to place these people to discredit his huge (peaceful and fervently serious) opposition.
See you tomorrow for a whole lot more PEACEFUL opposition.
6
It is amazing to watch a group of people become so unhinged that they sound like a typical consumer of Fox News. And it is delicious to watch The Times sink so low in its journalistic bias that The Times is now just a mirror image of Fox News. The Left Wing Tea Party. How the world goes around.
3
No.
6
This edition of the New York Times should have had a
black border around it.
black border around it.
9
Can he be presidential? Are you kidding? No way.
8
Time> 12:20 pm Jan 20, 2017.
Trump is now officially president. Stop whining.
Trump is now officially president. Stop whining.
2
Surely, you're joking. Trump change? Not a chance. People voted for the jerk because he is a jerk.
9
Did anyone of sound mind just not hear a demagogue take the oath of office of president? Well trumpians, you can have him. He will never be mine. What a complete jerk.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
10
Are these polls you refer to the same ones that so badly failed to predict the election? "Polls" lack credibility.
4
Can we now start impeachment hearings? The Idiot is legal now. Let's have at him, for the sake of the country.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
7
David Brooks today hit it just right, brilluantly characterizing Trump as the "dauphin of disorder." But who is the regent?
8
NOT MY PRESIDENT!!
12
Cancan he be Presidential? NO!
8
Are you kidding? He is nothing but a repugnant, commie-loving, bully!!!
8
Sure, Trump can be disgraceful! Piece of cake! Got it covered! A fews tweets, the inaugural address is over with, on with the kitty grabby and the terrific, quality, quality balls, sponsored by all his friends. No problemo!
Oh, you said presidential? Never mind....
Oh, you said presidential? Never mind....
8
Hey, I'm the headline(r) comic on this set. Get off my stage:):):)
4
NO!
2
You quote PRES.Bush at the end of your otherwise well written ed.in which he pledged to work for unity of all Americans, but there has been no c-in-c who divided the nation, inflicted more suffering and death in his ill conceived IRAQ war than Bush 43. Relying on such unreliable advisers as Wolfowitz, Tenet,Abrams, Cheney and others, Bush opened up the wars of hell in Iraq with Operation Shock and Awe,and is indirectly responsible for deaths of more than a million Iraqis and thousands of US casualties.Conjecture about Trump is ill advised at this point. Took uptown west side bus last night with women whom I engaged in a discussion about Trump. They had been marching in an anti Trump parade against Pres. Elect. Many keep repeating the word "fascist,"applied to Trump yet not one was able to define this system of ideas. Give DT benefit of the doubt, and then we shall see whether he is worthy of the Office.
1
NO
2
No, He can't. Sad.
2
I'll believe it when I see it. But so far, either more- or post-Election, he hasn't shown any difference from the schemer and conniver that he seems to always have been. At age 70, why would, or could, anyone expect that old dog to lear new tricks--respect for others, honestly, humility...and so on?
Maya Angelou was right: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Maya Angelou was right: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
8
Or in this case, Since the early 1980s.
"Maya Angelou was right: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time!"
"Maya Angelou was right: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time!"
3
You are kidding right???
This liar is for himself and only promotes his business. He has bitten more what he could chew. He is too dumb to know that. When he realizes it he is going to quit very soon. Mark my words.
This liar is for himself and only promotes his business. He has bitten more what he could chew. He is too dumb to know that. When he realizes it he is going to quit very soon. Mark my words.
5
Trump's Language 'Fresh and Authentic'
Today, Anthony Scaramucci, incoming director of public liaison at the White House, said of Trump that "a group of the population" doesn't like "the freshness and the authenticity of the language that he's using".
Yes, like clown, dumb, dopey, dummies, phony, fake, fraud, pathetic, crazy, thug, like a dog. Mexicans: "rapists"; China: "raping us"; Women: "grab 'em by the p----". And many, many more! (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/28/upshot/donald-trump-twitt...
What's not to like? His language shows such freshness and authenticity! Such presidentialness!
Today, Anthony Scaramucci, incoming director of public liaison at the White House, said of Trump that "a group of the population" doesn't like "the freshness and the authenticity of the language that he's using".
Yes, like clown, dumb, dopey, dummies, phony, fake, fraud, pathetic, crazy, thug, like a dog. Mexicans: "rapists"; China: "raping us"; Women: "grab 'em by the p----". And many, many more! (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/28/upshot/donald-trump-twitt...
What's not to like? His language shows such freshness and authenticity! Such presidentialness!
6
No.
3
Dear New York Times Editorial Board: STOP asking Stupid questions. Every few weeks or so you pose some iteration of that theme.
5
I agree they should stop asking, very unbecoming to beg a Bully for anything.
But I would hardly call the ??s themselves stupid.
Unreasonable, Impossible, perhaps even inconceivable,..but not stupid.
But I would hardly call the ??s themselves stupid.
Unreasonable, Impossible, perhaps even inconceivable,..but not stupid.
This is the best part of POTUS OBAMA's valedictory address that i liked most
"We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others.
When we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt. And when we sit back and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them.
(CROWD CHEERS)
If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clip board, get some signatures, and run for office yourself."
"We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others.
When we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt. And when we sit back and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them.
(CROWD CHEERS)
If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clip board, get some signatures, and run for office yourself."
5
Nope.
2
Can the NYTimes call a spade a spade?
The GOP Congress and cabinet picks do NOT have "a deeply conservative approach to governing" - they are THIEVES - stealing from the USA via tax breaks and loopholes for the very wealthy, selling off public lands, diverting healthcare money into giant corporations.
The GOP Congress and cabinet picks do NOT have "a deeply conservative approach to governing" - they are THIEVES - stealing from the USA via tax breaks and loopholes for the very wealthy, selling off public lands, diverting healthcare money into giant corporations.
5
He will probably deliver an inauguration speech that was written for him - word-by-word - and will likely sound magnanimous. Some people may think at that point that he is able to be presidential and have a glimmer of hope.
DON'T BE FOOLED. The man has shown his true colors over and over again and there is no changing him. Please, never forget the things he said and did to get here. Print them out. Save the videos (the dozens of them that are out there). Remind yourself every so often of these because we can never justify this type of behavior. Normalizing this "human being" will make it OK for our children and future politicians to behave this way.
America must learn this lesson the hard way so that this NEVER happens again. It will be painful but hopefully we will come out stronger and more unified after realizing what a tragic mistake this was.
DON'T BE FOOLED. The man has shown his true colors over and over again and there is no changing him. Please, never forget the things he said and did to get here. Print them out. Save the videos (the dozens of them that are out there). Remind yourself every so often of these because we can never justify this type of behavior. Normalizing this "human being" will make it OK for our children and future politicians to behave this way.
America must learn this lesson the hard way so that this NEVER happens again. It will be painful but hopefully we will come out stronger and more unified after realizing what a tragic mistake this was.
4
Duh. Pipe dreams.
3
Try sticking your pinkie out when you sip your tea, Donald. It's not that hard. Using a tiny china teacup helps too, since there's less of a handle you have to try and hold onto. And lose that pouting mug. You've got nice teeth, show them off.
Judging by the sheer idiocy of the anti-Trump commenters it is crystal clear that a large majority ofthe Democrat base is composed of people who have a very fragile grasp of Reality. Astonishing stuff for its wildly detached from reality nonsense.
7
Feel better now, honey?
7
I give him a month before he decides that he doesn't really want the job. No stamina.
10
Answer again is NO.
The end of Barack Obama`s Presidency at the height of his popularity and Trump has taken over with lowest approval ever for any Presidents. And no one was prepared for this moment not even Trump as I understand.
The whole World is uneasy to have this self serving corrupt man as the leader and are on their toes and so are we.
Trump is the President now and I watched him first few minutes, he remained the same mean, dark and insulting to the outgoing President.
The end of Barack Obama`s Presidency at the height of his popularity and Trump has taken over with lowest approval ever for any Presidents. And no one was prepared for this moment not even Trump as I understand.
The whole World is uneasy to have this self serving corrupt man as the leader and are on their toes and so are we.
Trump is the President now and I watched him first few minutes, he remained the same mean, dark and insulting to the outgoing President.
9
Everyone keeps evaluating Trump using the wrong yardstick. Can Trump be Presidential - of course not. How can a man who has a 15-minute attention span and knows absolutely nothing about politics, policy, science or economics be Presidential.
Trump has no agenda or policy. His cabinet nominees are just a list of names given to him by his minions. I can just the imagine the laughs as they handed him Rick Perry's namee to run the Department of Energy. He says and tweets whatever pops into his head at the moment. The frightening thing is his list of extremist advisors who are really running the show.
You need to stop saying what Trump needs to do. He can't do anything because he knows nothing. He's adrift.
Trump has no agenda or policy. His cabinet nominees are just a list of names given to him by his minions. I can just the imagine the laughs as they handed him Rick Perry's namee to run the Department of Energy. He says and tweets whatever pops into his head at the moment. The frightening thing is his list of extremist advisors who are really running the show.
You need to stop saying what Trump needs to do. He can't do anything because he knows nothing. He's adrift.
7
God bless Donald Trump. And God have mercy on us all. We are in for a ride.
3
Trump cannot possibly match the NYT Editorial Board in peevishness.
But then I do not blame him for that failure. The Editorial Board has had years of practice - Trump is a novice by your standards.
But then I do not blame him for that failure. The Editorial Board has had years of practice - Trump is a novice by your standards.
2
I hope so.
1
What a tragic day in American history! What is really discouraging is that there doesn't seem to be a way out. Impeachment? Probably will be plenty of reasons for that, but then we're stuck with Pence! Include Pence in a Trump impeachment? Then we're stuck with Paul Ryan! Hopeless!
3
I just Love my New President.
2
You say that after winning office, he "has continued his vindictive, disruptive style". Well, pardon me, but from the very morning after his election, I have witnessed nothing but a totally vindictive style from both the Times Editorial Board and just about all of its columnists (including the token two on the Right), not to mention an absolute barrage of Op-Ed pieces in a similar vein. It never lets up even for a day when reading the Times, and if you get the paper on-line, then you can run down the list of articles for the past week or two and see vindictiveness writ exceedingly large in just one viewing of the headings. And on that very same post-election morning, the vindictive marches started by people who apparently have no understanding of democracy, the vindictive signs were forged, the vindictive 50 or 60 thousand post-its were left in one of our major subway stations (no one is allowed to post anything on those tile walls, but these untold thousands of such postings were up for about two weeks, the vindictive 'not my president' was heard throughout the land, the vindictive Hollywood and New York arts establishments spoke out, the vindictive Democrat senators and congressmen announced publicly that they would boycott the Inauguration - I mean, I could go on and on, but can't your extremely biased staff and readers (based on what I see in the Comments Section) really see what has been going on from the Left? Or do they just not want to? Read this entry again!
4
No! And he won't be successful either. Any successful business surrounds themselves with competent people. Not having competent people around him is probably why he went bankrupt multiple times. And now he will bankrupt what's left of his country with his cabinet full of know nothings. I am fearful for our lives. If he threatens nuclear war will the democrats have the guts to mutiny and overthrow his regime? Probably not. There is nothing short of an overthrow to stop these incompetents boobs from blowing up the world.
5
Move beyond the rhetoric of "Being Presidential" NYT Editorial Board.
While your team and your colleagues from other credible news sources may be right in expressing concerns about ill-informed Trump, unprepared transition, risks of repealing ACA, questionable cabinet picks, etc; it is time to change the tone. Realize that civil, politically correct language used by liberal progressive media has long been portrayed as 'songs of the weak' and apologetic Political Correctness by conservatives.
Please drop the niceties and be forthright and demanding about what the president and his team must do. Remember that such language is what the conservatives are used to.
While your team and your colleagues from other credible news sources may be right in expressing concerns about ill-informed Trump, unprepared transition, risks of repealing ACA, questionable cabinet picks, etc; it is time to change the tone. Realize that civil, politically correct language used by liberal progressive media has long been portrayed as 'songs of the weak' and apologetic Political Correctness by conservatives.
Please drop the niceties and be forthright and demanding about what the president and his team must do. Remember that such language is what the conservatives are used to.
3
A pig all dressed up in a nice suit is still a pig.
4
Can President Trump be presidential? I don't know can the NYT editorial board be objective? The answer to the latter is quite clearly a resounding NO.
3
A much better question is can the NYT be honest and fair instead of biased and dishonestly misleading? And can they stop printing leaks from the intelligence agencies?
I hope President Trump strongly prosecutes the NYT for all the secret government leaks.
I hope President Trump strongly prosecutes the NYT for all the secret government leaks.
2
Come on people. What you have seen is exactly what you will get -- an immoral buffoon. Besides the fact that he is a crotchety 70-year old man set in his ways, has anyone ever seen evidence that this jerk has ever been anything but a jerk?
3
The Supreme Court stole the election for George Bush. Without Florida Al Gore still won the popular vote. Bush unleashed the dogs of war in Iraq/Syria among other notable disasters. Donald Trump continues the trend that an electoral college win without the popular vote brings into office terrible presidents. Outside Gen. Mattis, a more unqualified group of nominations would be hard to find. Tillerson seems to be a bag man between Putin and Trump.
3
I don't that the NY Times Editorial board gets it. You continue fanning the flames and Trump's supporters grow more resolute, and continue to grow. I have never witnessed such hostility for anyone that the Times has unleashed upon Trump. Why don't we all take a deep breath and see how actually governs.
3
We know that his supporters don't get it. Trump is absolutely ignorant and self-infatuated. Nothing he does will be good. There is no reason to wait and see if he can change completely overnight, because he can't. He's going to be a clueless narcissist until the day he dies. The hostility is completely reasonable, and should also be aimed at his brainwashed supporters, as they are supporting the destruction of America, and thus as treasonous as he is.
8
They're just telling it like it is. Saying what most of us are thinking without the PC nonsense. Isn't that what Trump supporters wanted?
4
I'm more interested in finding out whether or not Trump is capable of being human.
6
I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened. OB-Wan
5
The NYT's editorial approach to Trump is pretty well defined in this line, "those who voted against him." I did not see any box on the ballot for "against" anybody. If you follow this logic, you could conclude Clifton didn't any votes to be president. She was just a surrogate for voting "against" Trump. The editorial condemns Trump because he has "corroded the traditional grace period", but praised Representative Lewis for saying Trump isn't "a legitimate president." Name calling has permeated editorial and op-eds comments before and after his election. The NYT isn't alone in their attacks on Trump. CNN actually put a program on that speculates that an Obama appointee would be president if Trump was killed today. The NYT repeatedly described Trump's supporters as undereducated, underemployed and "missing a bunch of teeth." In the meantime nothing is said about the death threats against Trump or that a family friend of clinton was arrested for making one of those threats. While another source first released the unsubstantiated claims about Trump and Russian prostitutes, the NYT jumped on the story with welcoming arms running articles about the claims every day until they just became boring.. Trying to destroy Trump's presidency before he is even sworn in has no redeeming element. He will be our president for the next four years and until the NYT begins to stress constructive criticism instead destructive criticism, they will just be preaching to their own choir.
2
In answer to your question, no.
But I think we should focus on issues. Health care, for instance. He wants to replace the flawed ACA with something terrific. So ask him how he will fix situations like this --
http://theweek.com/articles/666799/how-american-health-care-kills-people
No matter who is in power, this should be intolerable.
But I think we should focus on issues. Health care, for instance. He wants to replace the flawed ACA with something terrific. So ask him how he will fix situations like this --
http://theweek.com/articles/666799/how-american-health-care-kills-people
No matter who is in power, this should be intolerable.
Bravo, NYT! I will now applaud any news outlet that says it like it is and does not pretend that we are entering a "normal" transition with a "normal" President. It is more important now than ever before to make the first amendment the battle cry. We need you and other important news sources to hold this man's feet to the fire and to remind him(and his party) always that he has no mandate and that the country is not an adoring public!
5
"Government Rearranges"
From black to white
The picture changes
From black to white
A government rearranges
United we stand
Divided we fall
The success of one
Is the success of all
But the concerns are very real
And the doubts appear insurmountable
And thus united as one
We will hold you accountable
So just make it about us
For it is no longer about you
Defy all expectations
And to us all be true
From black to white
The picture changes
From black to white
A government rearranges
From black to white
The picture changes
From black to white
A government rearranges
United we stand
Divided we fall
The success of one
Is the success of all
But the concerns are very real
And the doubts appear insurmountable
And thus united as one
We will hold you accountable
So just make it about us
For it is no longer about you
Defy all expectations
And to us all be true
From black to white
The picture changes
From black to white
A government rearranges
1
Why should be be presidential? He wasn't presidential when he ran for office, he wasn't presidential after he won, he won't be presidential once he's inaugurated either. He's a grown-up spoiled brat who's used to forcing the world to give him what he wants. And now we gave him power. And he'll use it for his benefit alone, as he's done for all of his life. He's mean and nasty and, most of all, petty. At 70 you don't change, you're what you always were, just more so.
3
Just the fact that we are still asking this question is enough to fill one with doubt.
4
"The nation needs to hear Mr. Trump pick up this grand American theme and then find enough personal conviction to make it a central aspiration of his presidency." Why are we still talking about this? Why are people waiting for this? Why are people hoping for this? You think some words from Trump are going to heal the nation after the degrading spectacle of his primary campaign, his election campaign, his post election behavior and the degrading spectacle of his personal life?
1
I can't believe that I'm having to reassure my children that Donald Trump will not be starting a nuclear war. They are scared. My older son asked if he was going to have to go to war. I told him his "bone spurs" will act up before that ever happens. Scary times. Part of me wants to curl up and stay away from the news for the next four years. (Literally for my sanity/health.) But instead we will be having a family conversation tonight of what concrete things we can do to protect our environment, show compassion to those less fortunate, make sure we speak up when we hear others speak unkindly about groups of people, etc., and become more vocal.
4
His Inaugural Address was a clear chance to turn the corner toward being Presidential. Instead, it was the same belligerent, ignorant, narcissist we've come to know. He effectively insulted all of the ex-Presidents on stage to honor the office and all the Senators and Representatives who he will have to work with. He was sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who he has insulted frequently in the past. He grossly represented the state of the Union as vastly more negative than it is in terms of jobs, infrastructure, and international standing. People keep saying "Give him a chance." First it was, "he'll be more Presidential after he wins the primary." Nope. Then, "he'll be more Presidential now that he's won the election." Nope. And not after the Electoral College declared him the winner. And now, in dramatic fashion, not at his inaugural, where virtually all Presidents try to put the divisions of the campaign behind them and speak to the whole nation. The reason he hasn't become more Presidential is that he's incapable of it. Time to leave fantasyland and figure out how to survive the next (with luck, only) 4 years.
4
Look on the bright side. If we can make it through the Trump era without a major economic or military crisis, it will have proved definitively that our government just doesn't matter. I find that thought comforting, because it means I never have to think about it again.
2
"Presidential" is an adjective for one soul. The concept of what is deemed "presidential" is changing with each micro second. The world is in a constant state of flux & a leader must be adept at accommodating himself to the instantaneous happenings. In this period of metamorphosis with a new world order citizens might educate themselves on how Congress functions. In the mean time perpetual protests, demonstrations act as three dimensional blogs. Our citizens have been offered ongoing lessons in how democracy works. It is up to people to determine what is & isn't "presidential" as this man is our representative.
But is the campaign over for Donald Trump? There has been no transition since he won the electoral votes needed to prevail - no transition philosophically or emotionally as many Americans, I among them, had hoped would take place.
We all hoped he would transform into the type of leader who would put aside petty grievances from the campaign trail and show us (and the world), that he was capable of looking at the horizon.
But Mr. Trump continues to look down at his feet, tilting at any and every windmill taunt that threatens his fragile ego. He has not transitioned at all, and I doubt he will once he takes the oath. To use his popular tag on his endless tweets: sad.
We all hoped he would transform into the type of leader who would put aside petty grievances from the campaign trail and show us (and the world), that he was capable of looking at the horizon.
But Mr. Trump continues to look down at his feet, tilting at any and every windmill taunt that threatens his fragile ego. He has not transitioned at all, and I doubt he will once he takes the oath. To use his popular tag on his endless tweets: sad.
2
Meanwhile, during the last few weeks of his presidency, Obama spent most of his time working on his exit speech and commuting sentences of traitors, murderers and Mexican drug cartel leaders; while Trump was meeting with and jawboning business leaders to create and/or save American jobs. Your hero was the fraud, the all talk no action poser, while Trump was doing what we want Presidents to do. A man of action versus a weak, blubbering fool. Yes, that's you, Obama
3
As Theater artists decode & encode the zeitgeist 's complex messages a new Found Theater arises. playwrights must employ self reflection to create a resonant, resistance theater of the people. The politics of emotions must be explored in imaginative & multidimensional ways. Theater arts must not be looked at in minimizing, diminished ways. The apocalyptic changes must generate a new apocalyptic perception. As President Trump transitions into power dramatic artists must transition into new roles. Creating new configurations of bombast to counter bombast will test the limits of language & form. Doubt & despair & the erratic look of things must be mirrored in new permutations of expression. Let us remember an active theater life flourished even in concentration camps. Unity of spirit will generate new rituals of observation & celebration.
1
If we do not band together and start dealing directly with class and income inequality in this country, it is simply not going to change. Common sense dictates that asking the metaphorical foxes in the hen house to alter their behavior patterns and policies is just silly. Change is going to have to be driven from the bottom up. Unfortunately, much of the bottom does not read, does not march, and seems to think their individual life experience adds up to enough knowledge to intelligently pick a change agent. It does not - clearly. The only power they really have is shear numbers. That's the weapon.
Band together, march on Washington, and manifest as the angry masses that you really are. As long as kids, job, and credit card financed comfort are the individual priorities, do not expect change. Drive it, and sacrifice like millions have before you that are part of history's revolutions.
Band together, march on Washington, and manifest as the angry masses that you really are. As long as kids, job, and credit card financed comfort are the individual priorities, do not expect change. Drive it, and sacrifice like millions have before you that are part of history's revolutions.
2
These comments mostly talk about how Trump cannot bring the Nation together as if we were together under Obama.
We need to realize that the hurt and dismay felt by the majority of Times readers was equally felt by the forgotten people of the States which suffered horrific job losses and mortgage closures during the Obama years.
Let us show a little perspective here - Trump is our President because a lot of people did not like how the country was doing in the Obama years. Let us walk in their shoes for a little while.
We need to realize that the hurt and dismay felt by the majority of Times readers was equally felt by the forgotten people of the States which suffered horrific job losses and mortgage closures during the Obama years.
Let us show a little perspective here - Trump is our President because a lot of people did not like how the country was doing in the Obama years. Let us walk in their shoes for a little while.
3
I don't see why I should try to walk in the shoes of ignorant, bigoted, fascists.
8
Stop saying that the new administration is poised to attack the Obama legacy. They will be attacking the American Legacy. This president and this Congress and the upcoming Supreme Court are poised to do damage to generations of what our democracy has been able to achieve, never perfectly, over generations.
8
Imagine the country if Hillary had won? It's not as though Hillary's approval rating wouldn't have also been much lower than other president's. A Clinton presidency would have guaranteed a divided country. She managed to divide even her own party.
3
President Trump can and will be presidential as was shown during his inauguration speech. He was elected as our president and the people wanted a positive change in America. Our country will reap the benefits and will be the better for it. Great things await this wonderful country. Wait and see.
1
Proof, I guess, that not all the low-info crowd resides in the deep south.
7
Today we supplant the revered values of the proud and courageous American Eagle for the sinful idolatry of the golden calf. How quickly the people fell into apostasy, guided by misbeliefs, fake news, and a chance to share in the demented and greedy entreaties of a charlatan. This affront to the values of our society, foremost of which is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, God-given rights, enshrined in our very own constitution, the bedrock of our country, and our society, and that were endemic to what was the great success of America. Woe unto those of us that thought that these values were sacred and untouchable for we found out in this election that they were not worth the paper they were written on. When the so-called peaceful transfer of power is attained by calling upon motorcycle thugs to suppress peaceful protest and by enticing the disaffected proletariat by threating to lock up a political opponent, it is not a peaceful transfer of power. To those under threat, the seeds of combat have been sown, and time will tell how that combat will manifest itself. It was said in this election by the charlatan that to the victor goes the spoils, and that the conquers should just take what they want, and so it is with the treasured values and revered relics of our republic. In the end, the charlatan and his Kelptocracy will leave as their legacy a final departing letter to our once great country which will be short and not so sweet.
Thanks, suckers!
Thanks, suckers!
1
I've never vomited from sheer stress but the night of the election I did have to stand in my bathroom, hand on the cool porcelain of the sink, and get myself under control -- it was close. I feel the same way today.
This ignorant, greedy, selfish vulgarian will sully the White House, the nation and everything else he can get his slimy hands on. The United States is permanently diminished today.
This ignorant, greedy, selfish vulgarian will sully the White House, the nation and everything else he can get his slimy hands on. The United States is permanently diminished today.
4
The last few days I have heard and read many comments to the effect that we should hope the new President is "a success ." No, I hope America is somehow successful. I hope his agenda and rhetoric that are rooted in racism, xenophobia, sexism, denial of the overwhelming scientific consensus on global warming, disdain for true public education, denial of health care to every American, and lacking in respect for our intelligence officers and military fail spectacularly.
6
Depends on which country's Presidential model you are talking about. I can think of quite a few where he would be fit right in and perpetuate the norm. The US is not one of them.
4
The coup has met with great success.
8
He really blew it on his speech. He could have been presidential, but he chose not. It was somewhat dictatorial, not an invitation to liberty. He directed it toward his base, and was very much like a candidate. He just cannot get away from his terrible ego. We know he wrote the speech, it was full of double adjectives and very 6th grade. I am fearful of his style, and I somewhat think of the fears that Germans had listening to Hitler's 1933 Chancellor speech. God help the USA.
9
His dark and self-centered inauguration speech is the answer to your question.
9
Perhaps the Times Editorial Board will write an an equally thoughtful column on likelihood of a Leopard changing its spots.
6
Any mystery of a DJT high school commencement speech has been answered by his inaugural speech.
5
After today, I think people should just pay the least attention to the President but focus on the legislative branch of this country. Trump can issue whatever decree comes to his mind. The Congress has the power to act to counter it. This definitely sounds naive. But it is the principle of this country's political system. Saying that our system is broken because of money in politics is only partly true. The other part we, as citizens and patriots of this country, can take the country to a better place is to work on our own representations to the Congress. It is hard and slow work. But it needs to done. Reality TV only gives you a brief respite in your daily drudgery. A full day's steady work puts food and shelter for us, if work is available. Let's work to make our lives better.
5
After listening to what amounts to the Cliff Notes speech of his Convention speech from the Dark side - he failed the Presidential test today. May the Force be with us to shield us from the Dark side.
7
And hopefully we won't become Alderaan.....
More important is what the Democrats can do to end this in 4 years rather stretching it for 4 more...
5
I would say no, based on what I heard from Trump's Inaugural speech, I won't call it an address, because it sounded more like a bunch of jumbled up campaign speeches worked into one disjointed message.
4
A number of historians are comparing him to Andrew Jackson, another "of the people" president. Worth a look back to see how Jackson fared...
So, I just endured Trumps victory speech. Whoever wrote it was a master sophist. While seemingly positive, it did everything possible to widen the gap between the people who voted for him and the people who voted mostly against him, and for Clinton.
This will ultimately lead to his undoing. The .001% of humanity has walkways been with us. The have always felt that they were superior and the rightful rulers. However we, most of the rest of us who haven't turned into bootlickers, have always managed to move ever closer to freedom, liberty and justice. This current assault reminds me of the blitzkrieg on steroids. It came out of nowhere and in two years took over the government. WW2 lasted 6 years cost 50 to 80 million lives. This present thing will self destruct in less that 2 years with hopefully very few causalities. The whole thing feels like the last gasp of a huge dinosaur.
Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for ALL, are unavoidable.
This will ultimately lead to his undoing. The .001% of humanity has walkways been with us. The have always felt that they were superior and the rightful rulers. However we, most of the rest of us who haven't turned into bootlickers, have always managed to move ever closer to freedom, liberty and justice. This current assault reminds me of the blitzkrieg on steroids. It came out of nowhere and in two years took over the government. WW2 lasted 6 years cost 50 to 80 million lives. This present thing will self destruct in less that 2 years with hopefully very few causalities. The whole thing feels like the last gasp of a huge dinosaur.
Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for ALL, are unavoidable.
2
I've watched the movie Gladiator at least 20 times but I never thought in my lifetime that we'd see a Commodus as president. Watch out for the tweets down the road: "Am I not merciful!" and "Tell me what you've been doing busy little bee or I shall strike down those dearest to you. You shall watch as I bathe in their blood." and "It vexes me. I'm terribly vexed." etc. , etc.
Filing in tight formation behind an obnoxious fool, Republicans are currently witnessing their dreams of avarice flower beyond anything they ever conceived in their puny imaginations. Now watch them as they go ahead and choke on their greed.
6
Sadly for us, he can't. He's so lost in the miasma of his megalomania that he can only see himself and not the nation.
Anything good, whether he was responsible for it or not (e.g. Ford jobs not going to Mexico), he will claim as his doing; anything negative is, of course, because it is "fixed" against him. Even if only 1000 people showed up to the Inauguration he would claim that the numbers were astounding, colossal. He lies promiscuously and the media will be exhausted trying to fact correct him.
Just yesterday, he claimed that his concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial had never been done before...except in Obama's first inauguration. He pollutes everything he touches and to watch him "salute" Lincoln had a fake reverence that almost looked as if he were flipping Lincoln off, saying, "You think you're great, Abe, just watch what I do!"
I can't abide his voice so I'll read his speech tonight--I surely cannot watch it.
Anything good, whether he was responsible for it or not (e.g. Ford jobs not going to Mexico), he will claim as his doing; anything negative is, of course, because it is "fixed" against him. Even if only 1000 people showed up to the Inauguration he would claim that the numbers were astounding, colossal. He lies promiscuously and the media will be exhausted trying to fact correct him.
Just yesterday, he claimed that his concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial had never been done before...except in Obama's first inauguration. He pollutes everything he touches and to watch him "salute" Lincoln had a fake reverence that almost looked as if he were flipping Lincoln off, saying, "You think you're great, Abe, just watch what I do!"
I can't abide his voice so I'll read his speech tonight--I surely cannot watch it.
America's first Augustus, but without the courage, intelligence, and that grandeur thing. No, more like Caligula.
Old Greek Myth:
'When the gods want to punish man, they give him what he wants.'
We are not getting out of this unscathed. Mistakes of this proportion do not go
unpunished.
Old Greek Myth:
'When the gods want to punish man, they give him what he wants.'
We are not getting out of this unscathed. Mistakes of this proportion do not go
unpunished.
Simply: No. As of today, out of all the choices he could have had to show a grain of statemanship, he chose to have an evangelical baptist zealot, who denigrates every other religion, for his private morning "worship." All the religious representatives later today for the inauguration are being used like condoms by him: put on and discard after use. He is a vile organism in the shape of a human, but that is all the resemblance he has to humanity.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/19/politics/trump-jeffress-pastor/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/19/politics/trump-jeffress-pastor/index.html
5
Only people can make taking the name of God an utterly vain proposition.
I am taking a day off from news, but I peeked at this headline and had to respond. The answer is no, of course. That man will never be capable of being presidential. He is The Destroyer In Chief.
Back to cleaning the house and listening to music. My house will be sparkling clean tomorrow while I march with hundreds of thousands of other Americans in opposition to this man.
Back to cleaning the house and listening to music. My house will be sparkling clean tomorrow while I march with hundreds of thousands of other Americans in opposition to this man.
7
We need to stop this fanciful waste of time and effort. Does anyone expect this 70 year old self absorbed bigot to suddenly develop dignity, humility, grace and judgment? Now we also are tilting at windmills to even consider that possibility.
His mind seems to need chaos and conflict in order to feel important. And the nation will be dragged into the petty vindictiveness of his personal vendettas.
His mind seems to need chaos and conflict in order to feel important. And the nation will be dragged into the petty vindictiveness of his personal vendettas.
3
Considering that Mr. Trump was elected almost exclusively to spite liberals, his actual efficacy as President seems incidental. Every criticism will be dismissed as Derangement Syndrome, as it was with the previous Republican administration, and there have already been one or two of the "Whether you agree with him or not, he is your President and you must support him or you're an America hater who wants the enemy to win" speeches which oddly haven't been heard in the last eight years. Any national disasters that ensue during the next four years will be blamed on Obama, the Clintons, transgendered people forcing their way into America's bathrooms, and the "mainstream media"; the worst Trump's cheering section will have to say about him will be "I never said he was perfect."
Heigh ho. There's always the midterm elections to get ready for.
Heigh ho. There's always the midterm elections to get ready for.
6
If they can't be liberals themselves, they have to burn us out. Their jealousy is as great as their hatred.
3
You flatter yourselves. But do confirm the "arrogant" label.
I believe that Donald Trump might be our best (or last) chance to "DRAIN THE SWAMP" and eliminate the current US government’s institutionalized "PAY TO PLAY" criminal access to the US treasury via No-Bid contracts awarded to the Donor Class, "PAY TO PLAY" treasonous "Chinagate" type criminal actions to benefit foreign nations, and other bribery transactions by our elected US Federal government officials as the normal way of doing business.
I would like for the Oversight Committee and the FBI to investigate the reasons that any and all of our elected US officials created any and all of their new US federal legislation, and/or executive contract award actions by this current administration, past administrations, and any new future administrations concerning any topic such as creating more tax loopholes, more Free Trade Agreements that relocate US jobs to foreign nations, Offshore Banking Laws for Tax avoidance, repeal of the Glass Stegall Act, Solyndra government money "Pay to Play" type loan guarantee giveaways, CGI Federal NO-BID government “PAY TO PLAY” type contracts, US Uranium mine titles to Russian Businessmen, granting the Hughes Aircraft Company’s top secret military rocket software export license to Communist China, Environmental damage limitations, and other Federal Government actions that only benefit the “Clinton Foundation Donors”, the “DONOR CLASS” clients of the Washington lobbyists, and PACs (foreign and domestic).
I would like for the Oversight Committee and the FBI to investigate the reasons that any and all of our elected US officials created any and all of their new US federal legislation, and/or executive contract award actions by this current administration, past administrations, and any new future administrations concerning any topic such as creating more tax loopholes, more Free Trade Agreements that relocate US jobs to foreign nations, Offshore Banking Laws for Tax avoidance, repeal of the Glass Stegall Act, Solyndra government money "Pay to Play" type loan guarantee giveaways, CGI Federal NO-BID government “PAY TO PLAY” type contracts, US Uranium mine titles to Russian Businessmen, granting the Hughes Aircraft Company’s top secret military rocket software export license to Communist China, Environmental damage limitations, and other Federal Government actions that only benefit the “Clinton Foundation Donors”, the “DONOR CLASS” clients of the Washington lobbyists, and PACs (foreign and domestic).
3
1-20-17. Sad.
8
“Was it this dark already?”
“How will my humanity change? How will humanity change?”
“How have I changed and forgotten?”
This is it.
It’s not funny or new; this is the world collectively allowed
And when this hollowness becomes me
And eyes adjust
A memory of a memory forgotten
“How will my humanity change? How will humanity change?”
“How have I changed and forgotten?”
This is it.
It’s not funny or new; this is the world collectively allowed
And when this hollowness becomes me
And eyes adjust
A memory of a memory forgotten
2
No one can know the answer to that question - not even Mr. Trump.
What it means to be "presidential" has a grand history which is not recast by one person - not Trump, Obama, nor anyone else.
Trump does not merit the description for many reasons, the most important of which is his inability to accept the role of Public Servant. "Donald Trump is my servant" - say it loud and proud (then imagine how he might react if he could hear you). He is not my President, and will never be until he shows he can serve anyone but himself.
Trump does not merit the description for many reasons, the most important of which is his inability to accept the role of Public Servant. "Donald Trump is my servant" - say it loud and proud (then imagine how he might react if he could hear you). He is not my President, and will never be until he shows he can serve anyone but himself.
4
The greats were all polymaths. Trump isn't.
2
No, he cannot.
Next question?
Next question?
6
Don't give up America! We are still standing. The fight for a better future begins today...
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
2
This question is a joke, right?
Come on, let's at least reach consensus on one thing: Trump will not only not be presidential he will never be a gentleman. For a long as I've know this blowhard, Trump has been nothing but a braggadocio, someone so full of himself, so thin-skinned, so fragile an ego I can't believe anyone with an ounce of common sense would take this walking talking joker seriously. And so far I haven't met anyone who vote Trump with an ounce of that common sense.
DD
Manhattan
Come on, let's at least reach consensus on one thing: Trump will not only not be presidential he will never be a gentleman. For a long as I've know this blowhard, Trump has been nothing but a braggadocio, someone so full of himself, so thin-skinned, so fragile an ego I can't believe anyone with an ounce of common sense would take this walking talking joker seriously. And so far I haven't met anyone who vote Trump with an ounce of that common sense.
DD
Manhattan
7
Criticizing the democrats for how they are behaving is fine, but let's not lose sight of the fact that Trump won - that makes it part of his new job to be the bigger person and help bring the country together.
Can you imagine if Trump won the popular vote by three million but lost the electoral college and had proof of foreign meddling? Do you really think he or his followers would be anywhere near as polite or helpful as the democrats have been? There would still be riots going on and the Republican house and Senate would refuse to approve any cabinet members.
Let's keep things in perspective.
Can you imagine if Trump won the popular vote by three million but lost the electoral college and had proof of foreign meddling? Do you really think he or his followers would be anywhere near as polite or helpful as the democrats have been? There would still be riots going on and the Republican house and Senate would refuse to approve any cabinet members.
Let's keep things in perspective.
4
Trump is a full-fledged Narcissist, which renders him incapable of being presidential.
More disturbing to me at this time is how the news will be corrupted to support Trump. This morning I listened to Ted Cruz blatantly lie on network TV, calling Trump's election a "mandate of the people." Absolutely NOT. Trump was strategically elected through a subversion of the electoral college, propaganda, and fake news. We are now under an administration that is a mandate of the Fringe. The majority of America will not forget that and every single move of this administration will be scrutinized as no other administration has been in the history of our country.
More disturbing to me at this time is how the news will be corrupted to support Trump. This morning I listened to Ted Cruz blatantly lie on network TV, calling Trump's election a "mandate of the people." Absolutely NOT. Trump was strategically elected through a subversion of the electoral college, propaganda, and fake news. We are now under an administration that is a mandate of the Fringe. The majority of America will not forget that and every single move of this administration will be scrutinized as no other administration has been in the history of our country.
5
Born to tremendous wealth and privilege — on third base as it is sometime said — Trump seems completely unable to acknowledge that his success, such as it is (we'll never know without the tax returns), is largely the result of his inherited fortune. Under his own steam he's been a "disaster," leaving behind a wake of failed projects, bankruptcies, unpaid bills, and scams like Trump University. His father is likely rolling in his grave.
Why anyone with half a brain should have thought that this arrogant, spoiled narcissist and liar was in any way qualified to assume the presidency I can't imagine, but I'm pretty sure the millions of disgruntled blue collar guys who voted for him swallowed his baloney about "bringing jobs back," a feat he clearly has no plant to accomplish. Neither does he have any plan to replace Obamacare with "something terrific" or to build his beloved wall and make Mexico pay for it. His cabinet choices are not simply ideologues and plutocrats, they seem to me deliberately chosen to stick a thumb in the eye of the departments they are supposed to run — hardly what the Trump of the campaign trail promised.
Once it becomes clear to his voters that they've been played, there'll be hell to pay.
Why anyone with half a brain should have thought that this arrogant, spoiled narcissist and liar was in any way qualified to assume the presidency I can't imagine, but I'm pretty sure the millions of disgruntled blue collar guys who voted for him swallowed his baloney about "bringing jobs back," a feat he clearly has no plant to accomplish. Neither does he have any plan to replace Obamacare with "something terrific" or to build his beloved wall and make Mexico pay for it. His cabinet choices are not simply ideologues and plutocrats, they seem to me deliberately chosen to stick a thumb in the eye of the departments they are supposed to run — hardly what the Trump of the campaign trail promised.
Once it becomes clear to his voters that they've been played, there'll be hell to pay.
5
No. Mr. Trump cannot be "presidential" and this headline phrasing admits the sorry reality here. You are not even asking whether Trump can actually be a functioning competent president. This is a "truthiness" proposition ... can Mr, Trump even appear presidential?
The Trump reality show jumped the shark before he is in office. He is "beleaguered" (ooh, the terrible B-word!) right now. Trump is a self-admitted fraudster, and a bragging-about-it-on-tape groper. He has almost no real support among his own party in Congress. His public approval is worse than any entering president in history. The man will spend his term in office defending himself in court from lawsuits.
We have the spectacle of Summer Zervos suing him for defamation, because he said he was going to sue all the women who accused him of groping, and he didn't ... he just called them liars.
Earth-to-Trump (and his Trumpers): this isn't going to get better. Everyone knows he's a groper. Everybody knows he's a witless reckless liar who says crazy stuff, and takes it all back tomorrow. Nobody respects him. Trump won't get impeached over the groping ... but like Clinton his presidency is over ... in this case before it started. Trump may end up impeached over dealings with the Russians or his businesses ... who knows?
Nobody has come to the presidency more gut-shot from day one than Trump. Rutherford Hayes (known in his day as "Rutherfraud") is likely the closest analogy ... but not a good one.
The Trump reality show jumped the shark before he is in office. He is "beleaguered" (ooh, the terrible B-word!) right now. Trump is a self-admitted fraudster, and a bragging-about-it-on-tape groper. He has almost no real support among his own party in Congress. His public approval is worse than any entering president in history. The man will spend his term in office defending himself in court from lawsuits.
We have the spectacle of Summer Zervos suing him for defamation, because he said he was going to sue all the women who accused him of groping, and he didn't ... he just called them liars.
Earth-to-Trump (and his Trumpers): this isn't going to get better. Everyone knows he's a groper. Everybody knows he's a witless reckless liar who says crazy stuff, and takes it all back tomorrow. Nobody respects him. Trump won't get impeached over the groping ... but like Clinton his presidency is over ... in this case before it started. Trump may end up impeached over dealings with the Russians or his businesses ... who knows?
Nobody has come to the presidency more gut-shot from day one than Trump. Rutherford Hayes (known in his day as "Rutherfraud") is likely the closest analogy ... but not a good one.
4
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
That's our magnificent First Amendment, Mr. Trump. You seem to like to exploit even the most suspect of legal loopholes so you may want to claim the wording applies only to the actions of Congress. Please make no mistake that, the instant you take the oath of office, you and your entire administration become fully bound to these fundamentals of our democracy. To serve in the Office of the President, you are pledging to fully enforce these freedoms (not do your level best to curtail them as you have suggested so far).
That's our magnificent First Amendment, Mr. Trump. You seem to like to exploit even the most suspect of legal loopholes so you may want to claim the wording applies only to the actions of Congress. Please make no mistake that, the instant you take the oath of office, you and your entire administration become fully bound to these fundamentals of our democracy. To serve in the Office of the President, you are pledging to fully enforce these freedoms (not do your level best to curtail them as you have suggested so far).
1
This coup has been arranged to allow the Republicans to fill an assortment of banked vacant federal judgeships with people to interpret the first amendment dyslexically to mean that religion is a constitutionally protected excuse to discriminate against and demean other people.
The spots of a leopard are indelible. I'm now thinking that the same can be said for the squeal of a pig.
Despite his childish behavior to this point, I fear that what we've seen might be Trump at his very best and that his rock bottom is yet to come. Mind you, by that point, he'll have taken us off the cliff entirely and it will be more than too late.
To quote your 45th president: "Sad."
Despite his childish behavior to this point, I fear that what we've seen might be Trump at his very best and that his rock bottom is yet to come. Mind you, by that point, he'll have taken us off the cliff entirely and it will be more than too late.
To quote your 45th president: "Sad."
So he calls Kellyanne Conaway up to the stage last night to thank her.
"Thank you, baby".
Baby?
That pretty much says it all.
"Thank you, baby".
Baby?
That pretty much says it all.
10
Wrong question
We already know, from his cabinet picks, that the Trump presidency will be a disaster
Instead of this really stupid focus on personality, why does the Times not tell its readers, for instance, that Trump staffers have plans for *dramatic* cuts to the federal budget, cuts that almost all Times readers will find abhorrent ?
Instead we get this vanity fair like focus on Trump's personality.
Enough !!
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/314991-trump-team-prepares-dramatic-cuts
We already know, from his cabinet picks, that the Trump presidency will be a disaster
Instead of this really stupid focus on personality, why does the Times not tell its readers, for instance, that Trump staffers have plans for *dramatic* cuts to the federal budget, cuts that almost all Times readers will find abhorrent ?
Instead we get this vanity fair like focus on Trump's personality.
Enough !!
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/314991-trump-team-prepares-dramatic-cuts
Simple answer: no.
More complex answer: there are already signs that the honeymoon between congressional Republicans and the White House is over (rumblings about tarrifs and the like). This elicits a more complicated question: who will actually rule: the President or Congress. And if Congressional thwarting unleashes a storm of angry tweets, will they deny him everything. We're going to find out.
More complex answer: there are already signs that the honeymoon between congressional Republicans and the White House is over (rumblings about tarrifs and the like). This elicits a more complicated question: who will actually rule: the President or Congress. And if Congressional thwarting unleashes a storm of angry tweets, will they deny him everything. We're going to find out.
2
I thank the NYT for publishing my previous comment. However on this topic an additional thought came to mind. I was thinking of the President portrayed as heroic, reassuring, and thoughtful in well known movies: Independence Day, The American President, Air Force One, Dave (Dave as the President, not Bill Mitchell), even Deep Impact. Can anyone imagine Trump being the role model for, or being, the President that we've loved in these films? Although I think we see in Trump a role model for the real President Bill Mitchell in Dave.
Can you imagine younger kids growing up today with Trump as President where he is really all they know, and then one day seeing one of these movies when they are bit older? Will they laugh at the notion of a President being a decent and thoughtful person concerned for the office and the people he serves?
Can you imagine younger kids growing up today with Trump as President where he is really all they know, and then one day seeing one of these movies when they are bit older? Will they laugh at the notion of a President being a decent and thoughtful person concerned for the office and the people he serves?
2
PRESIDENT Donald Trump. Is that 'president-ial' enough for ya?
Modus ponendo ponens; quod erat demonstrandum.
Modus ponendo ponens; quod erat demonstrandum.
4
He's not my president, and he's incapable of being presidential. Enjoy your delusions up until you realize all his promises to you were lies.
4
Just watched his speech. The answer is: No.
It was his stump speech with the same lies, the same blaming, the same emptiness of solutions and the same creepy narcism. It was like listening to a guy in a bar raging about "dem politicians stealin everything" without any connection to reality - or solutions.
God help America.
It was his stump speech with the same lies, the same blaming, the same emptiness of solutions and the same creepy narcism. It was like listening to a guy in a bar raging about "dem politicians stealin everything" without any connection to reality - or solutions.
God help America.
3
As described during his campaign, Trump fancies himself as the "chairman of the board" not the president of this country. He has always intended to "farm out" the pesky work of being the leader of the free world to others so he could...well, I'm not sure how he intends to spend his time.
Trumps recklessness, willful ignorance and desire to surround himself with equally irresponsible and unprepared advisors and cabinet members bodes poorly for the future of our country.
He is not now, nor will he ever be up to the task of leading our nation in a positive direction.
Maybe now, under a Trump administration, is when our democracy is going to end.
Trumps recklessness, willful ignorance and desire to surround himself with equally irresponsible and unprepared advisors and cabinet members bodes poorly for the future of our country.
He is not now, nor will he ever be up to the task of leading our nation in a positive direction.
Maybe now, under a Trump administration, is when our democracy is going to end.
1
At the instant Trump defamed Mexicans as rapists and murderers, he proved to all Americans, and the world, that he does not grasp the magnitude of the U.S. presidency.
To Trump, this hallowed office is another golden acquisition for his business portfolio. Another money opportunity, minus the statesmanship.
To Trump, being president is second to being CEO; hey, but what the heck, he gets to be President/CEO!
As U.S. president/CEO, Trump will represent the very worst of his peers -- those dime-a dozen corporate president/CEOs who regard their employees not as people, but as rats on the profit wheel.
To Trump, this hallowed office is another golden acquisition for his business portfolio. Another money opportunity, minus the statesmanship.
To Trump, being president is second to being CEO; hey, but what the heck, he gets to be President/CEO!
As U.S. president/CEO, Trump will represent the very worst of his peers -- those dime-a dozen corporate president/CEOs who regard their employees not as people, but as rats on the profit wheel.
NO.
1
Can a terminally adolescent seventy-year-old BE presidential? NO! Can he ACT presidential when it serves his self-aggrandizing purposes? PERHAPS.
1
My fear is that what happens next is the use o official government mechanisms to distort facts and data to prove how successful his presidency is. What you will hear from his supporters then is "well, sure, he's a lout, but he's making America great again." Thusly will he retain all his current support and garner the extra margin needed to claim a true majority.
My hope is that the federal civil service will fight this assault on their integrity. When asked to lie about labor statistics, climate change, etc., I hope they will do the right thing and blow the whistle.
My hope is that the federal civil service will fight this assault on their integrity. When asked to lie about labor statistics, climate change, etc., I hope they will do the right thing and blow the whistle.
I no longer read how great Europe is with Farage, Le Pen, Hoffer and Or ban reaching power how did you miss it? Another cold war with Russia why not? A health care system that's a failure you ask for more? A political party that choses transgender and ignores white working class Americans that are losing their jobs because the data shows it doesn't need them? You wonder how it happened?
What do you want anyway because you got exactly what you deserve?
What do you want anyway because you got exactly what you deserve?
2
I am sure that in his mind his Presidency is already a success. He was elected! "Mission Accomplished"! "Hail to the Chief!"
Now he can leave the boring details, to Cabinet members such as Rick Perry, who "Oops", to his great surprise, is now in charge of the nuclear weapons arsenal. Or Betsy DeVos, whose priority is to protect our children from the ever present threat of Grizzly Bears in our schools.
Now he can leave the boring details, to Cabinet members such as Rick Perry, who "Oops", to his great surprise, is now in charge of the nuclear weapons arsenal. Or Betsy DeVos, whose priority is to protect our children from the ever present threat of Grizzly Bears in our schools.
2
If being presidential means saying all the right things but not delivering -- in other words, being a consummate politician -- then, "No thanks!"
I'd rather have a straight talker who is a man of action than a man of lofty rhetoric who cannot get anything done.
I'd rather have a straight talker who is a man of action than a man of lofty rhetoric who cannot get anything done.
2
Seems folks are asking a Bully to not be a Bully; which is impossible.
One should never reduce themselves to asking a Bully for anything, unless they like being ridiculed.
One should never reduce themselves to asking a Bully for anything, unless they like being ridiculed.
3
The only way Trump can be considered a "straight talker" is how he lies directly to your face.
5
The major problem facing the nation on this day is how divided we are.
Much of the problem lies with our president elect (I write this in the morning). But there's no doubt but that much of the liberal media, particularly the New York Times and many of its opinion writers, have contributed to the problem.
Mr. Trump's style is bombastiic and by most standards, unpresidential. The fact that Mr. Trump's public face is often overwrought should not have persuaded the Times to engage him in a race to the bottom, a race the editorial pages of the Times have won.
Trump should stay off Twitter; most issues he faces cannot be condensed to 140 characters. But his intent is to stay in touch with the public without reliance on the media as an intermediary. Much like FDR's fireside chats, this has merit. Incidentally, there are some Times' reporters who should themselves tone down their tweeting.
Mr. Trump is intelligent; the very fact that he fairly won the presidency against all odds is itself proof of what he can accomplish. In hours, he will be our leader. Many are concerned about his abilities, and most reject his more divisive rhetoric.
But he will be our President. It's time to accept this reality. The media, including the Times, should remain vigilant - that is the media's job. But overwrought editorials that seem designed to do little more than enrage the Times' readership base are not good. The Times should be appropriately critical without being malevolently divisive.
Much of the problem lies with our president elect (I write this in the morning). But there's no doubt but that much of the liberal media, particularly the New York Times and many of its opinion writers, have contributed to the problem.
Mr. Trump's style is bombastiic and by most standards, unpresidential. The fact that Mr. Trump's public face is often overwrought should not have persuaded the Times to engage him in a race to the bottom, a race the editorial pages of the Times have won.
Trump should stay off Twitter; most issues he faces cannot be condensed to 140 characters. But his intent is to stay in touch with the public without reliance on the media as an intermediary. Much like FDR's fireside chats, this has merit. Incidentally, there are some Times' reporters who should themselves tone down their tweeting.
Mr. Trump is intelligent; the very fact that he fairly won the presidency against all odds is itself proof of what he can accomplish. In hours, he will be our leader. Many are concerned about his abilities, and most reject his more divisive rhetoric.
But he will be our President. It's time to accept this reality. The media, including the Times, should remain vigilant - that is the media's job. But overwrought editorials that seem designed to do little more than enrage the Times' readership base are not good. The Times should be appropriately critical without being malevolently divisive.
2
During infrequent moments, perhaps, as in his speech after the election and, hopefullly, today.
In general, however, he will behave in accordance with his self-image, as a non-hereditary monarch, what many off his supporters want him to be. They, rather than the new President, pose the greatest danger to our constitutional liberties. Toqueville's long ago warning about our susceptibility to demagogues has come true.
In general, however, he will behave in accordance with his self-image, as a non-hereditary monarch, what many off his supporters want him to be. They, rather than the new President, pose the greatest danger to our constitutional liberties. Toqueville's long ago warning about our susceptibility to demagogues has come true.
1
Can President Trump be presidential?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: Given how he has conducted himself, both on Twitter and off of it, for the duration of the campaign, the aftermath, and the transition period, I highly doubt that he is capable of growing up enough to behave with class, empathy, and dignity.
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: Given how he has conducted himself, both on Twitter and off of it, for the duration of the campaign, the aftermath, and the transition period, I highly doubt that he is capable of growing up enough to behave with class, empathy, and dignity.
3
I hope not. I often hate what being presidential means. I hope he tells some people to "take a hike" (and I'm being politer than I mean so that this gets posted). And I'm not even a Trump supporter.
Look at the front page today. Almost every "story" is an editorial blasting Trump. The hand wringing, the hysteria. And I'm not even a Trump supporter.
Take a breath. Give him a chance. Hope for good things. I probably think most of the same things about him you do, but he isn't there alone. He has a team and if you watch the hearings and ignore the speeches by senators who won't even give them chance to speak, they are intelligent people, some of whom you may disagree with, but they are not there to destroy the country, but to try to fix it to their lights, just as Obama and their team did. He may disappoint me the same way they all do, but he gets a chance too. And I'm not even a Trump supporter.
But you might make me one.
Look at the front page today. Almost every "story" is an editorial blasting Trump. The hand wringing, the hysteria. And I'm not even a Trump supporter.
Take a breath. Give him a chance. Hope for good things. I probably think most of the same things about him you do, but he isn't there alone. He has a team and if you watch the hearings and ignore the speeches by senators who won't even give them chance to speak, they are intelligent people, some of whom you may disagree with, but they are not there to destroy the country, but to try to fix it to their lights, just as Obama and their team did. He may disappoint me the same way they all do, but he gets a chance too. And I'm not even a Trump supporter.
But you might make me one.
2
Spot on, Mr. Eisenberg...
1
I can't help but immediately wonder how the New York Times defines "Presidential." Do they mean someone that lies to the American people, someone that uses his power to go after his opponents, someone that repeatedly insists he is the most transparent leader in history while going after journalists that print things he doesn't like, someone that refuses to engage his opposition in dialogue to produce valid legislation while insisting he was the "winner." Or does The Times mean someone that abuses women, someone that cheats on his wife, someone that will do anything to leave a lasting legacy. Just maybe The New York Times wants someone that can speak eloquently about unity, hope, and change while not giving a hoot about how the vast majority of American's are doing. It just might be time that this vast majority of American's don't give a hoot about someone being Presidential if they can bring back prosperity, jobs and the bright future of this country.
2
Trump is most certainly not in his formative years, so no, there is no chance that he will change. I still don't understand why the information about Trump's connections to the Russians that was obtained by our various intelligence agencies had no effect on the legitimacy of his victory! And I still don't understand why there are no safeguards in effect when a foreign government can interfere so disastrously in an American election.
Will this country ever be the same when the ruler of Russia can ensure that a candidate he doesn't like can be defeated because of his interference?
I have no sympathy for the proudly ignorant who believe that someone can bring back the coal industry, or believes that Muslims should be departed, or believes that woman should be denied the right to control their own bodies. I do understand the complexities of many of these issues, but this election was won because of the vindictiveness and ignorance of a minority of Americans.
Will this country ever be the same when the ruler of Russia can ensure that a candidate he doesn't like can be defeated because of his interference?
I have no sympathy for the proudly ignorant who believe that someone can bring back the coal industry, or believes that Muslims should be departed, or believes that woman should be denied the right to control their own bodies. I do understand the complexities of many of these issues, but this election was won because of the vindictiveness and ignorance of a minority of Americans.
More urgent question: Can we stop Trump from redefining "presidential"?
His team is unapologetically doing it:
"Asked by Mr. Tapper whether Mr. Trump’s recent posting of misinformation on Twitter about millions of undocumented immigrants voting was presidential, Ms. Conway defended the message.
“He’s the president-elect, so that’s presidential behavior,” she said.
( https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/us/politics/campaign-managers-trump-c... )
We must not accept this. As Paul Krugman said: "elections determine who gets the power, not who offers the truth".
His team is unapologetically doing it:
"Asked by Mr. Tapper whether Mr. Trump’s recent posting of misinformation on Twitter about millions of undocumented immigrants voting was presidential, Ms. Conway defended the message.
“He’s the president-elect, so that’s presidential behavior,” she said.
( https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/us/politics/campaign-managers-trump-c... )
We must not accept this. As Paul Krugman said: "elections determine who gets the power, not who offers the truth".
1
The way to be presidential, is to get more votes than the competition.
Easy really.
Easy really.
No. Sad!
1
No. I cannot accept a man who lacks the abilities to function as an adult. I also have too many suspicions about the Russian conspiracy, and I believe that Donald Trump may have committed espionage and treason. Additionally, I cannot accept how uneducated and unread Trump is along with his emotional Narcissism -- and it has become obvious that when one reads his transcripts from early interviews that Donald Trump is not qualified to speak for our country on any topic. This is not fair to me o to any citizen -- and I have felt that since the beginning of the campaign. Donald Trump is, in my opinion, lacking every skill and competency to be a President. I am embarrassed by this "imposter." Without the Russian "Influence Campaign," I do not believe Donald Trump won anything on his own. I feel that he "bought" the White House. While I do care about the Rust Belt, their acceptance of Donald Trump's ignorance, lack of depth. and lack of intelligence makes them look like they have have been nothing but scammed. That they didn't care enough to apply "critical thinking" to this is now an American Tragedy.
How is this even a question at this point? We already know the answer: Trump can NOT be Presidential.
And he clearly has no intention of trying. His cabinet appointments tell us everything we need to know about his intentions - his utter lack of interest of being "presidential" in any normative way - and his utter disdain and disrespect for the office of the President and democratic government by, for, and of the People.
Disrespect so deep he has appointed a collection of totally unqualified clowns and corrupt corporate kleptocrats to key positions.
He's made it clear he intends to be Il Duce or Der Fuhrer or Putin - a fascist autocrat and a narcissistic, thin-skinned one at that. A man with less impulse control than the average 2-year-old - with the nuclear codes.
Democracy - it's been good while it lasted. Welcome to the beginning of the end.
And he clearly has no intention of trying. His cabinet appointments tell us everything we need to know about his intentions - his utter lack of interest of being "presidential" in any normative way - and his utter disdain and disrespect for the office of the President and democratic government by, for, and of the People.
Disrespect so deep he has appointed a collection of totally unqualified clowns and corrupt corporate kleptocrats to key positions.
He's made it clear he intends to be Il Duce or Der Fuhrer or Putin - a fascist autocrat and a narcissistic, thin-skinned one at that. A man with less impulse control than the average 2-year-old - with the nuclear codes.
Democracy - it's been good while it lasted. Welcome to the beginning of the end.
The Ties says: "...his cabinet choices have largely been ideologues and plutocrats...".
But, in fact, our Nation has been run by a moneyed plutocracy, NOT a democracy, for a couple for decades, and this plutocratic self serving regime is precisely one major reason why a boorish and ignorant demagogue like Trump has been elected.
This fact should lead all real civilized and responsible citizens to think deeply and then act ont the structural reforms that need to be brought in so as to create in the US a real democracy.
But, in fact, our Nation has been run by a moneyed plutocracy, NOT a democracy, for a couple for decades, and this plutocratic self serving regime is precisely one major reason why a boorish and ignorant demagogue like Trump has been elected.
This fact should lead all real civilized and responsible citizens to think deeply and then act ont the structural reforms that need to be brought in so as to create in the US a real democracy.
I pray that he woke up in a cold sweat last night and finally realized that he has to get this right, that it matters more than anything else he has ever done or ever will do. It's not a game show; it will effect the lives of billions of people. Conservative and liberal administrations come and go, but they've all had some balance of competence, sanity, and advisors. I don't see any of that.
He can remain an ignorant, thin-skinned boor; that's not going to change. But if he would just show a sign that he takes the job seriously, I'd sleep better.
On the upside, he might just realize that if he messes this up, he and his family will be disgraced and humiliated for hundreds of years. In the worst-case scenario, he could go down with Hitler and Stalin as one of the most reviled persons in history. Even if the only thing that matters is his ego, he needs to get this right.
He can remain an ignorant, thin-skinned boor; that's not going to change. But if he would just show a sign that he takes the job seriously, I'd sleep better.
On the upside, he might just realize that if he messes this up, he and his family will be disgraced and humiliated for hundreds of years. In the worst-case scenario, he could go down with Hitler and Stalin as one of the most reviled persons in history. Even if the only thing that matters is his ego, he needs to get this right.
We have Obama to thank for Trump. Eight years of him and his followers calling anyone who disagreed with his policies a racist, homophobe, Islamaphobe, and so on, was enough. What did you expect? An aging white woman with about as much charisma as a toilet plunger who calls half of Americans "a basket of deplorables" to win the highest office? Who, on a sunny day if asked "How's the weather?" would say it's snowing.
Progressives, you are responsible for Trump. Own it.
Progressives, you are responsible for Trump. Own it.
3
By golly, Harlod, you a keen eye and a way with words. I'm still chuckling...
1
No. Why are we still asking this question? At this point it's like global warming: the evidence says what it says. Positions to the contrary are just wishes that the evidence were something different. I'd like Trump to be "presidential," in the traditional sense, but he hasn't yet provided any meaningful reason to believe he is or will be. I suspect Trump's logic will be "if the President does it, it's presidential."
1
It's clear that Mr. Trump is neither ready, willing, nor able to be presidential.
I wonder how long it will take for the press to realize this.
I wonder how long it will take for the press to realize this.
1
Can Trump be presidential, you asked? I have a different question that, I think, must be answered before yours can be asked.
Does Trump understand the meaning of "being presidential" beyond standing in front of a podium without lashing out or lying, as he did in the joint press conference with the Mexican president during the campaign.
One cannot be something without first understanding what that something means.
Does Trump understand the meaning of "being presidential" beyond standing in front of a podium without lashing out or lying, as he did in the joint press conference with the Mexican president during the campaign.
One cannot be something without first understanding what that something means.
No.
2
"Can President Trump Be Presidential?"
No. He is incapable of that. Next question?
No. He is incapable of that. Next question?
1
Can President Trump be Presidential, I guess that would be the $64,000 question.
I would say as a country we have to hope so, but unfortunately he hasn't shown any indication that he can be or will be, even at some of the events, Trump still has the penchant for exaggerating and not being factual in his statements.
I usually an optimistic person and we need to be that way now, more than ever, however in this case I don't hold out much hope for Trump. I think the only thing I can hold on to and look forward to, is the he can be replaced in 4 years and hopefully with minimal amount of damage to the country.
I would say as a country we have to hope so, but unfortunately he hasn't shown any indication that he can be or will be, even at some of the events, Trump still has the penchant for exaggerating and not being factual in his statements.
I usually an optimistic person and we need to be that way now, more than ever, however in this case I don't hold out much hope for Trump. I think the only thing I can hold on to and look forward to, is the he can be replaced in 4 years and hopefully with minimal amount of damage to the country.
1
"Or will self-absorption and free-flowing peevishness be the hallmarks of an era of domestic and global crises, stirred up by grossly uninformed perceptions of reality?"
Yes.
His fragile ego leads him to an endless journey of "counterpunching", settling scores, no target is too large or too small. His Twitter account is an embarrassment to our nation.
It's surprising he's not here today in the comments section of the NYT under an anonymous name taking swings at comments criticizing him on Inauguration Day.
Maybe he is.
Our new President is the same guy who lied, bullied, and insulted his way to the Presidency. Today is the saddest and most troubling day in modern American political history.
Yes.
His fragile ego leads him to an endless journey of "counterpunching", settling scores, no target is too large or too small. His Twitter account is an embarrassment to our nation.
It's surprising he's not here today in the comments section of the NYT under an anonymous name taking swings at comments criticizing him on Inauguration Day.
Maybe he is.
Our new President is the same guy who lied, bullied, and insulted his way to the Presidency. Today is the saddest and most troubling day in modern American political history.
I'm a bit surprised by all this talk of unifying the nation. It is just that: talk. What is Mr. Trump's history of unification or for that matter civil service? Many Americans seem to seek the flurry of a Trump: controversial, bullish, lacking in political correctness, and possessing a Twitter account. Understood. We now like reality TV personality types in real politics and policies that affect the lives of Americans. Mr. Trump is a builder and I can respect that but in building his empire he has left a documented trail of unpaid workers and businesses and yet he is considered an uber-successful businessman. Read the writing: This may be the model for running the country. Yes, there are those who may do better, much better, but it's a mistake to think that there are those who won't suffer so that others can move up the economic ladder. Unification becomes more difficult when we are increasingly economically divided by those who move up at the expense of others.
Dear Mrs. Clinton --
Thank you very much for making a very brave run of it. I -- along with the millions of people who voted for you -- believe in our hearts that you would have accomplished many good things for our country.
You mustn't blame yourself in the slightest for the outcome.
What you ran into was a hundred year storm, a period of craziness in our country that will hopefully pass quickly and never recur again.
With all best wishes for the future while hoping to see you back on the firing lines again soon,
Your pal,
Stanton
Thank you very much for making a very brave run of it. I -- along with the millions of people who voted for you -- believe in our hearts that you would have accomplished many good things for our country.
You mustn't blame yourself in the slightest for the outcome.
What you ran into was a hundred year storm, a period of craziness in our country that will hopefully pass quickly and never recur again.
With all best wishes for the future while hoping to see you back on the firing lines again soon,
Your pal,
Stanton
3
"American Carnage"
From high atop his gilded tower
Or his view from his own back nine
Through the windows of his private jet
Over the shoulder of his butler's shoe shine
He has viewed our American carnage
And so had to ship his ties overseas
Inspired by the paradise of Russia
Can you give me a break, puhleeze
Where are the words of inspiration
Where are the promises of unity
Where is the pride in our great nation
Where is the sense of community
The chance I gave him lasted two minutes
And he squandered it in his speech
What's the over under on when this man
Will have to confront the word impeach
From high atop his gilded tower
Or his view from his own back nine
Through the windows of his private jet
Over the shoulder of his butler's shoe shine
He has viewed our American carnage
And so had to ship his ties overseas
Inspired by the paradise of Russia
Can you give me a break, puhleeze
Where are the words of inspiration
Where are the promises of unity
Where is the pride in our great nation
Where is the sense of community
The chance I gave him lasted two minutes
And he squandered it in his speech
What's the over under on when this man
Will have to confront the word impeach
1
Mr Trump lacks any insight to more complex political issues, has no understanding of government and political process
Try getting a permit to do a remodel.
Trump has navigated government bureaucracy not just in the US but all over the world.
Try getting a permit to do a remodel.
Trump has navigated government bureaucracy not just in the US but all over the world.
Who is defining "Presidential"?
We need a man like Trump. Whether he meets the status quo definition of Presidential - I frankly do not care.
We need a man like Trump. Whether he meets the status quo definition of Presidential - I frankly do not care.
So, we'll mark you down for a "No," then.
1
You are correct, but if and only if a "NO" means to conduct himself similarly as the dilettante before him did.
"Can President Trump Be Presidential?"
If ever a word begged a definition...
If ever a word begged a definition...
Having just listened to the inaugural "address," the answer is plain. NO.
2
Anybody is "Presidential" once they got elected President.
Every American President I have lived through in my life has committed war crimes, so the bar for being "Presidential" is arguably quite low.
The question is "How much lower can it get?"
Every American President I have lived through in my life has committed war crimes, so the bar for being "Presidential" is arguably quite low.
The question is "How much lower can it get?"
1
I'm a lifelong Democrat and I hate Trump. But Really? Being "presidential" is so important it merits a Times Editorial? And by "presidential" I gather you are referring to the ability of an incoming president to make a nice speech and lie to the public about his true partisanship and intentions.
So, according to the NY Times, Trump (who hasn't done anything yet) is beyond the pale, but Bush is a stand-up guy. Bush—who lied us into war, destroyed the Middle East and killed hundreds of thousands—was OK because he promised to be the great Uniter on Inauguration Day?
I have no problem with Trump's use of Twitter. He's bypassing the middlemen—the news media. Personally, I'd rather hear what he says directly and judge it for myself, rather than through the filter of a press bent on telling me what I should think.
So, according to the NY Times, Trump (who hasn't done anything yet) is beyond the pale, but Bush is a stand-up guy. Bush—who lied us into war, destroyed the Middle East and killed hundreds of thousands—was OK because he promised to be the great Uniter on Inauguration Day?
I have no problem with Trump's use of Twitter. He's bypassing the middlemen—the news media. Personally, I'd rather hear what he says directly and judge it for myself, rather than through the filter of a press bent on telling me what I should think.
1
"Can President Trump Be Presidential?"
No.
No.
1
It is a given that Trump will not be presidential. Every rational person knows he will not change today. Or tomorrow. He is an authoritarian demagogue in the pocket of other authoritarian demagogues and the wealthy. Even when he manages to choke out a few quick sentences about "all the people," these will be quickly surpassed by his snarling and vicious attacks and divisiveness.
But what is most concerning to me is that the usual checks and balances that could put modest limits on Trump's demagoguery have withered away. Republicans in Congress are falling all over themselves to exploit Trump's presidency and pass lots of pro-business, anti-regulation policies. As of today, any investigation into conflicts of interest by Trump, his cabinet, and members of Congress will either stop or become pro forma. As of today, the intelligence agencies' investigation into Trump-Putin ties will be dumbed down and emasculated. Republicans in Congress have expressed no concerns over ethical problems in Trump's cabinet picks that are far worse than problems that used to be disqualifying.
The Supreme Court will gladly ignore Trump's anti-Constitutional policies, allowing him to run roughshod over people's rights, press freedom, and the balance of power ordained two centuries ago.
With no effective checks and balances, the Trump era, whether it lasts one year or four, promises to be very damaging to this country.
But what is most concerning to me is that the usual checks and balances that could put modest limits on Trump's demagoguery have withered away. Republicans in Congress are falling all over themselves to exploit Trump's presidency and pass lots of pro-business, anti-regulation policies. As of today, any investigation into conflicts of interest by Trump, his cabinet, and members of Congress will either stop or become pro forma. As of today, the intelligence agencies' investigation into Trump-Putin ties will be dumbed down and emasculated. Republicans in Congress have expressed no concerns over ethical problems in Trump's cabinet picks that are far worse than problems that used to be disqualifying.
The Supreme Court will gladly ignore Trump's anti-Constitutional policies, allowing him to run roughshod over people's rights, press freedom, and the balance of power ordained two centuries ago.
With no effective checks and balances, the Trump era, whether it lasts one year or four, promises to be very damaging to this country.
4
Sorry folks,
Bullies don't build alliances, coalitions, formulate,,...they push their agendas.
The best to hope for, whatever he chooses to do, the damage will be minimal or actually work-out for the country,..and (also) unfortunately the rest of the planet.
Oh and his Twitter Fingers get a bad case of arthritis.
Bullies don't build alliances, coalitions, formulate,,...they push their agendas.
The best to hope for, whatever he chooses to do, the damage will be minimal or actually work-out for the country,..and (also) unfortunately the rest of the planet.
Oh and his Twitter Fingers get a bad case of arthritis.
Blue collar voters are saying, "Mr. Trump just says what I'm thinking."
Did US workers hold grudges against Hillary because her husband created the first laws that caused their jobs to relocate to China, Mexico and other third world nations?
Ex-President Bill Clinton could have said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I signed NAFTA into law and that caused your manufacturing job to relocate to Mexico because you would not agree to work for the same wages that Mexican citizens would work for."
Then President Clinton could have also said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created PNTR for Communist China and this caused your manufacturing jobs to relocate to China because you would not agree to work for the same wages that Chinese citizens would work for."
President Bush could have then said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created fourteen additional Free Trade Agreements (with Jordan, Morocco, and other young democracies of Central America) and this caused your manufacturing jobs to relocate to these third world nations because you would not agree to ..."
And then President Obama could have said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created a bunch of multiple new Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Peru plus several other Asian and South American nations and this caused ...."
Did US workers hold grudges against Hillary because her husband created the first laws that caused their jobs to relocate to China, Mexico and other third world nations?
Ex-President Bill Clinton could have said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I signed NAFTA into law and that caused your manufacturing job to relocate to Mexico because you would not agree to work for the same wages that Mexican citizens would work for."
Then President Clinton could have also said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created PNTR for Communist China and this caused your manufacturing jobs to relocate to China because you would not agree to work for the same wages that Chinese citizens would work for."
President Bush could have then said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created fourteen additional Free Trade Agreements (with Jordan, Morocco, and other young democracies of Central America) and this caused your manufacturing jobs to relocate to these third world nations because you would not agree to ..."
And then President Obama could have said, "Once you were employed and were able to feed your family, so I created a bunch of multiple new Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Peru plus several other Asian and South American nations and this caused ...."
No, he can't! Mr. Trump lacks gravitas and wisdom and is not magnanimous. He is the Great White Hope, celebrity apprentice President.
1
The Adolescent in Chief.
I've known teenage boys with more self control and intelligence than Mr. Trump. Not President Trump. That title presumes he was some abilities.
I've known teenage boys with more self control and intelligence than Mr. Trump. Not President Trump. That title presumes he was some abilities.
1
In answer to the headline and after that speech. No.
The general tone of the commentary here is that the US voter is in for a "rough time." Is it we who are for a rough time, or is it Mr. Trump?
Remember, Mr. Trump has backpedaled on most of his most outlandish pre-election propositions -- expelling immigrants, jailing Ms. Clinton, abolishing the ACA, the list is long -- but the puerile persona persists because the show of bravado, coarseness, and inanity is all that his supporters really care about. His supporters live vicariously through him -- the bully, the "comedian," the isolationist, the misogynist.
We may not be able to expect a change in the performance -- that is, after all, what the electoral college endorsed. But let's be patient and see if the gap grows between what Mr. Trump says and what he actually does.
First off: January 21 he will be paying a visit to the CIA -- the organization whose leaders he likened to those of "Nazi" Germany. Pay close attention to his demeanor, his words. This will be an important first test.
Remember, Mr. Trump has backpedaled on most of his most outlandish pre-election propositions -- expelling immigrants, jailing Ms. Clinton, abolishing the ACA, the list is long -- but the puerile persona persists because the show of bravado, coarseness, and inanity is all that his supporters really care about. His supporters live vicariously through him -- the bully, the "comedian," the isolationist, the misogynist.
We may not be able to expect a change in the performance -- that is, after all, what the electoral college endorsed. But let's be patient and see if the gap grows between what Mr. Trump says and what he actually does.
First off: January 21 he will be paying a visit to the CIA -- the organization whose leaders he likened to those of "Nazi" Germany. Pay close attention to his demeanor, his words. This will be an important first test.
1
From degenerate con man to President.
Only in America.
Only in America.
6
I thought I would simply forgo watching this morning, but I turned CBS on at six o'clock and tears stated.
We now have an American president who has the majority of sensible people around the world very concerned.
We now have an American president who has the majority of sensible people around the world very concerned.
3
From wsws, as only wsws cn:
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president is among the most ignominious events in the history of the United States. More than $100 million is being spent on the celebrations of the new president’s installation. In vain! No amount of money can dispel the nauseating stink that pervades every aspect of this inauguration. Nor can the fraudulent orchestration of public festivities conceal the widespread sense that the country, with the installation of the new administration, has embarked on a path that will lead to a disaster of unimaginable dimensions.
History has caught up with American capitalism. The protracted process of economic and social decay has been covered over for decades with democratic phrases that served to disguise the gap between the official political myths and the underlying reality. But the mask has now come off. Donald Trump personifies the corruption, ruthlessness, parasitism and essentially fascistic mindset of the capitalist oligarchs who control the United States.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/20/pers-j20.html
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president is among the most ignominious events in the history of the United States. More than $100 million is being spent on the celebrations of the new president’s installation. In vain! No amount of money can dispel the nauseating stink that pervades every aspect of this inauguration. Nor can the fraudulent orchestration of public festivities conceal the widespread sense that the country, with the installation of the new administration, has embarked on a path that will lead to a disaster of unimaginable dimensions.
History has caught up with American capitalism. The protracted process of economic and social decay has been covered over for decades with democratic phrases that served to disguise the gap between the official political myths and the underlying reality. But the mask has now come off. Donald Trump personifies the corruption, ruthlessness, parasitism and essentially fascistic mindset of the capitalist oligarchs who control the United States.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/20/pers-j20.html
D.J. Trump played us to get elected, not to be the President, but to be the King of the World.
1
Can President Trump be Presidential? No. Obviously not. He is the least presidential acting president the US has ever had. He is all ego and ignorance.
3
I will listen to any private citizen with Obama's class and intelligence more than to a President who can't even speak in full sentences.
4
Can trump be "Presidential?" I don't see how since Trump can't even act like an adult how can he be? All I can say to the people who put Trump in the White House is that you will get what you deserve. Unfortunately the majority who did not vote for Trump will suffer too.
If Bill Clinton or Obama is the gold standard, I hope not.
He talks straight.
He talks straight.
Trump has NEVER talked straight about anything ever. He is the most successful grifter the modern world has ever known. The sickest part is all the "informed" voters who bought the con.
3
His main focus is to himself, his brand, his business.
The presidency, the country will always be second.
That's how he is. Always was and always will be.
The presidency, the country will always be second.
That's how he is. Always was and always will be.
7
What an ugly sinister man! What an empty speech fitting for Twitter broken into 140 character rehash of everything he has said before. I wonder how long before the fantasy dissolves and the need to demonize a scapegoat sets in once the working stiffs realize they have been had. History tells us the worst is yet to come.
If Donald Trump can pull it off, it will be both miraculous and wonderful. Governments have been pulling in the wrong direction for so long it does seem improbable, but I truly hope not. Why shouldn't a wealthy educated country be able to deliver opportunities and security to all of its citizens? Exactly. There is no good reason. It's time to end poverty.
He's a loser (6 bankruptcies), a con artist (he defrauded thousands in his Trump U), a liar (just about everything), yet now he's our President. We should give him all the respect that he deserves in the days or weeks prior to the commencement of the impeachment process for violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution.
5
Can commrade trump be presidential?
Onpy if his boss vladimir putin gives him permission.
Onpy if his boss vladimir putin gives him permission.
4
Let's focus on the positive: Melania looks amazing. She already is the best First Lady this country has ever had. She realizes the country hired her husband not her so many in the past haven't understood this.
1
Missing is not only the knowledge and skills of basic competence in their government positions, but also a sense of American history, which defines who we are and what we want and to what we aspire. Trump's and his cabinet appointees' studied disregard of disclosure signals a fundamental contempt for a more or less honestly functioning democracy. The Putin's kleptocratic Russia is now being rivaled by Trump's kleptocratic America. How great is that?
8
Precisely right.
There is good reason DJT admires Vladimir Putin. Trump wants to become czar of the United States, pillaging it and enriching himself and his closed circle of billionaire enablers as they dismantle as much of our functioning central government as they can over the next four year.
There is good reason DJT admires Vladimir Putin. Trump wants to become czar of the United States, pillaging it and enriching himself and his closed circle of billionaire enablers as they dismantle as much of our functioning central government as they can over the next four year.
3
Only in his dreams.
2
I am turning off all TV and radio news media today. Today is not joyous. It is devastating and shameful. I cannot stomach seeing or hearing the pomp and circumstance for this insidious human being. Enjoy this moment all you Evangelicals and religious right people who voted for him. This unethical and immoral man's hand on the bible is the epitome of hypocrisy.
11
The whole routine is cognitive dissonance. Adherence to the Constitution obliges one to keep faith-based beliefs out of legislation and protect people from involuntary participation in ostensibly religious proceedings.
Watching old Mash episodes and in a few seconds, All in the Family.
2
Streaming Netflix and recorded PBS Masterpiece Mystery. Very soothing.
1
NO, he can't.
4
He can be super presidential if he wants to. He said so.
2
Trump is a self-centered, ego driven reality star. He has no past experience in compromise a key element of politics. Its all about the deal and him winning. He lacks the temperament, intellect and vision to be a good President. It's all downhill from here - as he creates a lake, not a swamp of corruption. I only hope the country we know before today survives him. We all could be on the sinking ship Trump America -
How hard can it be to stay on the red carpet? That's one of the first things they teach in Hollywood . . . .how to walk straight on it, even while drunk. Of course, the wider it is, the better. Maybe with Trump and all his billionaire cabinet deplaning, they can afford to cover the tarmacs wall to wall in red carpet.
The mental machinations and worrying underway is incredible. Let's do the best we can living our own lives with peace of mind, let's each do the best we can for our communities. Ranting, raving, worrying, complaining, predicting are not actually helping but rather wasting energy and spreading fear and division. Let's make this country the best can within our own individual power and choices. Spread love, not anxiety. Be the change.
For the first time in my life I am ashamed of my country.
11
Is it 2020 yet? I for one will make sure my voice is heard with my senators and local governments and hope that not too much damage is done by this administration. Unlike with President Obama, I doubt this man will be able to influence and share his reading and listening recommendations to inspire us. But, I survived "W" so I will survive tweeting President.
5
President Donald Trump
He is the President of all Americans.
We should all wish him & America great success.
He is the President of all Americans.
We should all wish him & America great success.
Can President Trump be presidential? Can Putin win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Possible--but not probable.
Possible--but not probable.
3
Can Trump be presidential? Isn't it pretty clear by now that the answer is a resounding "No?" And now we will have to change the definition of what "presidential" means too.
3
No, he cannot.
3
He's demonstrated no change so far. Highly doubtful that he will change at all. A completely embarrassing choice for the country. Yet his voters are all aligned and continue to support his divisive ways. This man represents America to the rest of the world. How embarrassing.
5
Short answer: No.
3
What does it mean to be "presidential?" I have read years of praise for Obama, yet rarely do I see or hear him behave in a manner befitting a POTUS. I am disgusted by the Neo-Liberal Democrats who own the party; these faux-liberal Corporatocrats refuse to see how their own deeds contributed to the rise of TrumpPOTUS.
1
Yes, they clearly prefer form over substance. They would adore another person like Obama to have gotten up there and titillated them with lofty rhetoric. Then they'd overlook the fact that he couldn't govern to save his life.
Don't you ever get tired of yourselves and the relentless need to insult the readers of the Times? I sure do.
3
Well first things first. If Mr Trump truly wishes to "Be the President for all our people" he will need to begin this process in two over riding areas: First, he will have to make an effort to appear that he wants to be President for all the People and not simply for the corporations, well off and well connected conservative minority. Next, remembering that there were good reasons that Mrs. Clinton actually won the popular vote during the recent election, Mr. Trump et al will need to not appear as if they are in any way attempting to interfere with or impeding the investigation into the Russian Hacking scandal. Unless or until these issues are settled, I anticipate that at the end of his terms(s) history will find that Mr Trump as President will (like his immediate Republican predecessor in the White House) be judged as having presided over a massively failed Administration.
Good Luck President Trump and God Bless us all.
Good Luck President Trump and God Bless us all.
The REAL president of the United States just arrived at the podium. Secretary Clinton is here to demonstrate to the world the peaceful transfer of power. She is a hero of our country.
6
The NY Times Editorial Board asked a legitimate and thoughtful, although rhetorical, question. The op-ed itself was thoughtful and ended on a positive note: "The campaign is over. The nation needs to hear Mr. Trump pick up this grand American theme and then find enough personal conviction to make it a central aspiration of his presidency." However the same can not be said of the comments. I realize the people who wrote these nasty, hateful, and snide remarks are very disappointed that HRC lost; I appreciate that. I have experienced similar feelings, especially when I leaned left of center politically, but I moved on. I think these commentators need to muster a sense of maturity, accept the fact that Donald Trump is the next president who will be sworn in less than two hours from now. I suggest they express their dissatisfaction at the ballot box in 2018 and 2020. Thank you.
4
I would be satisfied if Trump just acted with a modicum of decency , forget about being presidential . That's a high bar .
Has this man no respect for the office of the Presidency that he would feel so emboldened as to continually trash people publicly , denigrate his own CIA , call Americans who didn't vote for him his "enemies " and on and on ?
The US president represents our country around the world . The job of being president is bigger than the individual's needs or his personality inclinations .
I can not imagine that he will survive constantly tweeting foreign policy and continually publicly backbiting anyone he chooses . It's unsustainable .
If he continues to act as he did during the transition , then his aberrant personality traits will lower our standing in the world as it will look as if our president ( supposedly the most powerful man in the world ) has gone off the rails .
Someone has to reign him in for the national security of our nation .
Has this man no respect for the office of the Presidency that he would feel so emboldened as to continually trash people publicly , denigrate his own CIA , call Americans who didn't vote for him his "enemies " and on and on ?
The US president represents our country around the world . The job of being president is bigger than the individual's needs or his personality inclinations .
I can not imagine that he will survive constantly tweeting foreign policy and continually publicly backbiting anyone he chooses . It's unsustainable .
If he continues to act as he did during the transition , then his aberrant personality traits will lower our standing in the world as it will look as if our president ( supposedly the most powerful man in the world ) has gone off the rails .
Someone has to reign him in for the national security of our nation .
5
Yes, we keep waiting for that moment when Trump will embrace his new role, but we wait in vain. He is simply not capable for the job. He is a self-absorbed, insecure and greedy man who has no kindness or grace for anyone else. And, face it, he is just not aware, educated or interested in any of the issues that are fundamental to governance. It does seem cruel that we must go from a man of Obama's intelligence, skill, insight and awareness to a selfish, mean boor, but that is our plight.
5
The right wing will set about drowning the government in the bathtub so it can be sold off on the cheap to be rented back to taxpayers. If Trump allows this to happen, the economy will crash. We will be reduced to landowners and serfs. No wonder he likes Russia so much.
6
He's a self-promoter and at best a carnival barker. Until he puts America first over his own brand will he become presidential. So far he has shown in his life never to put others ahead of himself so why would he start now at the age of 70?
Trump is president.
We can either protest or work with him.
The inauguration is a time for Americans to put our divisions behind us and roll up our sleeves to get the job done.
Many have turned their backs on America and that can not and should not ever be forgotten.
We can either protest or work with him.
The inauguration is a time for Americans to put our divisions behind us and roll up our sleeves to get the job done.
Many have turned their backs on America and that can not and should not ever be forgotten.
1
James,
You write: "We can either protest or work with him."
I'll choose to protest.
Thank you,
Ken
You write: "We can either protest or work with him."
I'll choose to protest.
Thank you,
Ken
4
According to the Cook Report, the 2016 Popular vote is calculated as follows:
Trump 62,979,639
Clinton 65,844,610
"others" 7,804,213
Most of us can do the math. Trump, his enablers and supporters seemingly cannot or will not. Yes, the Electoral College win installs him as President. However, there is no mandate, there was no landslide. And yet, even as late as an event last night, he blared on about his great victory and the vanquish of his opposition.
So long as he is allowed to perpetrate a fallacy of the results and thereby not have to reckon with what the will of the American people truly is, the hope that he will suddenly become presidential in thought, speech and action is a wishful think.
Face it, there is an incompetent and a liar in the office of the president. It is an ill wind for all of us.
Trump 62,979,639
Clinton 65,844,610
"others" 7,804,213
Most of us can do the math. Trump, his enablers and supporters seemingly cannot or will not. Yes, the Electoral College win installs him as President. However, there is no mandate, there was no landslide. And yet, even as late as an event last night, he blared on about his great victory and the vanquish of his opposition.
So long as he is allowed to perpetrate a fallacy of the results and thereby not have to reckon with what the will of the American people truly is, the hope that he will suddenly become presidential in thought, speech and action is a wishful think.
Face it, there is an incompetent and a liar in the office of the president. It is an ill wind for all of us.
5
I continue to wonder why journalists, commentators and many Trump supporters who are "on the fence" keep wondering if he will finally act in a mature and thoughtful manner to the vast responsibilities he has inherited.
He will not. He cannot---a 70 year old person with a lifetime's history of behaving in a selfish, egocentric, ignorant and juvenile fashion doesn't change all of a sudden, and his post-election actions confirm this. We have a person who is truly unfit for the office in place now, and we had better believe it.
I hope the legal and political powers that must monitor, control and confront the inevitable chaos and thoughtless decision making are prepared to intervene. He is not one to go quietly, and will abuse power to the degree he is allowed to.
March, write, vote and be vocal--we have a petulant child who won't do his homework in charge now, and I fear we will all pay a steep price.
He will not. He cannot---a 70 year old person with a lifetime's history of behaving in a selfish, egocentric, ignorant and juvenile fashion doesn't change all of a sudden, and his post-election actions confirm this. We have a person who is truly unfit for the office in place now, and we had better believe it.
I hope the legal and political powers that must monitor, control and confront the inevitable chaos and thoughtless decision making are prepared to intervene. He is not one to go quietly, and will abuse power to the degree he is allowed to.
March, write, vote and be vocal--we have a petulant child who won't do his homework in charge now, and I fear we will all pay a steep price.
3
NOT my president. Today begins the countdown to Trump's impeachment.
7
Trump's ego will not allow him to speak the truth, and does not allow him to recognize his shortcomings, inabilities, horrible faults or failures of all kinds. Expect nothing but damaging propaganda to continue.
2
I hope you are right. But I think not. The next few weeks should begin to alarm even Trump supporters as the administration begins to take stuff away from those most in need to feed the insatiable greed of the uber rich. Repealing Obamacare and a frontal attack on civil rights are just the beginning as we will quickly see.
1
God Bless America and God Bless President Donald Trump.
2
In a word, no.
surely you jest?
2
I really like McCain's Don Quixote characterization. I bet we get to see that put to good effect/affect in numerous op-eds over the next four to eight years.
Ah...(waves hand dismissively) if things get out of hand our good friends in the intelligence community will iron things out for us. Keep the power on and the advertising industry functioning. Our cozy status quo unruffled. But I doubt things will get that out of hand. Maybe there will just be a fostering of the appearance of bedlam. Such conditions tend to stimulate great creative leaps. Well.. think about it for a minute - if there had been no Cold War, would the all-girl rock group The Go-go's ever have come into being? Or the Rolling Stones? Try to imagine a world without the Stones. Or the Go-go's? I doubt I'm the only one who shudders at such a prospect. All you teeth gnashers and hand wringers maybe should take that into consideration before you drive down to DC to shake your fists at news cameras. Stop Trump and you muck up the cultural dynamic potential that could give rise to the next Mick and Keith or Belinda Carlisle. Besides.. if we really do ever have a demagogue, would it not be wiser for those in opposition to keep their lips sealed lest they end up under his thumb?
Ah...(waves hand dismissively) if things get out of hand our good friends in the intelligence community will iron things out for us. Keep the power on and the advertising industry functioning. Our cozy status quo unruffled. But I doubt things will get that out of hand. Maybe there will just be a fostering of the appearance of bedlam. Such conditions tend to stimulate great creative leaps. Well.. think about it for a minute - if there had been no Cold War, would the all-girl rock group The Go-go's ever have come into being? Or the Rolling Stones? Try to imagine a world without the Stones. Or the Go-go's? I doubt I'm the only one who shudders at such a prospect. All you teeth gnashers and hand wringers maybe should take that into consideration before you drive down to DC to shake your fists at news cameras. Stop Trump and you muck up the cultural dynamic potential that could give rise to the next Mick and Keith or Belinda Carlisle. Besides.. if we really do ever have a demagogue, would it not be wiser for those in opposition to keep their lips sealed lest they end up under his thumb?
Regarding Trumps one-track double-down mindset in his 'plans' to make America great again, I can't help but remember the story of the scorpion and the frog, a quintessential metaphor for inevitability. A scorpion comes to a river and wants to cross it. There sits a frog, to which the scorpion says "can you help me cross the river?" The frog says yes. Swimming across the river with the scorpion on his back, halfway across, the scorpion suddenly stings the frog. The frog turns and says "why did you do that? now we will both drown" To which the scorpion says "I can't help it. Its my nature"
Trump is the scorpion. We the People, and our great America, the frog.
Trump is the scorpion. We the People, and our great America, the frog.
2
This is a man who can't resist the temptation to call women fat and ugly when they dare criticize other sexist and misogynistic comments he's made or when he boasts of getting away with sexual assault. This is a man who learned during the campaign that divisiveness and appeals to bigotry would win over millions of voters. We will hear the obligatory calls for unity and respect in his inaugural address. His supporters will gush over his newfound presidential demeanor. Then he and they will get right back to the business of shaming, bullying, and dividing.
4
This is indeed a sad day in the history of the United States. I can only compare it to November 22, 1963. On that day, we had the death of a President, Today, we have the death of a country. May it rest in peace.
Trump will continue to do whatever Steve Bannon Vladimir Putin tell him to do.
4
Everyone across the political spectrum is hoping that somehow trump will miraculously become more normal. Forget it. He's already shown the country who he is; there is nothing more to him. It will be a reality based show featuring the presidency. Stay tuned for the next four years.
2
Worst inaugural speech ever.
5
I have followed the election and transition process with sadness and great concern. Trump is going to be a constant menace to intelligence, justice and morality.
You have created your own Caligula.
AVE Cesar!
You have created your own Caligula.
AVE Cesar!
From the evidence we have seen this is a stupid question. So I'll have ask, what kind of stupid question is this?
1
I hope the NYTimes and the rest of the legitimate media keep up the investigation of this fake president. If he gets anything right then great but I wouldn't cut him an inch of slack - he has time and time again showed how unfit he is for any public office, let alone the office of the President. This is made only more clear after the remarkable 8 years of Obama as he ran a scandal free and exemplary executive. What a total disgrace and embarrassment for the United States on any level one can think. I'm not sure who really is left to keep him in check. The media can write about the issues but who will actually take them on - the feckless cowards that are the Congress? I hope all the groups affected can unleash their lawyers to tie him up in lawsuits...
1
In any democracy, the Presidency—and all positions of political power—are foremost at the mercy of the people, including those who voted both for and against you. Personal emotion is an irrelevance that must have no bearing on any political decision—particularly when it quite literally effects hundreds of millions of people. Democratically elected power is not a position at the will of any one person, it is a power that reports to the entirety of a democratic republic. It is a position of measured, fact-based competence. It is not a position of bluster and ambiguity. And it is most certainly not a position of reactionary emotion and a 3AM Twitter rant.
The answer to your question is no. He had a chance to do so after his stunning upset almost three months ago. Instead, he gloated like a 3rd grade bully, attacked anyone who dared to criticize him (his fingers will be VERY busy for the foreseeable future), called his fellow American political opponents enemies, praised a murderous and corrupt dictator, pointed towards laughable props duirng his press conference, ad nauseum. There are too many items on the list proving that he is UN-presidential. Today is a very sad day for America.
2
He will redefine "presidential" and personally, if he is an effective administrator, I don't even care if he uses obscenities. Look at the behavior on the left right now. Despicable. The Republicans have focused on dignity in the past and where did it get them? They lost elections. Let's focus on effectiveness and less on style. This is not a "Mr. Congeniality" contest.
In a word, no.
2
I hope Trump is nothing like the last 8 .
I'm afraid it is impossible for Mr. Trump to be Presidential. It is not his style. As a businessman his success was due to his ability to coerce and convince, and if necessary to confuse and concoct using whatever story is most convenient. We have seen him do this quite successfully as a campaigner and we will continue to see it as President. His ambition is the spotlight, even if he has to employ shock and awe to get it. He has won the highest prize possible, the Presidency, and he will play the game as long as he can. At his concert tonight he was seen by all standing in front of the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln. I am sure he was not in awe of the man, not for who he was but for how he got there. I am sure he saw himself in that chair. Uniting and leading the nation is not in the cards as we will see in coming days, weeks and months. He and his sons have already told us that what he respects most in people is loyalty. Demanding loyalty and showing leadership are not necessarily qualities that go hand in hand. Loyalty must be earned. And it is this that is his Achilles heal. Those that oppose him or are disloyal because they have issues with what they have been asked to do, will cause him to unravel and eventually implode. Fortunately, or unfortunately, it will only be then that we will get our country back.
1
A simple answer is "No". My thoughts pour over the rhetoric during the Trump machine advanced during the primaries and after the conventions. Trump and his apologists were remarkable in one sense - they lied without hesitation and with full intention. Truth does not matter - it's old hat now. In the Vice-Presidential debate, I still cannot get it out of my head of what Pence said about Obama - that he was not a "strong" leader like Putin is in Russia. These same Republican Trump apologists were quick to criticize Obama's overreach and use of the Executive Order. Their jingoism during that time should not be dismissed or forgotten. Trump and his team posed and now pose as a real threat to the free press. It will take a while for the mechanisms of democratic government to confront Trump about his taxes, his birtherism, his Russian connections, his lies and hold him accountable. But I am confident it will happen.
1
After listening to Trump's inaugural address I hear more of the same. The things that he think he can do for the middle class are simply not going to happen and are not really possible. This is a changing world, a global economy, and nothing is going to change that. President Trump has little grasp of reality and his narcissism is boundless. Perhaps the real world will help him to see that world but I doubt it.
Bearly (as in Russian, grizzly and pander)!
1
@GeraldFord just tweeted:
"Our long national nightmare has resumed."
"Our long national nightmare has resumed."
3
Who's "Gerald Ford?" Someone impersonating the former President (who died about 10 years ago)?
1
Sober and sane physicists believe that there is an infinite number of universes. I'm quite sure that Trump would be unpresidential in any or all of them.
4
I hope he's more outspoken and politically courageous out of office than in. I love the guy, but caution has killed us.
1
I fear we had our Marcus Aurelius and now ... now we got our Lucius Aurelius Commodus... oh, we will have lots and lots of circus.
4
This is not a remarkable rise to power. This is the voting rights act - eroded, punched holes in and disenfranchising hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of poor, elderly, and otherwise marginalized American voters. http://www.democracynow.org ran several excellent pieces on the GOP's "cross check" program which was used in Michigan and 30 other states. The program would wipe out any duplicate names regardless of the fact that many common names are exact matches throughout the country. The piece explained that in Detroit alone - a state where Trump won by 10,000 votes -- over 600,000 votes from Detroit were deleted due to cross check. There is nothing remarkable about Trump's victory -- the "voter fraud" that was being decried by the GOP was rampant - especially in the gerrymandering and redistricting frenzy that has taken place in the deep South. Voter Fraud plus Russia's still undetermined role -- that is not remarkable. That is America 1800s, America 1930s, America 1950s and of course the 1960s - where even with Martin Luther King's magnificent dream - The Government has yet to make good on the check it had promised to everyone of us in the currency of life, liberty and the true pursuit of happiness. @johannaclear
2
So the nightmare begins.
6
The only thing that will unite a country that is so divided is a third enemy and unfortunately Putin is calling the shots with Trump.
As long as he loves to twit, I do not think he can be presidential.
1
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
A simple line that has proven itself to be true over and over again since the beginning of time.
A simple line that has proven itself to be true over and over again since the beginning of time.
2
Why would you think that a guy who has already according to your article demonstrated absolutely no real grasp of the enormous responsibility he's accepted to govern our nation suddenly act any different?
Furthermore, "...his voters must surely see..." that is giving them credit they themselves don't possess to think clearly about this con man's empty promises and personal monetary gain for his own enrichment at their expense.
Furthermore, "...his voters must surely see..." that is giving them credit they themselves don't possess to think clearly about this con man's empty promises and personal monetary gain for his own enrichment at their expense.
What is the difference between Trump and God?
God doesn't think He's Trump.
God doesn't think He's Trump.
4
The real question is: How does the traditional press survive if all politicos start talking directly to the people via Twitter or Facebook? This technology didn't just bring us a new President that the press absolutely hates. It is ushering in an new political paradigm that may well exclude the printed press altogether.
What is the most troubling scenario and one that no one has mentioned is that now that Donald Trump is in charge of the nuclear codes, Mr. Putin might also be privy to them. If Putin got his hands on the nuclear codes, could the Russians then hack into our missile system as they seem to have hacked into other entities, and cause nuclear havoc?
1
Of course he can, but a better question is what does that actually mean, and of course do many of Trump supporters really care. Now I read a lot about how Obama is so nice and looks so good, that is very nice. What I don't hear too much from rational people is how effective he has been in improving the life of our citizens. That is important and why Trump won. Now he and the congress must deliver, and do so rapidly.
The personal pathologies of soon-to-be President Trump were and are readily apparent. His personal history is replete with social, ethical, and moral indiscretion. Why would any rational person expect a change in his behavior now?
The real question is: Why were these deficiencies in character and demeanor not disqualifying to a larger portion of the American electorate?
The real question is: Why were these deficiencies in character and demeanor not disqualifying to a larger portion of the American electorate?
1
Driven by his desire to prove his detractors wrong, Mr. Trump will try as hard as possible for him, to take the country on a course he believes is the right course.
But in the end, fate of a man, and so of a nation, is determined by the character of the man, and by the character of the leaders of the nation.
Despite all his efforts, he will not be able to break away from this 'law of human existence' and will commit some blunder. It could be war with other nation(s), or a war within this nation between groups that support him and those that do not, or any other form of conflict. And conflict, if unresolved, weakens the perpetrator as much as the victim. As citizens we can only wish good sense to prevail, and this we must do.
But in the end, fate of a man, and so of a nation, is determined by the character of the man, and by the character of the leaders of the nation.
Despite all his efforts, he will not be able to break away from this 'law of human existence' and will commit some blunder. It could be war with other nation(s), or a war within this nation between groups that support him and those that do not, or any other form of conflict. And conflict, if unresolved, weakens the perpetrator as much as the victim. As citizens we can only wish good sense to prevail, and this we must do.
1
It doesn't appear that he was groomed for the position, but he's an impressive person in many respects.
The people that voted for Trump want to burn Washington and what it stands for. I think Trump is quite capable of that.
3
The best part about today is that Democrats across America have been reintroduced to humility and reality. They thought that Hillary Clinton was a lock for president. They overlooked all of her lies and failings because that's what Democrats, liberals and progressives always do with their political candidates. For them, it's always do as I say and not as I do. Up to now they have gotten away with it. In this election the American people said enough is enough. Hillary was beaten by a reality television star and capitalist business man. And that must really irk her and every Democrat, who will have to live with it for the next four years.
Hopefully, Trump will fail quickly without causing irreparable harm to the county, so Paul Ryan can get on with drafting articles of impeachment. I find it offensive that this man has lied his way to the presidency.
To answer the question - NO!
2
Can a rock turn into a fluffy cloud?
4
Donald Trump is now officially violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. He needs to be removed from office.
5
One only needs to read Trump's tweets and listen to the things that he says to know that he is incapable of behaving in a presidential manner. He utterly lacks the emotional maturity and intellectual discipline for the office. Moreover, during the Obama years, throughout his campaign, and while president-elect, he has shown no respect for the office itself.
3
My concern is, what do we do if Trump's paranoia make him incapable to serve? Are there provisions to have him tested and removed from office?
Many "experts" have tried to explain Trump's victory. Their explanations are too academic and probably off the mark. I confess, I cannot understand how people - both educated and not - voted for him. As I see the people at his rallies, some dressed up like Uncle Sam, excited and enthralled by him as he utters nonsense and vilification, I cannot believe they have any grasp at what they are doing. Is it no more than being enraptured by a TV personality? I will never get it, how his supporters could dive headlong into the abyss. I very much fear for the country.
3
Well, it seems that our new president is Bart Simpson.
1
It's just not in his nature to be presidential. He's not going to have a happy time as the leader of a democratic country with a free press. Too many people have the right to criticize him. Nothing makes him lose it more than criticism. He's not going to be able to take the heat. And the GOP is going to have a miserable time defending him.
Here's my extremely disturbing observation: I know countless individuals (friends, acquaintenances from every day life, Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, whose only qualifications being that they're over 35 yrs. old and native born) who I'd prefer to see in the White House than our newly elected President.
3
The way to be 'presidential' is to get more votes than the competition
Haven't I heard something about leopards changing their spots, and haven't we been waiting for the "presidential turn" for months? Forget it, guys. It's not happening.
2
The last person Donald trump answered to was his father - why on earth would we think he will answer to the people of the United States. His election was a sham and his public image is deplorable. Let's hope we can all get through 4 years of bullying and ignorant tweets with an intact country at the end. I am ashamed to call myself a citizen.
1
Mr Trump is going to give up his twitter account and instead just appear on comedy cable TV shows and podcasts to discuss his thoughts. In a bid to look even more presidential than Mr Obama, he will double the flow of celebs through the White House, and post weekly selfie stick photos on social media.
The personal pathologies of soon-to-be President Trump were and are readily apparent. His personal history is replete with social, ethical, and moral indiscretion. Why would any rational person expect a change in his behavior now?
The real question is: Why these deficiencies in character and demeanor not disqualifying to a larger portion of the American electorate?
The real question is: Why these deficiencies in character and demeanor not disqualifying to a larger portion of the American electorate?
1
It's about time to stop asking this question. Trump has shown many times over that he is the very antithesis of presidential.
1
The question is, indeed, rhetorical. In a unified country Trump couldn't thrive, and since his primary (perhaps only) motivation is to come out on top, he will continue as he has--to the detriment of all, including his delusional supporters.
1
Trump's executive management style can only be attributed to heading a privately owned business. This style and manner could never work or be accepted in a publically traded company. Accountability is a marvelous thing. Unfortunately, politicians, like Trump, lie, mislead, and misdirect because they have a reason to do so ,and they can get away with it because there is no accountability. It's a learned behavior. That was pretty easy to do up there at the top of Trump Tower. Now, he has a Senate willing to give him a free hand with some really shady bunch of no-nothings, robber barons, and sycophants, So much for the greening of America. We used to be a nation that demanded more than crumbs and expected our presidents to act with aplomb.
I believe a more accurate word to describe President-Elect Trump's behavior is "infantile."
I think the President himself defines what is presidential at any given time. Andy Jackson wasn't presidential according to the Adams family.
Turmp's behavior during the transition will put the lie to any lip service he may pay to unity in his inaugural address. His cabinet choices have shown he is not interested in, or even understands good governance. I rest any hope on a slender reed: that the republicans awaken to their love of country and their duty, and hold trump to the ethical standards Americans have a right to expect.
Democrats should not try to moderate Trumps foolish plans. If they do, Republicans will only claim credit. Let those who voted for Trump feel the sting of their choice.
1
Trump's most critical long-term damage will be his choice for the Supreme Court.
2
He can't even act like a CEO! Last time I checked, business leaders calibrate their behavior as much as any elected official.
If by "presidential", you mean dignified, upstanding, a paragon of intellect, someone with moral authority who by his own example naturally commands respect and leads, is open and fair-minded, seeks to unify rather than divide, raises the level of discourse, exhibits humility and empathy, inspires, is a model for young people, is capable of moving beyond the sloganeering of a campaign to the finer points of governing, and so on, then, in a word, no.
1
Its time for Mr. Trump to adapt to the role of President in service of the people as opposed to having the Presidency adapt itself to him. I believe that he will find most Citizens respond to him more favorably if he treats them with respect and shows similar regard for our democratic traditions and institutions.
1
The odds are running high that Trump will be impeached within 6 months.
Don't hold your breath...people don't change at 70 years old---they are who they are...Should add, even if decided to make smooth out his personality flaws, he has developed no intellectual tools over his 70 years to be a thoughtful president---in fact quite the opposite, he has worked to trash any form of thoughtfulness.
As the saying goes, "Time will tell…" I really don't think we'll all have to wait very long, though. I believe that what we see is what we get. What is unknown is how Congress ultimately deals with him. Do they let him force his crazy policies down American's throats? Or will they grow spines and stand against him? Luckily, the actual numbers of lawmakers it will take to establish a bulwark against his craziness isn't all that large. Just a couple in the Senate will do the trick but it would be good to get the House across the river also.
The question now is will he he make it through his first term and if not how bad a mess will he leave behind?
1
The short answer is no. Trump supporters are going to soon realize that the person they idolize is a very shallow man with an over-sized ego who is unfit for office for a number of reasons. I believe soon to be President Trump hasn't read any policy briefings, doesn't use a teleprompter for speeches, didn't read business contracts, and relies excessively on a very close circle of family members is because he is illiterate and has the reading skills of a 5th grader. What a great choice for a leader to make America great again and represent us to the entire world.
A new era of despair is in the offing, if crooked lying Trump's irresponsible behavior thus far is any guidance. His cabinet, with a few exceptions leaves a lot to be desired. This may be a Kleptocracy led by an extremely ignorant, highly arrogant, and unscrupulous discriminator, exceedingly vengeful, intent in thrashing an already bruised democracy, where Putin may become his consultant for world affairs (and surely russophiles Flynn, Tillerson and Manafort may 'help'). With a demagogue so conflicted, and so suspiciously obscure in his dealings, What could possibly go wrong?
The working class that voted for him only measure one thing - do they have jobs that can provide for their loved ones. Lofty Presidential Rhetoric counts for nothing. Even Lincoln did not just heal the nation with a speech - only a thriving economy heals and forgives.
1
Presidential?
Not from a forked tongue!
Not from a forked tongue!
1
He won't do it. I keep reading these hopeful pieces -- the gravity of the office will mature him, he'll surround himself with people who know what to do. He must unite the country. Guess what, he won't.
Now is the time to resist, protest, work on future elections. He'll be an unmitigated disaster and the only surprise may be that he goes even lower than we've seen so far.
Now is the time to resist, protest, work on future elections. He'll be an unmitigated disaster and the only surprise may be that he goes even lower than we've seen so far.
3
If you grew up with an erratic and difficult parent or have worked under supervisors or bosses that were irrational and incompetent -- and most of us have been in that situation -- then you know what to do. The president is not the government nor the people and there are still many things we can accomplish without him. We should be proactive with whatever activities we deem important for our neighbors, state and constituencies and also responsive if he starts to carry out some of the more damaging proposals he has put forward. But so far, he's done nothing but talk -- life is short and so may be his presidency. I don't want to waste time responding to every tweet or threat or proposal he makes.
1
Mr. Trump had an opportunity during the transition period to demonstrate to the American people that he would be a "president for everyone." So far, that hasn't gone well. There has been no sign of humility in occupying the highest office of the land, thoughtfulness, dignity, or listening to those with differing positions - just Twitter.
2
Let the bait and switch begin. Trump promised he was never going to let ISIS know what he was about to do in the press. Surprise is his mode of operation.
Trusting such a non-presidential person is non-existent from hereon.
Let's hope General Mattis is not captured. Then let captured Republican Senator John McCain lead the press announcement.
Presidents need to be trustworthy. We will not have such a president as of inauguration day. That's today. Sad. Very sad.
Trusting such a non-presidential person is non-existent from hereon.
Let's hope General Mattis is not captured. Then let captured Republican Senator John McCain lead the press announcement.
Presidents need to be trustworthy. We will not have such a president as of inauguration day. That's today. Sad. Very sad.
3
Abraham Lincoln said, "I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me." Hopefully, the weight of the world and public opinion will change Mr. Trump's temperament. Based on his past actions and statements, I find it a stretch, but there's always hope.
1
Just thinking about Trump taking the oath of office and moving his tiny hands into the White House makes me feel that the United States is diminished today. We are so much less than we have been because so many of us thought this infantile clown should lead the free world.
3
Can Mr. Trump be presidential? You must be joking. Past is prologue and this 70 year old white man will not change. Lacking insight, he's had a measure of success by cheating and bullying. Bark, reward. Bark, reward. He's the Republican's new trick dog.
4
It doesn't matter who is President because the trappings , the surroundings, the office controls the man or woman that occupies it.
History makes the President, not the opposite.
History makes the President, not the opposite.
Trump doesn't need to worry about the Dems, he needs to worry about the scorch earth policies of the Republicans. If the Rs do what they plan, expect a sharp right turn and the US looking like some cross between Kansas and Alabama. Rights to vote, religion out of govewrnment, destruction of educational opportunities, environmental controls, restrictions on corps and banks, and proper taxation is going out the window. Expect a recession to follow soon after. Trump will do nothing to protect us.
2
Two (only) semi-related thoughts. One is that spite invites spite in return; it doesn't matter much whether Donald Trump started the spiteful bickering, or whether he's responding in spite to those who are bitter that Hillary Clinton will not be president. The other is that presidents aren't entitled to dictate the government's agenda --- it's the job of the Congress to enact legislation, and the job of the president to implement it. I think it was Robosphiere who once said, "I must follow them, for I am their leader." What was true in the French Revolution remains true in 21st Century America.
1
There is not a smidgen of evidence from any part of Trump's entire life that indicates that he is capable of being anything other than a narcissistic, bombastic con man. No one has yet surfaced any evidence of ANY redeeming quality in this man, any grace, any kindness, any capacity for reflection or deep thinking. He excels in cunning and self-serving, cheating everyone he comes in contact with. So, the answer is no.
9
The best single hour of Trump's presidency will be 12:02 - 1:02 today. It will be all downhill after that.
He will ruin us in six months and himself in eighteen.
He will be the first president impeached and convicted, ostensibly for a scandal arising from conflicts of interest but actually for gross incompetence and negligence in office.
Suspicions about his Russian connections and his mania for secrecy about it and everything else in his life will spark growing concerns about whose interests he actually serves and where his true loyalties actually lie. Lower echelons of our national security agencies will treat him as a covert agent of a hostile foreign power to protect the American nation. Leaked reports from their surveillance and his counterattacks will instigate his downfall.
Trump will go down as the worst president in American history. Once ejected from office few will call him "President Trump" with due respect. It will simply be "Trump", uttered with contempt and in disparagement, like John Wilkes Booth and Benedict Arnold.
Over time the usage, meaning and connotations of the word "trump" itself will change, shift from positive to negative, superior to inferior, strong to weak, winner to loser.
He will ruin us in six months and himself in eighteen.
He will be the first president impeached and convicted, ostensibly for a scandal arising from conflicts of interest but actually for gross incompetence and negligence in office.
Suspicions about his Russian connections and his mania for secrecy about it and everything else in his life will spark growing concerns about whose interests he actually serves and where his true loyalties actually lie. Lower echelons of our national security agencies will treat him as a covert agent of a hostile foreign power to protect the American nation. Leaked reports from their surveillance and his counterattacks will instigate his downfall.
Trump will go down as the worst president in American history. Once ejected from office few will call him "President Trump" with due respect. It will simply be "Trump", uttered with contempt and in disparagement, like John Wilkes Booth and Benedict Arnold.
Over time the usage, meaning and connotations of the word "trump" itself will change, shift from positive to negative, superior to inferior, strong to weak, winner to loser.
3
Yours is a rhetorical question. Trump* is simply beyond redemption. As a recent tweet summed it up, he "lives for vengeance." Tony Schwartz warned us in his New Yorker interview and was ignored by just enough voters, strategically located that now it's 4 years of Mourning in America for the reality-based community.
3
In Answer to the Question, in a Word: No, No, and Yet Again, Still No.
2
Trump is not looking to govern, he is looking to rule. He doesn't understand any of the principals of democracy as he prefers the principals of being a monarch or autocrat. Don't plan on him being or acting presidential as his actions are more reminiscent of a king or dictator. God help this country.
3
Yes, the campaign is over. Perhaps the transition would have gone smoother if there hadn't been an unprecedented movement to delegitimatize the results since November, thus undermining President Trump. And The NY Times can count itself as a primary instigator of that woeful effort.
1
What goes around comes around. Can you say "birther"? Who started and perpetuated that smear campaign????
1
I believe the Hillary capmapi9gn floated Obama's Kenyan roots first.
Trump could possibly act presidential if:
1. He seeks professional counseling immediately
2. He treats professional counseling seriously, unlike he does other things
3. He keeps his frothing mouth shut and lets others do the talking
4. Those he lets do the talking, talk sense, not Trump nonsense
5. He promises today to spare us all from running for a second term
Trump, of course, will NEVER act presidential because:
1. Behavior is set within the first 8 years; thus his has been awful for 62
2. He has personality disorders that preclude acting presidentially
3. He prefers hanging out in Trump Tower, not the White House, where normal president's live
4. He hasn't the first clue how presidents are supposed to act
5. Even if he did have the first clue how presidents are supposed to act, he couldn't care less
1. He seeks professional counseling immediately
2. He treats professional counseling seriously, unlike he does other things
3. He keeps his frothing mouth shut and lets others do the talking
4. Those he lets do the talking, talk sense, not Trump nonsense
5. He promises today to spare us all from running for a second term
Trump, of course, will NEVER act presidential because:
1. Behavior is set within the first 8 years; thus his has been awful for 62
2. He has personality disorders that preclude acting presidentially
3. He prefers hanging out in Trump Tower, not the White House, where normal president's live
4. He hasn't the first clue how presidents are supposed to act
5. Even if he did have the first clue how presidents are supposed to act, he couldn't care less
5
Why do people keep asking the same question? He has given his answer loud and clear, and repeatedly.
Stop trying to pretend he is something better than he is--he isn't.
Stop trying to pretend he is something better than he is--he isn't.
3
A mentally unstable nation has allowed an unstable and unsuitable man to be our president. These are very dangerous and divisive times and it will continue until we have installed intelligent, mature, fair-minded, compassionate people to lead us. With all the immaturity, narcissism and faux news in our society, our behavior will be reduced to resembling World Wide Wrestling and be very, very ugly. How can it be otherwise?
3
the bigger question is what do you do when enough voters in a nation lose their collective minds and vote for a person who is completely, totally amoral. a liar of the first degree who doesn't care he lies or denies tape of what he's said or just makes up stories....
5
What does a nation do to recover from a vivid demonstration of a fatal flaw in its constitution?
There is no longer credibility to the claim that the President of the United States is elected by a genuinely democratic process.
There is no longer credibility to the claim that the President of the United States is elected by a genuinely democratic process.
The nation rejected Hillary.
And the other part of the nation rejects Trump.
I watched Trump's presser last week, then President Obama's last one. The contract couldn't of be more different. One we had a snarling man child yelling at the reporters (Trump) and the other we had a courteous gentleman (President Obama) calling on every reporters he could, no limits on the type of questions, he answered them at length and was knowledgeable on the topics he was asked about. Trump on the other hand was combative, rude, ill informed. We can expect this attitude the entire time he is in office, so not do not expect anything Presidential from this man.
3
My sincere wish: if President Trump refuses to take a question from a specific journalist, and insults, childishly, any particular news organization, that the entire press corps turn their back on him and walk out.
6
How long after will he send out his first tweet and what will it say? Hope the wind blows mightily today and his hair falls out...
2
What does it matter if he manages to speak some pretty words, the best pretty words, I am sure, today? We all know who he is. And for those who chose to vote for him, the pretty words will come with a little winking, sarcastic emoticon to let them know he is just playing along for the occasion. You can be sure that the insults will follow in due time, probably in a few hours.
And there is no comfort to be taken from his staff, Conway, Bannon, and the unspeakably awful and dangerous Cabinet picks.
Perhaps we could take some comfort if he had capable and caring people around him. But they are all the "Trump Whisperers," reassuring him of him once in the history of the planet greatness.
How we deal with this is the bigger problem. I'm as clueless as anyone else on that.
And there is no comfort to be taken from his staff, Conway, Bannon, and the unspeakably awful and dangerous Cabinet picks.
Perhaps we could take some comfort if he had capable and caring people around him. But they are all the "Trump Whisperers," reassuring him of him once in the history of the planet greatness.
How we deal with this is the bigger problem. I'm as clueless as anyone else on that.
2
I believe there is a fundamental meanness about the man that is being underestimated.
He will want to be remembered in history as a man who, right or wrong, got his way.
He is a man who easily gets bored and who dislikes -- while being incapable of -- thinking hard about complicated issues, so I expect his stay in office will be short, but full of damage to this country’s fundamental values.
He will want to be remembered in history as a man who, right or wrong, got his way.
He is a man who easily gets bored and who dislikes -- while being incapable of -- thinking hard about complicated issues, so I expect his stay in office will be short, but full of damage to this country’s fundamental values.
7
During the Presidential Campaigns, I started to get a sinking feeling when more than one voter in different areas said about Mr. Trump: "He just says what I'm thinking." Mr. Trump is unworthy of being President for obvious reasons, but the people voted for him anyway. I blame anyone who voted for him for the crisis to come. We really will find out what it means to be American in the next four years.
4
Hillary and Obama were both incompetent, that did not stop them. And I will be happy to take the credit for his success, there won't be much blame.
Presidential? Never!
More like an unctuous Undertaker. Dourly Delivering Death.
More like an unctuous Undertaker. Dourly Delivering Death.
2
The title is intended as a joke, correct?
4
Not sleeping and turned on CNN to hear Chris Cuomo describe what he seemed to witness as a more circumspect Trump laying the wreath at Arlington. Everyone is looking for this magical moment when Trump will dial down his rat pack persona and suddenly convert to a thoughtful person. It isn't there and he will deliver nothing to the American people.. NOTHING. He brings his vacuous wife who is an true set-back for a First Lady. This is a moment in history alright...pomp and no circumstance.
1
Two scenarios:
(1) Trump places his hand on a Bible to take the oath of office and thinks to himself, "My God! I'm about to be President! What an awesome responsibility!"
(2) Trump places his hand on a Bible to take the oath of office and thinks to himself, "Am I awesome or what? I should grab a selfie!"
Guess which one I'd bet on.
(1) Trump places his hand on a Bible to take the oath of office and thinks to himself, "My God! I'm about to be President! What an awesome responsibility!"
(2) Trump places his hand on a Bible to take the oath of office and thinks to himself, "Am I awesome or what? I should grab a selfie!"
Guess which one I'd bet on.
2
"A special strength of American democracy has been the desire of newly elected presidents to unite the public with healing words after the sound and fury of the campaign."
You mean words like "Elections have consequences. I won."
Is that what you mean?
You mean words like "Elections have consequences. I won."
Is that what you mean?
3
"It's Mourning in America"
6
Can President Trump be presidential? It depends on whether you think that an utter narcissist can be "presidential." Mr. Trump is a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder. He cannot change this, it is baked into him--as Hillary Clinton accurately stated, "this is who he is." We all know very well by now who he is. He has been the same person since he became a public figure in the 70s.
Look at Trump as he is to answer this question. Trump will not--cannot--bend to any norm that would be described as "presidential." The question is whether the norm will bend to his personality, which is fundamentally more monarchical--or dictatorial--than presidential.
Look at Trump as he is to answer this question. Trump will not--cannot--bend to any norm that would be described as "presidential." The question is whether the norm will bend to his personality, which is fundamentally more monarchical--or dictatorial--than presidential.
3
Actually I hope he doesn't become presidential. No, I'd rather he remain repugnant and vindictive so that his millions of supporters will finally realize what a jerk they voted for. Maybe then they'll take him literally as well as seriously. And if that happens we can then get back to being a normal country in four years instead of eight.
4
This is an irredeemably sad day made possible by the errors of so many well meaning Americans who voted for Trump, the Russian intervention and a Democratic candidate who always did things that put her under the suspicion of ethical misconduct.
It seems, based on his falling approval ratings as president elect, that many who voted for him are already disenchanted.
This man has made no persuasive statement of unity, compassion or understanding of the national ethos. He comes off as purely belligerent and heartless. No one can predict the future, but it doesn't look good from where I sit.
It seems, based on his falling approval ratings as president elect, that many who voted for him are already disenchanted.
This man has made no persuasive statement of unity, compassion or understanding of the national ethos. He comes off as purely belligerent and heartless. No one can predict the future, but it doesn't look good from where I sit.
1
I'm afraid that power will only exacerbate his evident grandiose narcissism, and his behavior. He will become more defensive, more aggresive, more overconfident and less likely to listen to expert advice.
4
Can Trump be presidential? Not likely. Of course there will be times when he'll by forced to fake it , but even a presidency can't remedy his inherent problems. No, lying and all the other defects he so prominently and continuously displays are not a virtues, and they are not presidencial. I suspect we are more likely to see attempts to redefine "virtue" and "presidential" than we are to see the leopard change his spots.
In this instance, I would be pleased to be wrong.
In this instance, I would be pleased to be wrong.
1
Can President Trump be Presidential, can an elephant fly? What has become very clear in all his rantings & responses is, he is emotionally stunted. He has the emotions of an 8 year old, don’t be suppressed when he rolls on the floor during a cabinet meeting, & kicks his feet in a tantrum.We must not blame Trump for his actions no more than we would blame anyone with an emotional problem. The People we must blame is the Republicans that support & make excuses for him.They have demonstrated that Power Trumps loyalty to America.
3
In the final analysis, there is simply nothing in Trump's background or personal make-up to suggest he can be or will be "Presidental".
We must now rely upon the Republicans who value the country over the individual to contain and control this man-child.
All citizens who care about our nation should be vigilant and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Anything less is to abdicate our responsibilities as citizens of this great republic.
We must now rely upon the Republicans who value the country over the individual to contain and control this man-child.
All citizens who care about our nation should be vigilant and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Anything less is to abdicate our responsibilities as citizens of this great republic.
3
This question has come up time and again for the last year at every major step in his bid to for the White House and every time the answer is NO. We need to stop hoping for a different answer to this question and start holding him accountable for the what he says or does.
1
We are going from eloquence to arrogance, from humble to self-aggrandizing.
2
Trump is an insecure, self-absorbed punk. He is incapable of putting the countries interests above his need to protect and burnish his fragile ego.
2
Trump, the tweeting CEO of the United Corporations of America, is clueless on how to help his "employees". His lot in life and his only use to his Republican "Board of Directors", at the behest of the shareholders (Health Insurance CEO's), is to sign the ObamaCare repeal, after which, they will impeach him on any number of corruption violations, and replace him with a non-tweeting CEO. They will throw him out of Washington quicker then you can say .... Affordable Care Act, and replace it with ..............??? NADA!
2
His employees need proper leadership, tools, and far less of them. His stockholders are the legal citizens of our country. He understands that, better than politicos who only want to get re-elected. Time will tell.
I love the NYT, but this has to be one of the daftest headlines I've read in a long term. I appreciate it's meant to be rhetorical, but stll...
3
Not only is Donald Trump incapable of acting Presidential, but he will use the Presidency to rub his power and privilege in everyone's faces.
Exhibit 1: Donald Trump campaigned on the promise to bring jobs back to middle America and stop the suferring caused by economic upheaval, yet just days ago he bragged about turning down a $2 billion business deal out of Dubai. Can any of those Trump voters who are suffering though corporate downsizing as their jobs are moved to other countries imagine turning down a life-changing $2 billion deal? And do those voters realize that Trump's alleged deal was also in a foregn country that would not have created a single job for them?
By now the voters should realize they have been taken by one of the greatest con artists in New York's history. Donald Trump has only demonstrated crass insensitivity, entitlement and selfishness on a scale never before seen in any President. Being "Presidential" is not even in his vocabulary.
Exhibit 1: Donald Trump campaigned on the promise to bring jobs back to middle America and stop the suferring caused by economic upheaval, yet just days ago he bragged about turning down a $2 billion business deal out of Dubai. Can any of those Trump voters who are suffering though corporate downsizing as their jobs are moved to other countries imagine turning down a life-changing $2 billion deal? And do those voters realize that Trump's alleged deal was also in a foregn country that would not have created a single job for them?
By now the voters should realize they have been taken by one of the greatest con artists in New York's history. Donald Trump has only demonstrated crass insensitivity, entitlement and selfishness on a scale never before seen in any President. Being "Presidential" is not even in his vocabulary.
2
I am pretty sure that most of that 60 million DON'T want him to be Presidential.
5
Trump is the definition of a loser that wins nonetheless. And worse than that a sore winner with the power of the presidency. The only thing Trump will be in awe about is the wealth accumulation potential he now will have.
Trump is as ignorant and clueless about the issues facing the country and its citizens as Rick Perry was (and is) clueless about the Dept of Energy. Like Republicans that indiscriminately trash the government of the people, they are clueless as to the damage they would cause if they actually succeed - like eliminating the ACA, or the DOE that Mr. Perry used as a convenient political punching bag for votes.
I would never trust Trump with my money, with my daughter, with .... Yet we are trusting Trump with our country, our planet, our lives and that of our service men and women as President. So ... (Sad doesn't cover it).
Welcome to the new era of duck and cover as the new POTUS blames everyone else for his coming shortcomings and failures - Blameshifter-in-chief with the nuclear codes.
Trump is as ignorant and clueless about the issues facing the country and its citizens as Rick Perry was (and is) clueless about the Dept of Energy. Like Republicans that indiscriminately trash the government of the people, they are clueless as to the damage they would cause if they actually succeed - like eliminating the ACA, or the DOE that Mr. Perry used as a convenient political punching bag for votes.
I would never trust Trump with my money, with my daughter, with .... Yet we are trusting Trump with our country, our planet, our lives and that of our service men and women as President. So ... (Sad doesn't cover it).
Welcome to the new era of duck and cover as the new POTUS blames everyone else for his coming shortcomings and failures - Blameshifter-in-chief with the nuclear codes.
4
Unfortunately, there is little that Trump has done either before or after his election that gives me any hope that he will do more than cheerlead for his disciples once he begins to govern. The content of Trump's rally tour speeches offers little evidence that he wants to speak to the entire country. The ridiculous event held as a so called press conference provided nothing in the way of unifying commentary. The lack of diversity in the cabinet nominees in both ideology and humanity offers no evidence of united governing. No, he can not be Presidential and stop preaching to the choir. All he offers is Comradeship to followers, foreign and domestic.
We need to be vigilant and call out the President when real problems arise. This effort, however, will be hurt if we turn to outrage as a response to his every move. We know he will be bombastic. We know he will seem simple minded. We know his demeanor in a press conference will be nothing like Obama's. Let's get passed that. We need to focus on real and damaging behaviors and policies. If we instead choose to publish the outrage of the day, we will become numb to them and be unprepared to react to those that require outrage.
I suspect a plot by the GOP leadership. Like any spoiled two-year-old, Trump will grow tired of his new toy -- the presidency -- and throw one tweetrum too many, causing a domestic or international crisis that no one can stomach. He will then be impeached, giving Pence, Ryan, McConnell and the collection of plutocrats, kleptocrats and alt-right ideologues in the Cabinet and White House the opening they need to take over and impose their agenda on a helpless nation. God help us all!
I think the media needs to realize that Trump's supporters don't want "presidential." The media are still stuck in a pre-Trump era where civility and honesty are attributes not weakness. His supporters didn't vote for him IN SPITE of his "unpresidentialness," but BECAUSE of it. Some of us are appalled at what he did to Obama, his past behavior and his rhetoric. But the rest love it. 8 years ago half the population thought they "lost their country." Today, I feel I have. I won't fight. I won't despair. I know that I'm not welcome here anymore. I will leave.
1
Unfortunately, as optimistic as I usually am, I have no reserves for the petulant, tantrum-throwing-toddler-in-chief. At 70 years old, he has shown us his true colors and that he allows vengeance to rule. Without compassion for every person in the country--his heart of stone--will keep the poor and needy--right where they are since his cabinet choices--also clueless--won't care. So, no--he cannot be presidential because his personality disorders, triggered by a cognitive disability--won't allow it.
1
He will never change and the press have to stop giving him any leeway on this, no more Hoping he may do anything Presidential. He is a fossilized personality unable and unwilling to learn. His mind can stretch to his son-in- law bringing peace to the Arab Israeli conflict, yes really that should happen, he's SO qualified. He cannot stop with the campaign rhetoric and vindictive talk. He will NEVER unite this country and its people. There's no way the "jobs" are coming back. Instead he will invite Putin into the White House to discuss how to be a wealthy dictator? He will continue in his ignorance to diss all world leaders, break up NATO and Europe and reduce the USA to a banana republic. What a terrible awful mistake this man is, how soon can he be impeached?
I love Trump for in his application of empirical logic he has shown the Government, Intelligence Agencies, our Political Systems and the Media are both nationally and internationally big-time liars, and the implications for the democratic process is that it is just pretense. Thank you Donald Trump.
1
Can Trump be presidential? I hope so but I fear not. People never really change. I'm holding on for a wild ride for the next four years and hope that the damage is not too great and that other countries are willing to wait it out as well. I hope we all forget our pride and differences and learn. I hope the result is motivation on the part of government and citizens to take responsibility and get us back on track.
1
Yesterday, at the laying of a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, trump stood with Pence with their right hand over their hearts while Taps was played. A soldier stood next to them in salute. For some reason, trump was unable to keep his right hand still. No less than ten times, for whatever reason, like a restless schoolboy, he lifted his hand away from his heart in a fidgety patting motion and then back again. Ten times. Is he that impatient? Can he not stand motionless for the fallen for forty-five seconds? Is the tick related in any way to the tens of thousands of tweets he's sent out since he opened his Twitter account? Will he govern this way? Will he conduct a form of lightning round diplomacy around the world? Who knows? But one thing is for sure. It is not presidential.
I am saddened. I fear this will end badly.
1
Do we really need to ask?
What a ridiculous question the title of this editorial is! Of course that man cannot be "presidential" any more than a zebra can change it's stripes. In fact, try as I might I cannot seem to distance myself far enough from news of the travesty about to befall this country to suit my mental health. I realized long ago that the "American Dream" was far more "dream" than "reality" and yet there remained a small semblance of decency in this country, heightened by the last term of Barack Obama in which he tried hard to press for equality and justice and civil rights and decency and was only hampered by the grotesque obstruction of the GOP. Now the keys to the asylum have been handed over to the inmates and the Presidency is forever desecrated. Next change: all doorknobs in the White House to be gold-plated. Bottom line is that anyone who would mock a handicapped person has bought a ticket straight to Hell in the afterlife and should never hold any public office let alone the highest one. Fiinally I believe that this change of government signifies in no-uncertain-terms the beginning of the decline of the USA as THE world power, soon to be overtaken by China which has earned it's place at the top of the pack.
3
A Sociopath does not change, The Sociopath in Chief will not change either. Oh, he may put on an act for a short while; But there is no depth to the man. No sincerity. No true compassion. No sense of service - except to himself.
If he puts on a "presidential act" it will be merely a ploy. An act. A performance. For the cameras! For his sycophants. There will be no humility. Humble words, perhaps, fed to him by a TelePrompter. Mouthed by a man who has unjustly trashed others in front of the same cameras.
The man is a National Disgrace. He has tarnished our reputation around the world. He has a knack for it!
Today is a day of mourning. "Mourning in America."
If he puts on a "presidential act" it will be merely a ploy. An act. A performance. For the cameras! For his sycophants. There will be no humility. Humble words, perhaps, fed to him by a TelePrompter. Mouthed by a man who has unjustly trashed others in front of the same cameras.
The man is a National Disgrace. He has tarnished our reputation around the world. He has a knack for it!
Today is a day of mourning. "Mourning in America."
4
A narcissistic sociopath doesn't change at the age of 70.
Democracy, you had a nice run in the U.S. Time to explore options.
Democracy, you had a nice run in the U.S. Time to explore options.
2
The editorial board(PropagNYT/DNC) has been beating a drum for a long time to no avail. The relentless culture warriors and their ill educated leader have shown their true colors. Each new penny ante objection blown up to the proportion of the end of democracy and the Republic as we know it has made fools of anyone who is an actual journalist and shredded whatever is left of fairness and honesty. Is there one among you with a backbone who will stand up for the sacred honor of Journalism and really speak truth to power? Speak out, or the propaganda will destroy you and everything you stand for.
2
Your opinions about the USA simply don't matter. Worry about Theresa May instead.
Compared to Obama, Mr. Trump looks a thousand times more Presidential!!!
2
Compared to President Obama, Trump looks a million times less presidential. There, I fixed that for ya.
Only if you think presidents have to be white.
Polls numbers suggest President-elect Trump is the least popular president in modern times. I must have forgotten how wrong "the polls" were when it came to the November election.
1
Expect to "hear" the "grand American theme", but as to "personal conviction" to follow? as to the "central aspiration"? Not so much.
Time to give a shout out to Chief Justice John Roberts whose Supreme Court enabled billionaires to spread unlimited money around to help elect Trump. They even bought themselves cabinet positions.
Roberts will be smiling today as he administers Trump's
oath of office.
As for Trump being "presidential," the question answers itself.
Roberts will be smiling today as he administers Trump's
oath of office.
As for Trump being "presidential," the question answers itself.
As has been pointed out so many times before, there are two Americas. One which believes that our country, though flawed, continues to represent the land of possibility. The populations in urban areas, young people of all races and gender identifications, the educated, the artists, the military, the brave who launched and sustain the various civil rights and human rights advances all of whom embody the work ethic and the forward momentum that has always allowed us to overcome our challenges and be great. Then you have the other America, the distressed, the drug addled, those stuck in forlorn forgotten villages and towns whose heyday is long past but whose people cannot or will not react other than through vindictive and malignant hate and distrust, who believe that a sound bite is empathy and all their woes can be fixed by harming someone else... as if something was taken away from them and should be restored simply because they exist. Mr. Trump speaks to that America, which s why he lost by 3 million votes, which is why his approval ratings are so abysmal... and yet he is President.
2
"Transition" does seem too gentle a word for this. As much as I appreciate beautiful manners, Mr. Trump's lack of grace wouldn't really matter, if I thought that he'd have the best interests of our country at heart.
Many have said that the election felt like death, and I can only agree (although it's hard to know where grief over country ends and grief over family begins); yet if I must grieve, I hope to do so as well as I can, that I might contribute, in some small way, to the work of protecting our country for the next four (please, God, only four) years. And it is not only our country that we must protect. We cannot allow our alliances to be destroyed, nor can we ignore the suffering in Syria.
It didn't really make sense that I should find comfort in learning about the misery in Aleppo, but somehow, that was much more helpful in grief than mere light entertainment. Even if I may never be able to do more than pray for the people, I'm so grateful for their brave, dignified example, which far exceeds the new presidency.
I'd mostly tuned him out before, repulsed as I was by the very sound of his voice, but it is now my duty to keep him in mind, although I don't plan to watch the inauguration. It's not because it hurts too much see him "honored," or even to have him live in the White House. Those are only symbols, after all. I believe that what they represent will endure, because I see those qualities of respect, dignity, and freedom in my community, every day.
Many have said that the election felt like death, and I can only agree (although it's hard to know where grief over country ends and grief over family begins); yet if I must grieve, I hope to do so as well as I can, that I might contribute, in some small way, to the work of protecting our country for the next four (please, God, only four) years. And it is not only our country that we must protect. We cannot allow our alliances to be destroyed, nor can we ignore the suffering in Syria.
It didn't really make sense that I should find comfort in learning about the misery in Aleppo, but somehow, that was much more helpful in grief than mere light entertainment. Even if I may never be able to do more than pray for the people, I'm so grateful for their brave, dignified example, which far exceeds the new presidency.
I'd mostly tuned him out before, repulsed as I was by the very sound of his voice, but it is now my duty to keep him in mind, although I don't plan to watch the inauguration. It's not because it hurts too much see him "honored," or even to have him live in the White House. Those are only symbols, after all. I believe that what they represent will endure, because I see those qualities of respect, dignity, and freedom in my community, every day.
1
Today He becomes president - we are in the soup now. So insecure is he that he must beat up handicapped individuals trying to do a job. So ignorant is he that he can't describe any policy - ANY policy - except in broad general terms. So inattentive and lazy is he that he can't sit through routine policy briefings.
What will be the first crisis, and from whom? A China blockade of the South China Sea? Kin Jong Un testing rockets near Japan? An ISIS massacre of women and children? What will the response be - a tweet or a nuke? There is no in between for this man.
What will be the first crisis, and from whom? A China blockade of the South China Sea? Kin Jong Un testing rockets near Japan? An ISIS massacre of women and children? What will the response be - a tweet or a nuke? There is no in between for this man.
2
I am astounded that after 8 years of exceptional Presidential behavior, we are now forced to stomach this man's presence as our leader. DT's total lack of ability to be anything but present a con man, whiny self centered 12 year old to the world will be hard to swallow after such an exemplary, graceful and professional representation of our people by President Obama. It is only hours away from his coming into power and I am for the first time in my 56 years on this planet insecure about my families future. I truly believe DT is going to tweet us right into a serious war and further divide this nation. Who know what his behavior will unleash. We have already seen what it has done to us as a people. God save us all.
4
Acting presidential is assuredly not the same as actually being presidential.
Many people have impersonated iconic presidents in movies and on stage by acting presidential.
I agree that having Trump act presidential may be as much as we can hope for....but it is not nearly enough.
Many people have impersonated iconic presidents in movies and on stage by acting presidential.
I agree that having Trump act presidential may be as much as we can hope for....but it is not nearly enough.
3
That Trump is manifestly unsuited for the highest office in the land is patently obvious. His (hopefully) brief reign will more likely resemble that of Carroll's Queen of Hearts more than anything else. His cabinet choices seem based on two factors: (1) Slavish loyalty and (2) A stick in the eye to his opposition. He clearly does not understand or accept the immense responsibility that accompanies the presidency, but rather, continues to indulge his immature and self-centered tendencies.
But this is the wrong question; we should be asking: how can we minimize the damage he will cause, and how can we defend our country against those who think that school yard bullying is the way to address world problems?
But this is the wrong question; we should be asking: how can we minimize the damage he will cause, and how can we defend our country against those who think that school yard bullying is the way to address world problems?
2
No, he won't change – except perhaps to get worse.
And, given what we know of his history of dishonesty, and his rather flimsy grasp of Truth, how can we believe him when he takes the oath of office? Will that mean anything to him, any more than any other promises he's made?
And, given what we know of his history of dishonesty, and his rather flimsy grasp of Truth, how can we believe him when he takes the oath of office? Will that mean anything to him, any more than any other promises he's made?
1
He is incapable of being Presidential…He is a pathological liar and Narcissist.
He is also our first Traitor-in-Chief.
He is also our first Traitor-in-Chief.
4
January 20, 2017.
A day which will live in infamy.
A day which will live in infamy.
5
Maybe a very thin silver lining: A Trump presidency as the best evidence for a case to dissolve and eliminate the Electoral College. They were supposed to be the safeguard against someone like Trump yet they failed by putting party over country.
4
Jimmy Carter became one of our greatest statesmen and humanitarians. I expect Barak Obama will do the same. We will endure the Trump presidency. His cabinet is a collective of ultra conservative wealth. With Rick Perry who did not understand the role of The Dept. of Energy and Mnuchin of the Treasury who had trouble completing the financial disclosure forms, our hopes are in General Mattis. Trump did not drain a swamp - he filled it with Orcs. Pillage and destroy. Trump thumbs his nose at ethics - he runs a family company - his followers do understand that this is not a public company - he has no management skills and no accountability. He relies on bankruptcy to cover his mistakes. I am retired and pay more taxes on $25,0000 a year than Trump. I do want to his tax returns.
4
President Trump’s message can only be delivered to those willing to listen. At last count 68 Democratic representatives were following civil right icon, Congressman Lewis, out of town. Some women were planning a protest march on Washington while excluding pro-life symporters from their ranks. The NY Times Editorial Board should listen a little more and be open to rolling back the mistakes of the left. Helping to make America Great Again with respectful and thoughtful counterproposals may be too much to expect.
The balance we all seek will not be found in extreme rhetoric. It will more likely be found in President Trump’s inaugural address. I look forward to reading tomorrow’s NYT editorial to see if we heard the same speech.
The balance we all seek will not be found in extreme rhetoric. It will more likely be found in President Trump’s inaugural address. I look forward to reading tomorrow’s NYT editorial to see if we heard the same speech.
1
I have never seen the press treat an incoming president the way it has treated Donald Trump. I didn't vote for the man, but--like it or not--he is going to be our president. I will withhold judgment until I see what his administration DOES once it assumes control of the executive branch. I wonder how presidential other president-elects would have been if they had been treated the way Donald Trump has been treated from the get-go.
3
I haven't seen much in the way of bad treatment of Trump, just good reporting. But I've never seen an incoming president treat the press the way Trump has treated the press. And your comment here is part and parcel of that approach - criticize the press for trying to report accurately.
1
name please another PEOTUS who grabbed the spotlight BEFORE assuming office ... one prez at a time !!!
1
Trump gets no more chances. His post election behavior has shown him for what is really in his soul. Even if KellyAnn works some magic spell to change his public behavior, we see this man's character. He ran the ugliest most dishonest and divisive election in history, and now is continuing this pattern. For those duped into believing and applauding that Trump was acting the way he did just to get elected, post election we find the true depths of this dark and ugly man.
6
Really, can anything that "tweets" for communicating be presidential?
Migratory, perhaps, but certainly not "presidential".
Migratory, perhaps, but certainly not "presidential".
5
Trump cannot be presidential because he doesn't have a clue what that is. His inner narcissist simply cannot comprehend anything requiring intellectual functions. In his world of delusional egoism, simply being Trump is all that's necessary. He has disdain for socio-cultural norms because he's not normal. He's a freak show that ignorant voters think will make things better. But he's the dumbest guy in the room, with a volatile temperament. He thinks disruption is a plan. His supporters are no smarter than he is, so it's just the rest of us who perceive the reality that awaits us. You want presidential? Maybe next time.
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
6
Since Trump will be president, whatever he does will be presidential. Will he have discipline and dignity and diplomacy? That's a different question.
1
How did the rebellious classmates I attended college with across the nation become so disenchanted with our democracy? Half a century seems far too short a time to move from occupying administrative offices to voting for a demagogue. How did 'elections have consequences' resonate with so few? What are we willing to overlook if someone promises us a bigger piece of the pie? I have looked for hope in the cabinet hearing but they are few and far between. The Defense department is one exception. Republican legislators are complicit in undermining basic principles of our democracy but the political
consequences of 2016 fall most heavily on the abject ineptitude of Democratic Party leaders so blinded by polls for President they neglected to spent the necessary time and energy necessary on down ballot races, especially the Senate. Four years cannot go fast enough.
consequences of 2016 fall most heavily on the abject ineptitude of Democratic Party leaders so blinded by polls for President they neglected to spent the necessary time and energy necessary on down ballot races, especially the Senate. Four years cannot go fast enough.
5
To answer your question, the Trump voters were 46.1% of the total and of that 46.1% very few were the "rebellious college students" you knew in your youth. The swing state voters who have saddled us with the unconscionable burden of Trump are the result of many factors, some social and some simply redistricting issues. The 1960s spirit of unrest is being reborn so join in, make a large protest sign, and I will meet you out on the street for the loudest protest march in American history.
We must never forget that a majority of the American voters did NOT support DJT. By the latest figures (1-3-17), DJT received 62,979,636 votes while HRC received 65,844,610 votes. Considering all votes cast in the 2016 presidential election, HRC received 48.2% to DJT’s 46.1%. Thus, as you probably know, while DJT “won” the Electoral College vote, he did not “win” the popular vote. That cardinal fact needs not only to be remembered; it should be constantly emphasized as we face the future.
5
"Humility" does not appear to be a word in the "President-elect"s vocabulary. He owes an apology first, to our President for questioning whether or not he was born in this country. He owes Mrs. Clinton an apology for accusing her of being a criminal (any criminal charges filed yet?). For all of the nasty things he said about his opponents, those of a different ethnicity and religion and the women he sexually assaulted; he owes them an apology as well. That is that starting point.
He is the first president in my lifetime that placed his personal welfare above the welfare of the country. Even Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon, who may have been the most corrupt of all time, was at least concerned about being presidential while representing our GREAT country.
He needs to agree to stay off of Twitter as well. How does someone who will work 12-16 hour days, including weekends, have time to tweet?
He is the first president in my lifetime that placed his personal welfare above the welfare of the country. Even Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon, who may have been the most corrupt of all time, was at least concerned about being presidential while representing our GREAT country.
He needs to agree to stay off of Twitter as well. How does someone who will work 12-16 hour days, including weekends, have time to tweet?
1
Why start now?
The man is one gigantic Id on legs. I'd not hope for much from him.
The man is one gigantic Id on legs. I'd not hope for much from him.
2
How absurd is it that Martin Sheen is a million times more Presidential than our actual President?
5
Trump does not consider himself to be president of the United States. He considers himself to be president of Ohio. And when he gives his inauguration speech today, that is who he will be seeking to unite.
2
Imagine a duffer who has never broken 100 being entered into the U.S. Open through some amazing chain of events. The sports press watches him display incredible levels of incompetence as he warms up on the practice tee. The press wonders: When will he begin striking the ball like a pro?
There is a higher chance of that happening than Donald Trump being "presidential".
There is a higher chance of that happening than Donald Trump being "presidential".
3
Apparently Trumps' song at inauguration will be Sinatra's "My Way" ("and now the end is near..."). And of course he like the lyrics "I did it my way". However according to Sinatra's daughters, he never liked that song, he always thought it was self-serving and self-indulgent. So perhaps it is appropriate, a fool with no self-awareness, not an ounce of humility..
5
No he cannot be presidential in any sense of the word. You cannot demand respect, you must earn it. And most reasonable and intelligent people know that and will not support him. His is a failed president at the outset.
2
It is very disheartening that so many otherwise reasonably smart adults cannot - or won't - recognize that Trump is mentally unbalanced. Asking whether he will suddenly be reasonable is like expecting a person suffering from major depression to wake up the next morning totally fine. It is magical thinking. Trump isn't ever going to be presidential because he is not capable of it. End of story.
6
Dear NYTimes: As a long time subscriber, a definite "NO" is my response to this absurd question. I would sooner trust the job to my intelligent 15 year old male cat than to this belligerent, narcissistic misogynistic huckster with the emotional maturity of an extremely needy, petulant and unruly middle school boy. As the old saying goes, " you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear".
2
I think I have a clear perspective on Trump. He is a highly functional narcissist, and also suffers from some type of undiagnosed learning disability. He was emotionally abandoned by his father, but "love" was given in the form of money, in the form of "copying" his father's pattern. Trump is probably harboring a lot of anger about this abandonment (and much shame regarding his learning disability, whom has parents were not aware of, did not acknowledge, or were shamed of themselves), but instead of directing this anger back at their true sources, he directs it outward, onto anyone who dares to disagree with him, and onto to those he believes are "insiders." Trump seems proud of the fact that he does not struggle with alcohol addiction, like his deceased brother, but I do not believe his internal strife has saved him from his own addictions: sex and meaningless displays of wealth and power. He does not seem close to anyone at all, except for himself, and I have yet to see any displays of warmth and empathy from him, at any place or time. If his supporters associate any of these qualities with strength, caring, patriotism, even "good businessman," it is beyond me because all I see is a suffering guy afraid to confront his suffering and doing anything possible--even becoming president of the United States (!)--to avoid this. Beyond sad for all of us, and for him, too.
2
Thank you for this editorial. The nation needs your leadership even more now than usual.
1
What I find interesting in the comments here are that there are so few trolls as there usually are telling us how great he will be and America will finally be great again. Maybe they're hung over or haven't gotten out of bed yet. I believe, however, that it is telling. Many of his supporters are awakening to the reality of what they've done. Now let's see if they speak up.
2
"What I find interesting in the comments here are that there are so few trolls"....If you are seriously looking for trolls you will have to check out articles that refer to Putin or Russia. I have been amazed at the wide spread, well organized, determined, and aggressive propaganda arm that Putin has in place.
2
it's called selective exposure. All your FB friends voted for Hillary, right?
This editorial ends with the fine, and totally false, words of George W. Bush, who had a great deal in common with Mr. Trump, but who was also brought up in a political family and knew how to imitate the norms of politics.
Far from uniting the country, however, Dubya's watch was dominated by the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history, the worst U.S. foreign policy blunder in history (Or at least modern history.), and the worst federal response to a natural disaster in history. He no more attempted to unite the country than Trump will.
What will Trump do? He'll pay lip service to uniting the country, but has already blown his first chance with his string of plutocratic and mega-wealthy cabinet choices. In true CEO style, he'll demand that we all line up behind his "really special" movement. And when over half of us won't, he'll have a problem because he can't say to us, "You're fired."
We can, however, say it to him. And it is my fondest hope that in four years we'll do just that.
Far from uniting the country, however, Dubya's watch was dominated by the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history, the worst U.S. foreign policy blunder in history (Or at least modern history.), and the worst federal response to a natural disaster in history. He no more attempted to unite the country than Trump will.
What will Trump do? He'll pay lip service to uniting the country, but has already blown his first chance with his string of plutocratic and mega-wealthy cabinet choices. In true CEO style, he'll demand that we all line up behind his "really special" movement. And when over half of us won't, he'll have a problem because he can't say to us, "You're fired."
We can, however, say it to him. And it is my fondest hope that in four years we'll do just that.
1
We may need to redefine Presidential.
There is nothing at all Presidential about Trump, he is just a realtor who got lucky. Once people find out what he is like I guarantee they will wish they had not voted for him.
1
The NYT's editorial approach to Trump is pretty well defined in this line, "those who voted against him." I did not see any box on the ballot for "against" anybody. If you follow this logic, you could conclude Clifton didn't any votes to be president. She was just a surrogate for voting "against" Trump. The editorial condemns Trump because he has "corroded the traditional grace period", but praised Representative Lewis for saying Trump isn't "a legitimate president." Name calling has permeated editorial and op-eds comments before and after his election. The NYT isn't alone in their attacks on Trump. CNN actually put a program on that speculates that an Obama appointee would be president if Trump was killed today. The NYT repeatedly described Trump's supporters as undereducated, underemployed and "missing a bunch of teeth." In the meantime nothing is said about the death threats against Trump or that a family friend of clinton was arrested for making one of those threats. While another source first released the unsubstantiated claims about Trump and Russian prostitutes, the NYT jumped on the story with welcoming arms running articles about the claims every day until they just became boring.. Trying to destroy Trump's presidency before he is even sworn in has no redeeming element. He will be our president for the next four years and until the NYT begins to stress constructive criticism instead destructive criticism, they will just pe preaching to their own choir.
Today we supplant the revered values of the proud and courageous American Eagle for the sinful idolatry of the golden calf. How quickly the people fell into apostasy, guided by misbeliefs, fake news, and a chance to share in the demented and greedy entreaties of a charlatan. This affront to the values of our society, foremost of which is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, God-given rights, enshrined in our very own constitution, the bedrock of our country, and our society, and that were endemic to what was the great success of America. Woe unto those of us that thought that these values were sacred and untouchable for we found out in this election that they were not worth the paper they were written on. When the so-called peaceful transfer of power is attained by calling upon motorcycle thugs to suppress peaceful protest and by enticing the disaffected proletariat by threating to lock up a political opponent, it is not a peaceful transfer of power. To those under threat, the seeds of combat have been sown, and time will tell how that combat will manifest itself. It was said in this election by the charlatan that to the victor goes the spoils, and that the conquers should just take what they want, and so it is with the treasured values and revered relics of our republic. In the end, the charlatan and his kleptocracy will leave as their legacy a final departing letter to our once great country which will be short and not so sweet.
Thanks, suckers!
Thanks, suckers!
1
Put on your helmets boys and girls...it is going to be a bumpy ride.
I think by asking this question over and over again, the media has shirked its responsibility to say what is self evident.
We have been awakened by the truth of what the word presidential had become to really mean. Precisely the reason something other than the mere appearance of politically correctness is taking over the helm. He is not really interested so much in what you expect to hear from him at the inauguration, or anytime thereafter for that matter. I do believe it is his plan to take back this office and return it to the function for which it was designed, and that is for the benefit of all the people who placed him there. After all wouldn't his inflated ego demand this recognition, even over any personal gain this office might bring him.
Can President Trump Be Presidential? NEVER!
He is not mentally fit for a position like that. He doesn't even know how he got there. He just thought: This is going to be huge for my business..."
He is not mentally fit for a position like that. He doesn't even know how he got there. He just thought: This is going to be huge for my business..."
The fact that Obama and Trump are opposites in the way they think talk, and act will teach historians more about the state of our democracy. In a democracy you have to focus more on the system, not the individuals fronting the system. Only a fool expects Trump or the GOP to change into something that resembles a government of the past. To Trump being presidential includes "bombast and self-aggrandizement, punctuated by denials" More importantly the GOP (the people with the real agenda that Trump lacks) long ago built the political stage for a president just like Trump, and they are the ones running government virtually unoposed. So it works for the GOP and Trump. There's no powerful opposition in government left to push back.
To people who study politics Trump represents a classic textbook demagogue lifted into office during tragic times when institutions made to somewhat vet people before handing them unimaginable power have already failed. Trump may look, act, or say this or that, but his score for truth telling is extremely low, and his pension for bullying opposition into submission is great. The GOP is fine with this. You don't have to be a genius or scholar to know that last years campaigns were a demagogue's dream, but a nightmare for those that want to live in the constitutional democracy we thought we had.
To people who study politics Trump represents a classic textbook demagogue lifted into office during tragic times when institutions made to somewhat vet people before handing them unimaginable power have already failed. Trump may look, act, or say this or that, but his score for truth telling is extremely low, and his pension for bullying opposition into submission is great. The GOP is fine with this. You don't have to be a genius or scholar to know that last years campaigns were a demagogue's dream, but a nightmare for those that want to live in the constitutional democracy we thought we had.
3
On a day when most Americans are looking for hope of a brighter future, we will witness the madness of Lear. The next few years, and I say few because I do not see Trump going the distance, are to be full of turmoil, tumult, and uncertainty. The icing on the cake will be denial, lambast, and out right lying that will occur, if not on a daily basis, certainly weekly.
Hope for the best, but by all means get prepared for the worse. Do what you must to protect yourself, your family, your friends and your community; something that Trump is certain not to do.
Hope for the best, but by all means get prepared for the worse. Do what you must to protect yourself, your family, your friends and your community; something that Trump is certain not to do.
Everyone from across the political spectrum has speculated whether or not trump will change once in office. Forget it. He's shown the country who he really is and he is not going to change. This will be our first reality show based on the Presidency. Stay tuned for the next four years.
1
Trump doesn't have the right stuff to be presidential. So I have quit watching the news on tv at any level. I refuse to pay homage to trump and the lousy news reporting that enabled him.
No, he cannot but he can redefine the notion of "president" pretty quickly, as his spokeswoman has been trying to do, via their own news outlets and through exclusion and ridicule of the independent free press. Folks my age are already in the position of explaining to schoolchildren that the president used to be an honorable example to follow but no more. Presidential as an adjective might be better off retired as a qualitative modifier, used simply to mean the guy that was put into office.
2
"Can President Trump Be Presidential?"
What incentive does he have? He broke all the rules as a candidate--in terms of basic civility, understanding of issues, adherence to truth, etc.--and was rewarded with the White House. Why would he change now?
What incentive does he have? He broke all the rules as a candidate--in terms of basic civility, understanding of issues, adherence to truth, etc.--and was rewarded with the White House. Why would he change now?
4
His incentive is to be liked - He could change because campaigning and governing are very different - smart people like Obama have told him that - and he is a listener .... so there is hope
I see him as a weak, unstable, and dishonest man who is incapable of rising to uniting and bettering this country. Sad day today.
3
Regarding those who complain that others are pointing out what they believe to be missteps by Trump. If you are riding in a car and you see that the driver appears to be steering off the road do you wait to see if there is a crash in order to give him a chance or do you speak up in warning before the its too late and hope that the driver doesn't ignore the warning. We are all in the car.
2
It would be virtually impossible for a normal 70 year old to change. For a clearly mentally ill 70 year old it is not going to happen. He will not change because he can not change.
5
The answer to the question "can Trump be presidential" is a resounding NO. He's like a petulant child. Leopards cannot change their spots.
3
Why keep asking this "will he pivot" question? Trump is Trump and he has a long, very well documented history with the media that demonstrates remarkable consistency in his behavior and temperament. This type of pointless opining by your editorial board is a thing of the past- this is pre-Trump journalism you're practicing. Please move on.
"We" have elected a narcissistic toddler as President. He will not deliver relief to the suffering middle and lower class voters who like his blunt language and teenage swagger. He won't bring back coal jobs because the world has moved on. Add to this list of things he won't do any of the things he said he will do.
I hope your newspaper is up to the task of reporting on President Trump. This editorial leads me to believe that you're not there yet.
"We" have elected a narcissistic toddler as President. He will not deliver relief to the suffering middle and lower class voters who like his blunt language and teenage swagger. He won't bring back coal jobs because the world has moved on. Add to this list of things he won't do any of the things he said he will do.
I hope your newspaper is up to the task of reporting on President Trump. This editorial leads me to believe that you're not there yet.
2
Sycophancy doesn't appeal to me. I don't like con-artists playing "Gotcha!"
An element of decorum and formality is what we have grown to expect from our presidents. One must keep in mind that unlike professional politicians (a curse be upon them) Mr. Trump has not had years of preparation by skilled handlers who parse his every word and coach him on nuance, subterfuge, and the party message.
Rather, he is a successful businessman who now inherits the presidency from a highly dignified narcissistic and unrepentant far left globalist-collectivist whose greatest legacy will be the smoking heap of cinders formally known as the Democratic Party.
I am inclined toward patience and expect that Mr. Trump will evolve his public persona as his presidential experience, and communication with other political leaders, builds.
But make no mistake. The guy is from Queens - and - he has been elected by a large population of people who want to see reversal of the antics of the smug and elitist progressive socialists, and serious and permanent change to the way things work in Washington (recall that the Republican voting base tossed out the old guard elitist republicans by giving Trump the nomination).
As such, I would far rather have him be successful, than tactful. History has proven over and over again, that the best tool for effective communication with the Chinese and Russian communists is a heavy wrench applied forcefully to their knuckles.
Rather, he is a successful businessman who now inherits the presidency from a highly dignified narcissistic and unrepentant far left globalist-collectivist whose greatest legacy will be the smoking heap of cinders formally known as the Democratic Party.
I am inclined toward patience and expect that Mr. Trump will evolve his public persona as his presidential experience, and communication with other political leaders, builds.
But make no mistake. The guy is from Queens - and - he has been elected by a large population of people who want to see reversal of the antics of the smug and elitist progressive socialists, and serious and permanent change to the way things work in Washington (recall that the Republican voting base tossed out the old guard elitist republicans by giving Trump the nomination).
As such, I would far rather have him be successful, than tactful. History has proven over and over again, that the best tool for effective communication with the Chinese and Russian communists is a heavy wrench applied forcefully to their knuckles.
Expecting Donald Trump to recognize and respond to the dignity of the office is unrealistic. He does not recognize the essential elements of our history and our democratic republic. Listen to his words. He consistently speaks of "running the country." He sees the United States as a corporation, not a diverse nation. He sees his job as making deals. All citizens are his employees to be fired at will and used as he pleases.
He sees dissent or disagreement from this perspective. He is perplexed when anyone talks back or speaks out. You don't do that to the boss in his world.
He can only be restrained when he is forced, by the rule of law, to comply with the will of the people. He serves us, we do not serve him.
He sees dissent or disagreement from this perspective. He is perplexed when anyone talks back or speaks out. You don't do that to the boss in his world.
He can only be restrained when he is forced, by the rule of law, to comply with the will of the people. He serves us, we do not serve him.
6
Trump will be as much of a uniter as Obama was. LOL
The problem was not that Obama was not a United.It was other way round. You didn't want to unite with Obama. That's the sad truth, Mr. LOL.
Tithe better question is can the left admit it if he is...
Today, 12 PM: Official start of the Hunger Games.
3
On this Inaugeration Day, wear black, march tomorrow, fight forever.
3
The reason we don't see Trump trying to unite the country is because he has NO experience in actually working with or collaborating with people or organizations. His only real interactions with government have bee mostly adversarial - think taxes and obtaining approval for building projects, etc.
His father owned his business outright as does the Donald. He's NEVER even had to deal with a board of directors or stockholders! He is used to leading as the person with the final say. More importantly, he has never worked FOR anyone else. Only himself! He hails from a world that few people experience. And it bears no resemblance to how our government works. It'is not rocket science to figure out that he will govern as he is used to governing, dictatorially!
There are2 skills which he's likely not honed well. Sharing & collaborating for the common good. His family was wealthy enough that sharing was optional behavior, not necessity. What good works can he point to? Things he did to improve the lot/condition of others/society? His charitable foundation wasn't focused on charity for anyone but Trump. There's no sacrifice for him to be president because he won't divest his assets!
Don't be surprised by the facts. He's been pretty up front with who & what he is. Kellyanne was right. You can't listen to his words. You have to know what's in his heart. To do that just watch his behavior. What you see is what you get! He feels entitled to do what he's doing the way he's doing it!
His father owned his business outright as does the Donald. He's NEVER even had to deal with a board of directors or stockholders! He is used to leading as the person with the final say. More importantly, he has never worked FOR anyone else. Only himself! He hails from a world that few people experience. And it bears no resemblance to how our government works. It'is not rocket science to figure out that he will govern as he is used to governing, dictatorially!
There are2 skills which he's likely not honed well. Sharing & collaborating for the common good. His family was wealthy enough that sharing was optional behavior, not necessity. What good works can he point to? Things he did to improve the lot/condition of others/society? His charitable foundation wasn't focused on charity for anyone but Trump. There's no sacrifice for him to be president because he won't divest his assets!
Don't be surprised by the facts. He's been pretty up front with who & what he is. Kellyanne was right. You can't listen to his words. You have to know what's in his heart. To do that just watch his behavior. What you see is what you get! He feels entitled to do what he's doing the way he's doing it!
2
Trump cannot be presidential because he is insecure, thin skinned and will lash out at anyone who does not feed his huge ego. Putin clearly understands that praise of Trump will easily win him over. How any thinking person voted for him is beyond understanding. The common theme seems to be that people wanted change from gridlock yet they did not understand that gridlock was Republican policy from the moment Obama was elected. It will be sad to see the country move from a thoughtful sophisticated President to the short fingered vulgarian the agents of "change" managed to elect. The obvious corruption of the incoming administration is mind boggling.
6
I don't know whether to laugh or to to cry at the question. I've done both, but I just can't shake this deep, grieving sadness I feel in my bones this morning.
We must feel the magnitude of this sadness and grieving. And then the sadness and anger must spur us to action.
Can this man be presidential? No. No clue or indication whatsoever that this is even remotely likely. I keep thinking of President Obama's comments that "We are going to be alright." In the long run, we will be, but I fear the weeks, months. and perhaps years ahead.
We must feel the magnitude of this sadness and grieving. And then the sadness and anger must spur us to action.
Can this man be presidential? No. No clue or indication whatsoever that this is even remotely likely. I keep thinking of President Obama's comments that "We are going to be alright." In the long run, we will be, but I fear the weeks, months. and perhaps years ahead.
4
Obama's last lie. " we are going to be alright ". The other 2 lies....you can keep your own doctor and " as a country we are not that divided". The latter is a whopper.
What a stupid question. As if, the moment Trump is sworn in, he will magically undergo a metamorphosis from sociopath to dignified, ethical, and thoughtful leader the president of this nation should be for all of us.
2
I am pretty sure that people who read the NYT did not for Mr. Trump. Neither did I. Naturally, almost all comments here are derisive of Trump.
I was wondering what publications I should read to get a sense of what the Trump enthusiasts are thinking and saying at this stage of his presidency.
I was wondering what publications I should read to get a sense of what the Trump enthusiasts are thinking and saying at this stage of his presidency.
1
Trump confused 9/11 with 7-Eleven on the campaign trail, so expectations for this man are at ground level. Maybe his father's Alzheimer's is kicking in.
4
A person's actions are reflections of their inner life. A chaotic, erratic, unbalanced mind is not capable of anything else other than a chaotic, unbalanced, erratic life and actions. Sadly, a large group of uninformed, uneducated, emotion-driven voters together with an antiquated system who gives rural areas unearned, undeserved power over elections have put Mr Trump in a position to perform a job for which he is not qualified or equipped to handle by any measure. This is not the first time Republicans not only managed to put forward as their candidate such an unqualified, incapable person, Mr Bush Jr, and it is not the first time their supporters voted such candidate into office. Sadly, unless we improve our educational system to teach better intellectual skills including critical thinking and we diminish the power of "rural regions" whose educational systems are usually the worst in the union anyhow , this will happen again and again and again. My only hope is that, like the first time around, the more qualified candidate won the popular vote so we the majority of American voters know better but we just need to stop the undeserved outsized influence easily duped, ignorant, anti-intellectual voters have. Time for the Electoral college to go.
2
Trump's "breathtaking ignorance about health care and the Affordable Care Act" didn't "make him seem clueless," it is a technicolor demonstration of same, and not just on that subject alone. Trump reacts the way a cornered snake does to any perceived threat, and Trump keeps himself painted into that corner with his universal lack of curiosity, of any concept of or even belief in empathy, his extreme aversion to self-deprecation, and never-ending supply of hubris.
7
If by "presidential" you mean a mealy-mouthed gasbag of pieties, platitudes and paeans to Persian maniacs, no - the new President is not reminiscent of the O-utgoing O-ne. Give me the realist over the poseur every time.
No, presidential means following international rules of diplomacy and decency, that Trump seems to lack.
With all due respect, you, the New York Times, are as guilty as Donald Trump of this: "He has run a post-campaign that has corroded the traditional grace period of considerate political transition that the nation needs." Have you granted him a grace period? Not even president Obama has exercised the prudence needed when one is about to leave office.
Most people have the ability to learn from their mistakes. In part, because most people have a close inner circle (read - friends, family, co-workers, etc.), who can impart advice, and point out when they are going down a bad road. I do not believe that Trump has this type of inner circle.
I believe that this man (Trump) has isolated himself from the world (for whatever reason) and, as a result, he only surrounds himself with yes-men. He's already shown (time and time again) that he is too thin skinned to withstand even the most trivial of criticisms. He exhibits the behavior of a child in that regard. And it's understandable (but not excusable) because he has purposefully created a world that revolves around Trump where facts as you and I know them, do not exist. It's only what Trump can say and get away with. Everyone who lives in the REAL WORLD knows that this is true. . . Oh Well.
Despite Donald Trump, I wish the United States of America good fortune, because this is my country.
God bless the U.S.A.
I believe that this man (Trump) has isolated himself from the world (for whatever reason) and, as a result, he only surrounds himself with yes-men. He's already shown (time and time again) that he is too thin skinned to withstand even the most trivial of criticisms. He exhibits the behavior of a child in that regard. And it's understandable (but not excusable) because he has purposefully created a world that revolves around Trump where facts as you and I know them, do not exist. It's only what Trump can say and get away with. Everyone who lives in the REAL WORLD knows that this is true. . . Oh Well.
Despite Donald Trump, I wish the United States of America good fortune, because this is my country.
God bless the U.S.A.
1
How did Trump overlook the Red Queen in making his Cabinet appointments? A perfect fit......
2
If Trump is Trump then the country will be fine. We elected a man not a title. Fulfill the promise. We do not need pretense, just results. Buckle your seat belt.
The problem is just that, Trump is Trump and it's his proposed actions that are dangerous. We elected a president not a name.
Congratulations and welcome to the new Leader of the Free World: Angela Merkel.
4
Betteridge's law of headlines: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no." Mr Trump lacks emotional maturity, the single most important trait in any successful leader. He would had been fired from any job that didn't have his name on it.
3
I highly doubt it. When in DT's life has he carried himself with any grace or decorum. He is what he is, and always has been. He's precisely what we saw on the campaign trail, that awful first press conference, his tweets, his past behavior, and his chaotic nature. I firmly believe the man is not mentally stable or mentally fit for the presidency. He's a narcissist and a bully. I worked in mental health years ago, and soon recognized that sure sign of a personalty disorder is that those individuals tend to be utterly exhausting. They suck the life out of a room and the people around them. That's DT. What does it say that certain Americans see this man in a positive light. I think it's a sign of sickness in this country, a dysfunctional society, and possibly the demise of democracy.
3
It is often said second (or third, or fourth) marriages represent the triumph of hope over experience. I don't know how many times we need to give Mr. Trump yet another chance, the benefit of the doubt, another nudge in the right direction, encouragement to embrace all (or even some) that is embodied and encoded within our most revered documents, rituals, traditions, & customs before we say, with finality "this grifter just won't get there." For months now, I only hear Lucy saying "Honest, Charlie Brown. This time I won't pull the football away." But she always does.
9
I seek to take issue with the truculence of such comments. Is this not judging the canary before it has even left the cage? We all know what is said and done during the campaign bears little resemblance to what is said and done while governing. And yet, even during the transition already Mr. Trump has influenced multinationals to bring back and catalyze new growth. Already he has begun the narrative to make fairer transnational trade tariffs. Is not the business of America business? It is the height of irony to support a dialogue which seeks to block national advancement before day 1. I invite you to express your concerns through support of America's new leader rather than acting like Lucy herself with such comments. I thank you in advance for your consideration and receptivity to my reply.
To be "presidential" needs to be statesmanlike. There is no way Trump can qualify. He knows how he got where he is, and he will stick to this - in his eyes - success formula.
He may be president but he will not be revered at home and abroad. That he openly urged Russia to find Hillary Clinton's emails will not be forgotten, which will come back to haunt his legitimacy.
He may be president but he will not be revered at home and abroad. That he openly urged Russia to find Hillary Clinton's emails will not be forgotten, which will come back to haunt his legitimacy.
9
The next 4 years will be a nightmare. I will not have a President until his term is over....... trump is just an overgrown child. Today is a very sad day for our country. With all his threats and rants and raves about the auto industry keeping jobs here, will he be manufacturing all his junk in this country?
3
You should not refer to "poll numbers" in your opinion pieces, since all of the polls leading up to the Unfortunate Event were dead wrong. Not slightly off: but dead wrong. There has to be some way to quantify public sentiment other than traditional polls. If there were any non-fake polls that were correct in predicting the Great Undoing of the City on the Hill, maybe we should look at their methods for hints on how to measure public sentiment. I have no answer for the polling problem. But I know that the current methods are less than useless.
Donald Trump doesn't have a presidential molecule in his body.
9
Mr. Trump is going to redefine what being Presidential means. A vindictive, narcissist with a bullying nature has his hands on the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, the most powerful military in the world, the largest prisons system in the world, The FBI and CIA under his henchmen and Federal prosecutors reporting to his AG. What could go wrong? Sit back and enjoy it...
7
Can President Trump Be Presidential? No, he cannot. I watched some of his performance last night and was (once again) dismayed to see what looked like a Vegas lounge performance...from how he holds the microphone to his continued boasting about the election results. And who can forget the on-going lies? He said nothing about bringing the country together, not one peep about healing, and nothing about what being president will mean to him or to the American people. I took today off from work in anticipation of celebrating the first woman president...instead I am preparing to go to the women's march tomorrow.
I truly believe he doesn't really want the job and will spend much of his time in election/celebrity apprentice mode; tweeting about his enemies...leaving the real governing to pence, bannon and kushner.
I truly believe he doesn't really want the job and will spend much of his time in election/celebrity apprentice mode; tweeting about his enemies...leaving the real governing to pence, bannon and kushner.
7
An editorial in the Toronto Globe and Mail called DJT "a thin-skinned insult machine". He will be running at high RPMs.
2
Uh...survey says...(pause for effect).....no.
Now that this man baby is going to become President, I am wondering crazy things, such as, what is going to be in the Trump Presidential library? 10,000 copies of "Art Of The Deal?"
Now that this man baby is going to become President, I am wondering crazy things, such as, what is going to be in the Trump Presidential library? 10,000 copies of "Art Of The Deal?"
4
Trump has some assets when it comes to an American presidential appearance. The right height, generously beefy and well attired, he might consider some more silver tones in his hair and less slap on his cheeks, above all he is white.
If he is trying to emulate the look of a big cat with narrow eyes, he has succeeded, and lions seldom smile. His hand with his thumb curled into a cheerio in order to make a point looks effete and has to go.
He can take some basic protocol lessons when addressing politicians and heads of state. He probably would flunk a high-school test on general knowledge of history, elementary math, and mix-up basic geographical regions but as President of the Greatest Nation on Earth, this is not a game of trivial pursuit, or inviting the People to a three-ring circle.
He is in the times with twitter and sounds, like many others in this technological revolution, addicted to this appliance. Recommend that he not go cold turkey and that no serious attempts should be made to remove this loud pacifier. He needs it and it settles his nerves.
It is too late to convene a panel of international, or American neurologists to assess what is causing his erratic behavior and seek a stabilizing regimen. The people about him are going to need some acting skills and pretend that all is normal. This can actually be quite challenging, and even rewarding. If anyone is foolish enough to suggest that one of his hairs is out of place, expect fireworks. Good Luck!
If he is trying to emulate the look of a big cat with narrow eyes, he has succeeded, and lions seldom smile. His hand with his thumb curled into a cheerio in order to make a point looks effete and has to go.
He can take some basic protocol lessons when addressing politicians and heads of state. He probably would flunk a high-school test on general knowledge of history, elementary math, and mix-up basic geographical regions but as President of the Greatest Nation on Earth, this is not a game of trivial pursuit, or inviting the People to a three-ring circle.
He is in the times with twitter and sounds, like many others in this technological revolution, addicted to this appliance. Recommend that he not go cold turkey and that no serious attempts should be made to remove this loud pacifier. He needs it and it settles his nerves.
It is too late to convene a panel of international, or American neurologists to assess what is causing his erratic behavior and seek a stabilizing regimen. The people about him are going to need some acting skills and pretend that all is normal. This can actually be quite challenging, and even rewarding. If anyone is foolish enough to suggest that one of his hairs is out of place, expect fireworks. Good Luck!
2
When will everyone accept the fact that there is nothing to pivot to? Trump is not and never will be remotely capable of carrying out the normal duties of a President. He lacks the knowledge and the skill set, and is doing nothing about it. After today, we will be a nation without a President, run by some combination of Rience Preibus, Jared Kushner, Steve Bannon, and Kelly Ann Conway, with Sean Spicer sputteringly spinning it as normal. Congress will do what it wants to unless Trump gets into a Twitter fit about something, in which case they will scurry like mice for a while and then return to installing the right-wing non-government they rode into power inside Trump's Trojan Horse.
5
Leopards and spots. Zebras and stripes. A jackass will bray just a readily from the Oval Office as from the corral.
No.
No.
3
Near the end of his six years as British prime minister, Harold Macmillan was asked by a reporter what was the most difficult thing he encountered in his time in office. With wry hint of contempt, he replied: "Events, my boy, events."
Donald Trump inevitably will have to deal with unexpected crises. For example:
-- A racial conflagration in multiple American cities, as in 1968.
-- A major act of terrorism, in America or abroad, as on Sept. 11, 2011.
-- An international crisis directly challenging America, as in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
-- An economic shock inflicting severe pain on all Americans, as in 2008.
It's not out of the question that several or all could occur simultaneously.
Only then will we learn whether we made a catastrophic mistake in electing a man of Donald Trump's volcanic temperament.
Donald Trump inevitably will have to deal with unexpected crises. For example:
-- A racial conflagration in multiple American cities, as in 1968.
-- A major act of terrorism, in America or abroad, as on Sept. 11, 2011.
-- An international crisis directly challenging America, as in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
-- An economic shock inflicting severe pain on all Americans, as in 2008.
It's not out of the question that several or all could occur simultaneously.
Only then will we learn whether we made a catastrophic mistake in electing a man of Donald Trump's volcanic temperament.
2
If Trump's celebratory dinner remarks last night were any indication, I think we're in for an unprecedented run of incoherent babbling. It was a disgusting display of self-aggrandizement, quiz show hoorahs, and partisan back-slapping. What an embarrassment this unbalanced, inarticulate creature is, and, to think, there are going to be four more years of this kind of sputtered drivel. Yikes! God bless America, indeed.
7
Given the prevalence of no-information and low-information voters in the United States, my money frankly is on eight more years of it. As others have said, Trump is merely the reflection of what Amurrica has become. Those of us who prize intellect, curiosity, reason and science are vastly outnumbered and the ignoratis are the ones reproducing themselves. You are witnessing the sunset of the grand experiment.
If Trump is President, his actions will be, by definition, Presidential.
The Democrats are still not over their shock. They act as if unless Trump all of a sudden changes course to adopt their priorities he is dividing the country.
Trump is fully justified in ignoring the whining losers who want to pretend Hillary did not lose.
The Democrats are still not over their shock. They act as if unless Trump all of a sudden changes course to adopt their priorities he is dividing the country.
Trump is fully justified in ignoring the whining losers who want to pretend Hillary did not lose.
2
Perhaps by definition, presidential.
Bu by action, Elmer Fuddish.
Keep dreaming, Ken.
Bu by action, Elmer Fuddish.
Keep dreaming, Ken.
Why are any journalists or any people STILL asking this question? He will never change. Such a disturbing person cannot pivot. I'm so tired of this question. Why don't we stop asking it and start holding his feet to the fire in every way possible? Investigate investigate investigate protest protest protest and overwhelm this "administration" with having to respond all the time.
6
I wonder if the NYT editors and other mainstream media wish they could go back about 18 months and revise their coverage. Either way I have no use for the shabby celebrity journalism that allowed today to happen. I canceled my NYT subscription yesterday despite the pleading and special offers of their phone operator who said "you aren't the only one who feels this way."
The NYT Editorial Board writes "Yet each president also seemed awed by the responsibilities of the office..." While has been true for the previous Presidents in my lifetime, from what I've observed of Trump over the years is that he expects the opposite: that we are to be awed by him. Trump only seems awed by his own awesomeness.
Trump is an actor, but can he act against type and keep up it up for 4 years when he has consistently shown himself as vulgar, a liar, mean-spirited, vindictive, and petty man at his core? The bigger question may be should he act Presidential? When so many made it clear at the rallies with their recorded statements, buttons, and t-shirts and comments made on line that they were voting for him precisely because he wasn't Presidential and that those are the qualities they admired rather than any "insider" or "politically correct" behavior. If Trump acts Presidential I think he will have failed in the eyes of his most rabid supporters.
Trump is an actor, but can he act against type and keep up it up for 4 years when he has consistently shown himself as vulgar, a liar, mean-spirited, vindictive, and petty man at his core? The bigger question may be should he act Presidential? When so many made it clear at the rallies with their recorded statements, buttons, and t-shirts and comments made on line that they were voting for him precisely because he wasn't Presidential and that those are the qualities they admired rather than any "insider" or "politically correct" behavior. If Trump acts Presidential I think he will have failed in the eyes of his most rabid supporters.
6
It began with Obama and will continue with Trump. Everyday starts searching the headlines to see if there was an assassination. This ritual will continue, but with a different attitude.
3
I am trying to follow President Obama's example by upping my engagement and repeating, "it is not the end of the world until it is the end of the world". At 3:00 a.m., however, I feel an end is quite possible on the horizon when Mr Trump states he want to stage military parades mimicking North Korea. He says it is to display our might. I suspect it is to display himself. If he does not understand the nature of nuclear weapons, he cannot be expected to grasp his responsibility.
3
Any military might displayed today is nothing Trump can take credit for.
1
The only reason Trump rose to be a CEO/Dictator is his daddy gave him a HUGE head-start. There's no company I ever worked for, or know of, that would hire such an ignorant blow-hard, who always takes all the credit, always finds someone else to blame for his screwups, and always takes vicious vengeance on his critics, whom he sees as enemies.
Yeah, a few might hire him for his surface charm and "spunk", but he wouldn't last. No, he had to be given his own company.
While Trump is crafty and sneaky and knows how to "brand" his enemies, in actual management skills he's actually rather inept.
He demands total loyalty, but gives none. Ask Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie!
He demands to be called "Mr. Trump", but calls others by their first name.
He demands that anyone he deems insulting him to apologize, but he NEVER apologizes.
He demands that others admit their errors, but never admits his.
He calls others "crooked" but has stolen millions from investors and common folks. Ask his Chinese (former)partners in his casinos or those bilked by Trump U.
He calls everyone he hates (merely "dislike" is not in his lexicon) "the worst", "a disaster", "disgusting", "ugly", "such a nasty woman"; yet tells a CNN reporter "Don't be rude!" when he refuses a question from him.
He calls everything HE does the "Greatest", "Best Ever", "Nothing Like it before", etc.
He lies constantly, but accuses everyone else of lying.
How is he going to change?
Yeah, a few might hire him for his surface charm and "spunk", but he wouldn't last. No, he had to be given his own company.
While Trump is crafty and sneaky and knows how to "brand" his enemies, in actual management skills he's actually rather inept.
He demands total loyalty, but gives none. Ask Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie!
He demands to be called "Mr. Trump", but calls others by their first name.
He demands that anyone he deems insulting him to apologize, but he NEVER apologizes.
He demands that others admit their errors, but never admits his.
He calls others "crooked" but has stolen millions from investors and common folks. Ask his Chinese (former)partners in his casinos or those bilked by Trump U.
He calls everyone he hates (merely "dislike" is not in his lexicon) "the worst", "a disaster", "disgusting", "ugly", "such a nasty woman"; yet tells a CNN reporter "Don't be rude!" when he refuses a question from him.
He calls everything HE does the "Greatest", "Best Ever", "Nothing Like it before", etc.
He lies constantly, but accuses everyone else of lying.
How is he going to change?
4
Quick answer no.
Long answer a Bigly Yuuuuuge No
Sad.
Long answer a Bigly Yuuuuuge No
Sad.
4
It's kinda hard to have personal convictions when the only person you care about is yourself.
2
When he upgrades his 14 year old vocab to include words like palpable, salient, poignant and this most important of words, narcissist, of which he knows he's one, but as of now, can't pronounce. When you hear him use such words, maybe, just maybe, there'll be hope.
3
America s first Russian president.
4
Many Democrats - and concerned citizens of every stripe - are acting as they are in light of Trump because the election was unlike any in our history. For one thing, we had a sustained campaign from a foreign power to undermine voter confidence in a specific candidate and the electoral process. We had a candidate that openly mocked the American system of electoral politics, and very openly appealed to racist and misogynistic tendencies among the citizenry. Add to that the fact that Trump repeated lied and exaggerated the truth. In light of all this, the least of the candidate's offenses was "tone." He speaks like a 2nd grader or 12 y.o. bully, it is true. It is the nature of his transgressions, however, that are most offensive. To add insult to injury, and not of Trump's making, is the fact that his election underscored a fundamental weakness in our "democracy," the electoral college. The electoral system designed by the same framers of the constitution who thought slavery was acceptable allowed Trump to in effect steal the election from the majority, who voted for the opposing candidate. Must we give the man an opportunity to govern? Clearly we must. The inauguration today is just that - his opportunity. However, to oppose him is every citizen's right and, given his performance thus far - every citizen's responsibility. He will have to earn trust, earn support. In the interim, we must work to make ensure this never happens again.
1
The fundamental blame for this ludicrous fiasco rests with the Founding Fathers who failed to adequately recognize that some people must be precluded from running for office or voting because of mental, emotional and intellectual problems.
1
Or putting it somewhat differently, ways must be found to prevent clowns and fools from voting and running for office.
1
There are also all the immature and thoughtless voters in this country today who decided that they'd like a president who mirrors their own prejudices and resentments - against just about everyone else in the world from scientists to coastal "elites" to African Americans to immigrants. They got what they wanted. We'll see if they remain happy about it for long. Resentment is a hard emotion to turn off once it's ratcheted up to full speed.
It´s still unbelievable, that Mr. Trump managed to become President....and no, from all I can see I do not at all believe, that he will change;
and.....why should he? He is thinking in simple friend-and-enemy-patterns and can manipulate simple people very well obviously and was successful with this strategy......
but how this will work out, when he has to deal with real worldwide reactions to his behavior is completely unpredictable...but as I don´t see that he has any real political plan or agenda his reactions to the reactions of his chosen enemies proclaimed on twitter daily will probably be very chaotic; here in EU there were many discussions in TV about whats going to happen and most of the participants had no idea; that´s unique and rather discomforting, also for us here and the rest of the world....
and.....why should he? He is thinking in simple friend-and-enemy-patterns and can manipulate simple people very well obviously and was successful with this strategy......
but how this will work out, when he has to deal with real worldwide reactions to his behavior is completely unpredictable...but as I don´t see that he has any real political plan or agenda his reactions to the reactions of his chosen enemies proclaimed on twitter daily will probably be very chaotic; here in EU there were many discussions in TV about whats going to happen and most of the participants had no idea; that´s unique and rather discomforting, also for us here and the rest of the world....
This 45th President is destined to re-define what it means to be "Presidential" for generations to come. Since bursting onto the campaign scene some 580 plus days ago, he has re-defined the election process..."big league." I cringe when I hear him talk, I worry about some of the issues he raises and I certainly am afraid of his lack of diplomatic skills when it comes to foreign policy. That said, the man has been a success in his life and he certainly has America's best interest at heart. Fasten your seat belts America - he may not be Presidential...but he is going to be The President.
2
He's as paranoid and vindictive as Richard Nixon, and as unprepared to serve as the leader of the Free World as was GW Bush.
3
Leopard doesn't change his spots. He's common, low-class. You can take the boy out of Trump Tower but you can't take Trump Tower out of the boy.
3
In answer to your question. Nope!
4
A narcissist like Donald J. Trump cannot take himself out of any equation:
Trump is only looking at himself in the mirror......sees no one else....only
his own reflection or if others are around him ...then they must show only
a reflection of him....but I think that this self-love is really just about looks...
just what looks good...or makes Trump look good.
So...for what policies he will make...I believe he has already left policies up
to Pence and others who actually can make policies...so Trump can just
strut around and look as though He ..The Trump in The Oval office are given
"leave" to echo what they must have him think as their ideas originate from
the Golden Haired Boy behind the Oval Office Desk...This is what the "Deal
Maker" will propagandize on Twitter for the next 4 years...that's my take
on what most likely will happen...and there is always General Mattis to keep
order.....to keep bad boy Trump in line as though he was the head of
The New York Military Academy....Face It...Trump does not WANT to grow up !!
Trump is only looking at himself in the mirror......sees no one else....only
his own reflection or if others are around him ...then they must show only
a reflection of him....but I think that this self-love is really just about looks...
just what looks good...or makes Trump look good.
So...for what policies he will make...I believe he has already left policies up
to Pence and others who actually can make policies...so Trump can just
strut around and look as though He ..The Trump in The Oval office are given
"leave" to echo what they must have him think as their ideas originate from
the Golden Haired Boy behind the Oval Office Desk...This is what the "Deal
Maker" will propagandize on Twitter for the next 4 years...that's my take
on what most likely will happen...and there is always General Mattis to keep
order.....to keep bad boy Trump in line as though he was the head of
The New York Military Academy....Face It...Trump does not WANT to grow up !!
Today even glass half full people must be wondering, what in the world is America drinking?
2
No matter where you go, there you are. Don't expect it to be different this time. What you see is what you're getting.
1
The answer to the rhetorical question posed in the headline? No, and even if he could, he wouldn't. He sees the classic "presidential" pose and reserve as phony and "presidential" speech as the sure sign of a sell-out. Politically in irons, to borrow an apt sailing metaphor, America needed a strong leader who would speak their mind to break the grid-lock and bring the ship of state about. We needed TR, but angry, we grabbed the nearest thing that reflected our anger. Pardon me for mixing two more metaphors, but we've buttered our bread, now we have to lie in it.
3
.The NYT ought to know what peevish looks like. I have never seen so much cry baby peevishness going on by the writers and contributors to this paper, since the election. Chicken little is alive and well. Reminds me of when my kids use to cry in the store when they were five years old wanting a candy bar.
5
Brad, perhaps folks just assess a (Proud) Bully differently than you? At least that's all I'm doing.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Nothing more, nothing less.
1
As a psychologist, here is my take: He is 70. He has led a privileged, bubbled, entitled, and powerful life. His personality and habits are well-formed. He has only been reinforced for his style and behavior by wealth and selective media adulation. We will, in my estimation, see no changes in his style and behavior. He will actually expect others to bend to him instead. This will be a startling new time in government for the country. I do not know what to expect.
5
Can "President" Trump act presidential?
No
Next question
No
Next question
3
Goodbye Democracy. You had a nice run.
4
No class. No brains. No surprise.
5
Sarcasm, eh? Guess you tried everything else. On every measure, Dude is clearly not up to it. 'Bout to expose the plutocrats as feckless, imbecilic, class-less clowns. Careful what you wish for....
2
Well said and very true! Trump seems to find it very hard to be balanced, rational, and non-reactive. Hmmm, maybe he should learn a little meditation to steady his mind and give himself the valuable "pause" between idea and reactivity. But that aside, the NYTimes editorial board is completely correct. The American people can only hope that someone tells Mr. Trump to settle down, take his time, and try to act with less bombast and explosiveness as if everything were a personal insult, and with more considered, thoughtful ideas.
2
There is no rational grounds to believe that Donald Trump can be fit and capable of filling the office of president as the people and history understand that office,
In Mr. Trump's mind that is not the office he intends to fill. To Trump the president he shall occupy, if we let him, is dictator, above the law, with a one party government, where he will be plutocrat in chief. His aim is not to make America great again, that Obama already did, but to change our system of government and merge our government with the Trump Family Business which is basically a mom and pop shop based on false promises, lies and outright fraud. Ignorance is dangerous, No knowing what you don't know is the pit of ignorance and ignorance combined with power over peoples' lives is what the majority of voters rejected, yet here we are putting a third grade bull into office and too late we are discovering how with was done while the election was being rigged for him by foreign hackers and an FBI releasing misinformation in the eve of the election as people were already early voting.
This coming presidency is a tainted presidency while Trump assures us that he one with a popular vote landslide and tells the nation that he has no conflicts of interests. As Nixon said: "If the president does it is is legal." This is just another way to say that Trump is above the law in his own mind. He is not above popular rage and neither is congress. That's why he wants to govern in secret with no reporters.
In Mr. Trump's mind that is not the office he intends to fill. To Trump the president he shall occupy, if we let him, is dictator, above the law, with a one party government, where he will be plutocrat in chief. His aim is not to make America great again, that Obama already did, but to change our system of government and merge our government with the Trump Family Business which is basically a mom and pop shop based on false promises, lies and outright fraud. Ignorance is dangerous, No knowing what you don't know is the pit of ignorance and ignorance combined with power over peoples' lives is what the majority of voters rejected, yet here we are putting a third grade bull into office and too late we are discovering how with was done while the election was being rigged for him by foreign hackers and an FBI releasing misinformation in the eve of the election as people were already early voting.
This coming presidency is a tainted presidency while Trump assures us that he one with a popular vote landslide and tells the nation that he has no conflicts of interests. As Nixon said: "If the president does it is is legal." This is just another way to say that Trump is above the law in his own mind. He is not above popular rage and neither is congress. That's why he wants to govern in secret with no reporters.
4
Many thought living through a GWB administration would be impossible, but we made it. Unfortunately, trump is not even a GWB. trump lacks any of the skills needed in a President and his cabinet choices are on par with trump, so the nation may be lost this time around. So, please read or re-read Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here to see where trump and tumpian politics want to take us.
3
What Americans want is results. good results and good policies. Not too concerned about his tweets, or if Mr. Trump meets the perception of what "being presidential means." If by contrast, we are satisfied with the presidential persona of Mr. Obama rather than the end results of his policies, we are fooling ourselves or simply being maliciously biased toward a man who has yet to become POTUS. I suspect the latter.
I do not see any desire of the national media or the DNC to work on "building a single nation" or a pledge to at least, give Mr. Trump an opportunity to work on healing the divide. To the contrary, I see a conscious effort to disrupt and further polarized the nation; a concerted effort to delegitimize a man who has yet to take Office.
I do not see any desire of the national media or the DNC to work on "building a single nation" or a pledge to at least, give Mr. Trump an opportunity to work on healing the divide. To the contrary, I see a conscious effort to disrupt and further polarized the nation; a concerted effort to delegitimize a man who has yet to take Office.
2
Mr. Trump is psychologically incapable of ignoring anything he considers a slight. The dopamine rush Trump gets when responding to a perceived insult is as habit forming as heroin. When his mentor Roy Cohn counseled him to never ignore any insult, never admit you’re wrong, Trump embraced this philosophy completely and without reservation.
The unmatched narcissism of Trump’s personality, “I alone can fix it”, means he has to respond to any attack. Any other course of action is unthinkable. For all his bravado, his ego is incredibly fragile. Despite all his accomplishments, he is still the little boy his father had to bail out. He is the failed casino owner who’s father had to buy chips so Trump could make an interest payment. He will be competing with his father’s ghost for the rest of his life.
We will see if his staff and counselors can control him. Campaigning is fun for a narcissist, governing is not. And acting Presidential may be the biggest deal he ever has to put together.
The unmatched narcissism of Trump’s personality, “I alone can fix it”, means he has to respond to any attack. Any other course of action is unthinkable. For all his bravado, his ego is incredibly fragile. Despite all his accomplishments, he is still the little boy his father had to bail out. He is the failed casino owner who’s father had to buy chips so Trump could make an interest payment. He will be competing with his father’s ghost for the rest of his life.
We will see if his staff and counselors can control him. Campaigning is fun for a narcissist, governing is not. And acting Presidential may be the biggest deal he ever has to put together.
7
Trump cannot see past his own self-interest. He is locked in his narcissistic and sociopathic ways. His world view is about aggrandizing himself. In his view rules apply to the chumps (everyone else), not to him. Make him look good: you’re great. Be anything less than fawning and adoring: you are scum to him. With the exception of his own self-interest and his fascination with Putin, his positions will change on whims if they are not incoherent. Why the allegiance to Putin? The country needs to know ASAP. Keep your eyes on the money. He is the ultimate conman. He is not going to change.
4
No.
5
It will take a truly great president to reverse the havoc Trump is about to create.
Someone like Obama.
Someone like Obama.
13
Who cares about Donald Trump being 'Presidential"? What does that mean? Andrew Johnson was President. So were Woodrow Wilson, Richard Nixon and Warren Harding.
Donald John Trump is a 70 year old man born to white wealth and privilege. Trump by nature and nurture is a cowardly dishonorable unpatriotic military draft dodger. Donald is a moral degenerate serial adulterer. Trump is a corrupt lover of money. Donald is a bloviating bullying buffoon white supremacist bigot. Trump has no government nor political experience. Trump is not very bright nor curious nor knowledgeable about the duties of being President of the United States.
Can President Trump be a humble humane empathetic wise mature keeper of his American brother's and sister's life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and protector of their Constitution?
Donald John Trump is a 70 year old man born to white wealth and privilege. Trump by nature and nurture is a cowardly dishonorable unpatriotic military draft dodger. Donald is a moral degenerate serial adulterer. Trump is a corrupt lover of money. Donald is a bloviating bullying buffoon white supremacist bigot. Trump has no government nor political experience. Trump is not very bright nor curious nor knowledgeable about the duties of being President of the United States.
Can President Trump be a humble humane empathetic wise mature keeper of his American brother's and sister's life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and protector of their Constitution?
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The answer to your question is no.
The office requires a balanced decorum which he is not capable of expressing.
Fasten your seatbelts, this will be a very rough and bumpy ride.
The office requires a balanced decorum which he is not capable of expressing.
Fasten your seatbelts, this will be a very rough and bumpy ride.
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