Keep up the good work you're writing on Trump. I hope your insightful, provocative and penetrating articles get increasingly under his skin. You have to keep goading him so that he becomes more unbalanced and unhinged. You are doing exactly what I would do if I had the forum. Knowing his character flaws affect his judgement may cause him to derail even more. Congress has to impeach this guy and with your help in upsetting him, he will react more irrationally creating a solid basis for congressional action. I'm hoping CREW will succeed in their efforts in the courts. I totally support you efforts. By the way, he says he reads the NYT.
728
".....weakens our democracy and strengthens voter suppression." Whether DT intends this or not, certainly his aides, and the Republicans in Congress and around the country will use his lie to enact more draconian voter suppression laws. No matter that even if there were voting irregularities, how many of these were Hillary voters, and not DT supporters? In the primaries, I believe the one case of fraud in Florida was a woman who voted for DT twice. His vanity and fragile ego is a tool for the more Machiavellian among us.
245
A lie-- a "baldfaced lie"-- obviously is wrong information. How can action be effective if based on wrong information?
61
Please keep calling him out on his lies, Mr. Blow. His false narrative about the state of the US--and the media's failure to point it out often and loudly--is how he won his office. His claim to be leading a huge "unpresidented" populist movement is what makes him and his followers believe he should be able to do what he wants without opposition. That too is based on a lie. He's a liar, and he's unpopular, and though he has the reins of power, he doesn't control the media or the right of people to speak out against him.
354
Thank you, Mr. Blow. Perhaps more journalists and editors will begin to label Trump's words as lies, rather than something else. Remember that Trump is really only communicating with his Twitter supporters when he says these things, and they honestly believe him. They have lost faith in the system already and are leery of fact-based news outlets to begin with. His words make them feel better. His words reinforce their beliefs. He is an effective communicator of simplistic ideas with "easy" outcomes.
Also note that this newspaper and other major papers railed against Trump all during his campaign, and he still won the electoral college. The polls that were published by your paper and other polling outfits showed Clinton as winning, but she didn't. Your paper writes words that make your readership feel validated in their feelings, but it doesn't speak to the Trump supporters who distrust you. You are preaching to the choir here. Somehow the people outside all this need to find a news source they mildly trust that will slowly, surely and definitively begin to change their minds about the sanity and veracity of Trump. And in tandem with this, the Democrats need to reframe their message (a la Lakoff) so that message penetrates to the Trump supporter mindset.
Also note that this newspaper and other major papers railed against Trump all during his campaign, and he still won the electoral college. The polls that were published by your paper and other polling outfits showed Clinton as winning, but she didn't. Your paper writes words that make your readership feel validated in their feelings, but it doesn't speak to the Trump supporters who distrust you. You are preaching to the choir here. Somehow the people outside all this need to find a news source they mildly trust that will slowly, surely and definitively begin to change their minds about the sanity and veracity of Trump. And in tandem with this, the Democrats need to reframe their message (a la Lakoff) so that message penetrates to the Trump supporter mindset.
433
To stop analyzing and calling out Trump's lies and just focus on what he has done and plans to do would be difficult, since they seem to largely be one and the same. Furthermore, journalists, the media and the public have a responsibility to point out mistruths, which will keep them busy for some time since Trump is a pathological liar. It's frustrating and troubling that this is taking up a lot of news time and hard work, but it is a crucial piece of communication and information that we the public need to have. The marches are great, but they are not more important than clear and thorough news coverage. NYTs and journalists everywhere, your doing your job and expose the tsunami of lies.
137
There are two types of people with 'oversized' egos; those with a sense of self-worth that they know they're right and simply ignore the "naysayers" and those whose self-esteem is so low that they seek to overpower (bully) others in an effort to prevent them from discovering/exposing the person as the fraud they feel they are. Uncomfortable with the simple truth, they bend "reality" to conform to their needs--a salve for their damaged ego. Trump certainly falls into the latter category.
As refreshing as Charles Blow's op-ed, it's preaching to the choir. Many (if not most) NYT readers didn't vote for Trump. Those who did vote for Trump, few (I believe) read the NYT, Washington Post or other establishment newspapers/media outlets.
I'm left with the question, conundrum if you will, how do you expose someone whose audience adores him? During the campaign itself, he boasted he could do as he pleased and get away with it, even win. And he won and seems to be still getting away with his shenanigans.
As Aeschylus wrote, "In war, the first casualty is truth."
As refreshing as Charles Blow's op-ed, it's preaching to the choir. Many (if not most) NYT readers didn't vote for Trump. Those who did vote for Trump, few (I believe) read the NYT, Washington Post or other establishment newspapers/media outlets.
I'm left with the question, conundrum if you will, how do you expose someone whose audience adores him? During the campaign itself, he boasted he could do as he pleased and get away with it, even win. And he won and seems to be still getting away with his shenanigans.
As Aeschylus wrote, "In war, the first casualty is truth."
164
He is mentally ill. He has a severe case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He no longer knows the difference between lies and truth. Even more sadly, 60 million voters believed him.
374
Why does the NYT often use Donald's quotes as headlines? For many, the articles are left unread, and in this manner Trump gets his lies amplified by the media and his message spreads like a virus.
Many of these articles do not even mention the counter facts until far down in the articles. It seems to me that you serve his interests well simply by your participation.
Why not instead, refuse to quote him unless he provides facts or evidence?
Or, in the headline first use the word 'Lie:' followed by his quote.
Another weak area of reporting is how many reporters don't take the time to give pertinent facts that counter the lies. Why can't reporters work a bit more to seek out quotes from other sources to help denounce Donald's lies? What is the background behind the issues he lies about?
Reporting isn't simply passing along anything he says or does to the public. If you think this is your job, then why not give equal amount of headlines to other people, like experts on world affairs or on government issues in academia? There are many intelligent reputable people who have great things to say and who will be honest. Why not get back to investigative reporting and put in the work necessary to educating the public on important affairs?
Many of these articles do not even mention the counter facts until far down in the articles. It seems to me that you serve his interests well simply by your participation.
Why not instead, refuse to quote him unless he provides facts or evidence?
Or, in the headline first use the word 'Lie:' followed by his quote.
Another weak area of reporting is how many reporters don't take the time to give pertinent facts that counter the lies. Why can't reporters work a bit more to seek out quotes from other sources to help denounce Donald's lies? What is the background behind the issues he lies about?
Reporting isn't simply passing along anything he says or does to the public. If you think this is your job, then why not give equal amount of headlines to other people, like experts on world affairs or on government issues in academia? There are many intelligent reputable people who have great things to say and who will be honest. Why not get back to investigative reporting and put in the work necessary to educating the public on important affairs?
208
Of course Mr. Trump lies. Every politician since the beginning of time has lied, lies, and will lie. The big difference here is that Mr. Trump is a politician you hate, and therefore his lies are much worse.
If Mr. Trump, Ms. Clinton, Mr. Obama or any other politician were to tell me the sun rises in the east, I would get out my compass before believing them.
If Mr. Trump, Ms. Clinton, Mr. Obama or any other politician were to tell me the sun rises in the east, I would get out my compass before believing them.
23
The irreality of President-elect Trump's "ascent" to power should disturb even the most benighted among us. If Trump's misdirection, lies, and inconsistencies do not bother you, it is simply because you have bought into his visionary "alt-reality"--a universe of "alternative facts."
The Republican Party paved the way for this national calamity and must be held accountable for its part in creating the present situation. The GOP and its enablers--Fox News, right-wing radical talk radio, et al.--must be targeted as threats to democracy and sanity.
Donald Trump lives in a truth-free, fact-free, post-post-modern world--the world NOT of "truthiness", but rather of "falsiness". For this Plutocrat in Chief, there are no facts, only surreal interpretations--interpretations which he spins out on a reflexive spur of the moment, audience-centered basis.
None of the rules that applied to reflective politicians and citizens of an earlier age--an age in which people believed in reasoned debate with reference to publicly accessible factual evidence--apply to him.
This Id-driven narcissist dwells in a world all his own--in a megalomaniacal dream-play.
It is his irreality, Trump supporters, and you are welcome to it.
With Trump's appointment of so many plutocrats to his cabinet, the final reel of this horror movie is in the can. Grab your popcorn and Cokes and enter the theatre to watch "Invasion of the Booty Snatchers"!
The Republican Party paved the way for this national calamity and must be held accountable for its part in creating the present situation. The GOP and its enablers--Fox News, right-wing radical talk radio, et al.--must be targeted as threats to democracy and sanity.
Donald Trump lives in a truth-free, fact-free, post-post-modern world--the world NOT of "truthiness", but rather of "falsiness". For this Plutocrat in Chief, there are no facts, only surreal interpretations--interpretations which he spins out on a reflexive spur of the moment, audience-centered basis.
None of the rules that applied to reflective politicians and citizens of an earlier age--an age in which people believed in reasoned debate with reference to publicly accessible factual evidence--apply to him.
This Id-driven narcissist dwells in a world all his own--in a megalomaniacal dream-play.
It is his irreality, Trump supporters, and you are welcome to it.
With Trump's appointment of so many plutocrats to his cabinet, the final reel of this horror movie is in the can. Grab your popcorn and Cokes and enter the theatre to watch "Invasion of the Booty Snatchers"!
76
"The man who prides himself on winning lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly three million votes, the biggest popular vote loss by a winning candidate in American history." Should say, 'the biggest popular vote loss by a winning candidate in American history BY FAR.
This instance of popular votes losing to the Electoral College vote exceeds by nearly 6 times its closest 'second' (Gore v Bush). In 2000, Gore's popular vote exceeded Bush's by ~540,000 whereas Hillary Clinton's winning margin in 2016 is almost 2,900,000 million. That this has happened twice in 16 years to the Democrats, who represent the mainstream of American attitudes and views is a crisis. A split this size is a crisis and would be even if the numbers were reversed. Democrats would be hastening to explain and justify it. Trump seeks instead to lie about it and pretend it doesn't exist.
Please keep doing what you are doing. Your analysis is spot on.
This instance of popular votes losing to the Electoral College vote exceeds by nearly 6 times its closest 'second' (Gore v Bush). In 2000, Gore's popular vote exceeded Bush's by ~540,000 whereas Hillary Clinton's winning margin in 2016 is almost 2,900,000 million. That this has happened twice in 16 years to the Democrats, who represent the mainstream of American attitudes and views is a crisis. A split this size is a crisis and would be even if the numbers were reversed. Democrats would be hastening to explain and justify it. Trump seeks instead to lie about it and pretend it doesn't exist.
Please keep doing what you are doing. Your analysis is spot on.
127
To be counted as an honest broker, you must not look the other way when your allies commit the offences that you are damning in your enemies. Charles Blow provided cover for Hillary Clinton by not calling out her outrageous series of lies about her law-breaking regarding her private server. She claimed that her server was allowed (it was not, as the IG pointed out), that it was done by others (it had not been, as the IG pointed out), that it was done for convenience so she could have just one device (she had at least 13), that there was no classified material on her server (there was, to the tune of thousands of emails, as the FBI discovered), that none of the material was marked classified at the time (some was with partial markings), that she thought the classified marking of (c) was an alphabetical marking (there were no (a)s and (b)s preceding, so not possible), and that she handed over all of her work related email (she failed to hand of over 17,000 emails, the destruction of which is felony count for each). Her lies were material because they related to exposing classified material to hacking (no Platte River Networks was not more secure than a SCIF or even the DoS system). But Charles Blow wants to pretend he is a great champion of the truth when he was blind the Hillary's mendacity. Trump is an inveterate liar, as is Hillary, but our posturing columnist is just a blowhard.
32
We are learning, slowly, that this reckless behaviour is intentional. Trump sees himself in combat, not in governance. He has convinced himself, and others, that he has an authority to engage in combat. He believes the enemy is so perverse that a democratic process will only expose him, and his mission, to a counterattack. So, move quickly, loudly, never retreat- you will stun your opponents. We need a General Grant.
56
Great article. Trump wants to dispense with "Political Correctness" and tell it like it is. Good for the goose, good for the gander. Journalist's covering the White House need to hold all their feet to the fire. The American Public still has the right to vote people in and out of office. The Electoral College, Gerrymandering and restricting voting regulations have no doubt helped sway the power to the GOP. 92 million eligible voters didn't vote. That frankly is insanity. Just over 60 million people managed to vote in someone like Trump as President of over 300 million. How does that even happen? One fifth made the decision for all of you. Truly ??
68
It's time to dig out Eric Hoffer's classic The True Believer.
Bill Eddy's essay "Are There Two Trumps?" is helpful in understanding this phenomenon of pathological lying.
I agree that another gazillion essays on: He's a liar! He's a narcissist! etc etc are not helping anymore. They only seem to engender feelings of powerless. Guidance on constructive action are what's needed. Yes, do keep your journalistic eye on the latest falsehoods, they cannot be permitted to pass unnoticed, but this is the new norm and requires a new type of journalism. Merely exposing the truth is not enough anymore.
Bill Eddy's essay "Are There Two Trumps?" is helpful in understanding this phenomenon of pathological lying.
I agree that another gazillion essays on: He's a liar! He's a narcissist! etc etc are not helping anymore. They only seem to engender feelings of powerless. Guidance on constructive action are what's needed. Yes, do keep your journalistic eye on the latest falsehoods, they cannot be permitted to pass unnoticed, but this is the new norm and requires a new type of journalism. Merely exposing the truth is not enough anymore.
28
Press has been sufficiently in intimidated by Trump. They have begun to find out what is wrong with them rather than Trump. The theory of when they go low we go high does not work with Mr Trump. Since the Republicans primaries people have tried to back off from his insults and lies to not antagonize him for fear of further insults.
Unfortunately we don't have the likes of Dan Rather, San Donaldson and Ted Koppel, Mike Wallace to confront Mr Trump. All net works bring some experts on both sides and confuse people more than they are already confused.
WE are in the fascism territory and cannot predict where this will take us.
Unfortunately we don't have the likes of Dan Rather, San Donaldson and Ted Koppel, Mike Wallace to confront Mr Trump. All net works bring some experts on both sides and confuse people more than they are already confused.
WE are in the fascism territory and cannot predict where this will take us.
48
The Republicans thought destroying the People's faith in government would lead them to power.
Instead, it led us to Trump, a grossly incompetent narcissist, liar and autocrat.
Instead of winning power over America, Republicans have destroyed America.
At this point, our choices are bleak: we can meekly become an autocracy, or we can fight and start over.
But we're no longer the United States of America. That ended with Barack Obama's 44th, and final, presidency.
Instead, it led us to Trump, a grossly incompetent narcissist, liar and autocrat.
Instead of winning power over America, Republicans have destroyed America.
At this point, our choices are bleak: we can meekly become an autocracy, or we can fight and start over.
But we're no longer the United States of America. That ended with Barack Obama's 44th, and final, presidency.
100
Well said, Mr. Blow. Thank you. The assault on truth and reality will be one of the greatest challenges from this president. I am still stunned that the majority of the GOP was able to hold their noses and allow Trump to run under their banner and ultimately support his bid for the presidency. It was a deeply cynical and troubling choice and one that we will all have to bear the repercussions from. Some have said we should 'wait and see how this presidency goes' but I feel adamantly that we must call out every lie for what it is and never normalize the bizarre and damaging behavior of this man our electoral college has so unfortunately put in office.
263
Charles Blow,
I particularly love your characterization, "mistress of misdirection".
I also like "the raft of executive orders"; rafts being inherently unseaworthy & able to sink.
I realize almost everybody is already aware that chronic dissembling (lying), is one of the symptoms of both narcissistic & borderline personality disorders.
In short, the man doesn't feel very good about himself & hasn't since childhood.
He was expelled from Kew-Forest School at age 13, went on to NYMA where he allegedly participated in the "hazing" of another student & then to Fordham for two years before "transferring" to Penn.
He was admitted to Penn (not Wharton), after being interviewed by an admissions officer who was a classmate of Trump's older brother.
The admissions process is said to have been "colored" by the expectation of a generous financial gift from Mr. Trump's father Fred.
Donald Trump graduated with a B.S. degree in economics from Penn (not Wharton), according to his diploma.
I am indebted to several acquaintances who were able to provide me with historical information which is at odds with some of Mr. Trumps versions.
I particularly love your characterization, "mistress of misdirection".
I also like "the raft of executive orders"; rafts being inherently unseaworthy & able to sink.
I realize almost everybody is already aware that chronic dissembling (lying), is one of the symptoms of both narcissistic & borderline personality disorders.
In short, the man doesn't feel very good about himself & hasn't since childhood.
He was expelled from Kew-Forest School at age 13, went on to NYMA where he allegedly participated in the "hazing" of another student & then to Fordham for two years before "transferring" to Penn.
He was admitted to Penn (not Wharton), after being interviewed by an admissions officer who was a classmate of Trump's older brother.
The admissions process is said to have been "colored" by the expectation of a generous financial gift from Mr. Trump's father Fred.
Donald Trump graduated with a B.S. degree in economics from Penn (not Wharton), according to his diploma.
I am indebted to several acquaintances who were able to provide me with historical information which is at odds with some of Mr. Trumps versions.
99
Rather than spend millions of dollars on an investigation that will not turn up massive voter fraud on the scale Trump claims, why not ask the Secretaries of State who are responsible for reporting voting irregularities? Not a single one of them, a majority of who are Republicans, have indicated a significant number of illegal votes were tabulated. That people are registered to vote in more than one state is not illegal--It happens when people move. Trump's younger daughter is registered in two states, and his advisor, Steve Bannon was registered in New York and Florida at the time of the election. It is illegal for those registered in more than one state to actually vote more than once, but that did not happen except in the Iowa case of a woman who voted twice for Trump. This investigation is a non-starter waste of money which Republicans will use to attempt to disenfranchise democratic voters. Resist.
54
I am compelled to issue this 2nd post while waiting for approval on the first.
Paraphrasing Brian Bennet in the L.A. Times, Trump said to the Homeland Security bureaucrats, "A nation without borders is not a nation."
I disagree. When the Tribes of Isreal departed Egypt for roofless freedom in the wilderness the people were a nation!
Bennet further reports, "[Trump] did not detail how he would force Mexico to pay for the wall, though during the campaign he proposed ending remittances sent home by Mexicans in the U.S., which make up a large part of the Mexico's economy, to pressure its leaders to negotiate."
The Mexican economy is healthy enough for the Mexican government to turn the tables and this 'Ugly American" who scammed an election to lead US and shut their door on letting Mexican workers come here to harvest our crops.
America will lose a half trillion dollars in fruits and vegetables that won't be harvested. A six-ounce container of raspberries will sell on sale for $1.25 an ounce. Forget strawberries. Forget grapes, oranges, apples and potatoes.
On the issue of slime's most recent, "Does torture work?"
Lett the captive sit down. Offer a cigarette. Play acceptable music and pour a cup of tea, one for you, one for him. Let the tea be laced with LSD.
Our guy gets a free acid trip. Within 15 minutes the captive will answer any question asked and tell all they know while laughing their head off.
http://michaelslevinson.com
Paraphrasing Brian Bennet in the L.A. Times, Trump said to the Homeland Security bureaucrats, "A nation without borders is not a nation."
I disagree. When the Tribes of Isreal departed Egypt for roofless freedom in the wilderness the people were a nation!
Bennet further reports, "[Trump] did not detail how he would force Mexico to pay for the wall, though during the campaign he proposed ending remittances sent home by Mexicans in the U.S., which make up a large part of the Mexico's economy, to pressure its leaders to negotiate."
The Mexican economy is healthy enough for the Mexican government to turn the tables and this 'Ugly American" who scammed an election to lead US and shut their door on letting Mexican workers come here to harvest our crops.
America will lose a half trillion dollars in fruits and vegetables that won't be harvested. A six-ounce container of raspberries will sell on sale for $1.25 an ounce. Forget strawberries. Forget grapes, oranges, apples and potatoes.
On the issue of slime's most recent, "Does torture work?"
Lett the captive sit down. Offer a cigarette. Play acceptable music and pour a cup of tea, one for you, one for him. Let the tea be laced with LSD.
Our guy gets a free acid trip. Within 15 minutes the captive will answer any question asked and tell all they know while laughing their head off.
http://michaelslevinson.com
17
Its a matter of market forces impeding the right to know what is going on. The communication ecosystem in the U.S. has been dysfunctional for the past couple of decades. Pres. Trump lies and distorts because the press, as an institution, is too fickle and muddled to force him to accept responsibility for his rhetoric. Factiousness and draconian cost cutting have slashed the budgets of many news organizations until they can no longer expend sufficient resources to fulfill their duty to investigate. Moreover, more pressure to increase profits has caused them to focus more on entertainment than hard news. Many have sought to avoid controversy in order to maintain access to politicians and other power centers. It's a big mess.
15
Trump's frenzy to roll out executive orders of national and international destruction may seem to some as strength. I see it as a symptom of authoritarian hysteria, manifest in a man whose primary goal is in the destruction of democracy as we know it, as we strive to keep and improve it in America and throughout the world.
That which is threatened by Donald Trump, increased militarism, torture, perpetuation of scientific ignorance, privatized, religiously motivated indoctrination through education, racial and gender inequality, deregulation of environmental quality, deregulation of consumer safety and increased wealth for the wealthiest. is where he intends to take us, if we, the majority of the American voters and citizens of the world, allow he and his cabinet, his advisors, extremists in corporatist, militarist and zealots for promotion of religious take over of America, agree to be taken. Lets not be taken !
For those who write that we must listen to Donald Trump's heart, or that we must wait to see if his actions will be as destructive to us as he describes in his fascistic diatribes, I have disagreed with this advise since his campaign began. Fascism impossible in America ? Think again..
My hope is that the majority of Americans who voted against him unite in opposition as it has and will continue to do, all classes, all races and genders from our homeless to our celebrities, in unrelenting solidarity.
Malia Obama, thanks for your presence at Standing Rock.
That which is threatened by Donald Trump, increased militarism, torture, perpetuation of scientific ignorance, privatized, religiously motivated indoctrination through education, racial and gender inequality, deregulation of environmental quality, deregulation of consumer safety and increased wealth for the wealthiest. is where he intends to take us, if we, the majority of the American voters and citizens of the world, allow he and his cabinet, his advisors, extremists in corporatist, militarist and zealots for promotion of religious take over of America, agree to be taken. Lets not be taken !
For those who write that we must listen to Donald Trump's heart, or that we must wait to see if his actions will be as destructive to us as he describes in his fascistic diatribes, I have disagreed with this advise since his campaign began. Fascism impossible in America ? Think again..
My hope is that the majority of Americans who voted against him unite in opposition as it has and will continue to do, all classes, all races and genders from our homeless to our celebrities, in unrelenting solidarity.
Malia Obama, thanks for your presence at Standing Rock.
45
Trump's assault on the truth could easily and quickly lead to a constitutional crisis.
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment provides for removal of the President in the event that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. (“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”)
This could include being unable to separate what he wants to believe and what exists, quite literally, in front of his eyes. Invoking this section of the 25th Amendment would require the GOP to find some balls but it would, at least temporarily, remove a mentally ill person from power while Congress sorts it out. Trump would never go down without a fight and would willingly take down our democracy with him. But it’s a battle that may need to be fought.
Being a liar makes Trump morally unfit. We have certainly had Presidents whose moral fitness has been questionable. Being unable to distinguish undeniable facts from lies is an entirely different matter and just the first indicator that he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office”.
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment provides for removal of the President in the event that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. (“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”)
This could include being unable to separate what he wants to believe and what exists, quite literally, in front of his eyes. Invoking this section of the 25th Amendment would require the GOP to find some balls but it would, at least temporarily, remove a mentally ill person from power while Congress sorts it out. Trump would never go down without a fight and would willingly take down our democracy with him. But it’s a battle that may need to be fought.
Being a liar makes Trump morally unfit. We have certainly had Presidents whose moral fitness has been questionable. Being unable to distinguish undeniable facts from lies is an entirely different matter and just the first indicator that he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office”.
46
1. We now have a liar and a lunatic as president. Unless he is checked, the damage will be incalculable.
2. Those members of Congress who hope to keep their jobs after 2018 should think about their current positions.
3. The Democrats need real leadership. It is time to replace Pelosi.
2. Those members of Congress who hope to keep their jobs after 2018 should think about their current positions.
3. The Democrats need real leadership. It is time to replace Pelosi.
86
As it stands right now Trump can not prove there was voter fraud. It's also true that the NYT can't prove that there was not voter fraud. There has been no in-depth investigation by journalists or government agencies in the big blue states like California. Calling Trump a liar regarding his stupid inauguration crowd size statements is fair because there is photographic evidence. But the voter fraud issue is another story. There is a conflict of interest developing for the MSM here. Keep calling Trump a liar over voter fraud and the motivation for any MSM outlet to really investigate the issue goes away. Nobody wants to expend a lot of resources to prove themselves wrong. Pick your battles wisely. Might be best to stand down on this one.
6
Trump's witch hunt to root out alleged voter fraud is also an obvious ploy to distract from a real bi-partisan action on Russian election interference, as well as action concerning Trump's violations of the emoluments clause of our US Constitution. Divide, distract, conquer?
41
Mr. Blow, you ar so right. Words matter because they shape reality; a dictator's use of language is first and foremost about creating "right thought" through "right speak." We cannot think about something unless there are words to express it. This is why totalitarians like Trump lie -- and keep right on lying, no matter what: to take control of our words. Ask writers who have lived under totalitarian rule: Masha Gessen, for example, a brilliant Russian journalist who has written extensively about Putin (occasionally for the op-ed page of this newspaper). Ms. Gessen recently wrote that what Trump's continual lying is at base about is power: his lies are an assertion that he has the power to shape reality. Or read the writings of Victor Klemperer, a World War II-era Berlin professor, and a Jew, who survived the Nazis (barely) because he was married to a non-Jewish German woman. Check out: Klemperer, Victor. "The Language of the Third Reich: A Philologist’s Notebook." New Brunswick, NJ: Athlone Press, 2000 (an analysis of Nazi terminology and phrasing based on the author’s diary entries and first-hand observations under the Third Reich.) Control of our lives, the preservation of our democracy, starts with resistance to the lies -- each and every one, each and every time. Think this is over blown? Read Gessen and Klemperer. Call a lie a lie. Resist. Don't let Trump control the words.
56
it's good to know that finally someone has said pathological liar. I thought I was alone in that assertion. Thou shalt not lie--well--we all know that we violate that one from time to time. Degrees of lying to protect someone etc. However, with 45 it's about getting us all so distracted and focused on some minutia that we completely miss the BIG LIE that's taking place. That is the art of the lie and he excels at that.
30
Yes, he is a liar. The media need to say it over send over. However, don't be distracted from other events that need attention. Women's rights. Climate change. ACA repeal. Cabinet nominations. Education issues. Massive conflicts of interest. No Trump tax return - (I cant believe a hacker hasn't found that yet!). Protection of the environment. Foreign meddling in our election. I know it's s long list, but "we the people" and the press need to stay vigilant.
28
Thanks for your vigilance Mr. Blow. Please keep it up. Last night Rachel Maddow reported on a PPP poll that showed Trump supporters believe his lies are the truth. So in addition to Mr. Trump's pathological liar tendencies I think his conduct is an intentional effort to influence and reinforce the hostile narrative that captured those low information white males who helped get him in office. He's keeping that group fired up and agitated as a tactic to reinforce his ego and his agenda and his authoritarian tendencies. It is all very dystopian and disturbing. For the first time in my 68 years on the planet I am fearful for my (and the entire country's) safety and security under this narcissistic demon. I am equally concerned about the future of an open press. Trump's threats to come after the media, his gag orders on federal agency communications, and his insertion of a young right wing blogger as CEO at the Voice of America are all very disturbing events. And he's only been at this for 6 days. Heaven help us all. We must all fight back at every turn!!!
45
Mr. Trump has always created his own truth. He has spent his whole life rich and answering to no one but himself. He was always in charge, always the boss, no peers, no board of directors, no one to overrule what he says. Even court cases he hauled out his team of lawyers and through multiple delaying actions managed unpublished agreements with no admission of guilt.
He's simply never had to make the concession of searching out facts, determining the truth and incorporating it into his ideas. People either agree with his delusions or he fires them. Not only is he not fit to be President, but he also would fail as a CEO of a public corporation.
He's simply never had to make the concession of searching out facts, determining the truth and incorporating it into his ideas. People either agree with his delusions or he fires them. Not only is he not fit to be President, but he also would fail as a CEO of a public corporation.
38
"Our president is a pathological liar." Thank you, Mr. Blow. Your phenomenal writing elevates and cuts to the core. We are in unprecedented times and need, more than ever, to raise voices in defiance. Resist, always.
44
I suggest the NYT start a continuous page one column titled "Trumps Lies" and add to it as needed. A lie to be added is one in which he has told a lie, been proven he is lying, but insists on repeating an even exaggerating the same lie. I expect the column would quickly fill an entire column on page one, and comlumn on other pages will need to be added to accommodate all his lies. During the next four years I expect the NYT will need to add an entire section devoted to documenting his lies. This feature will serve as a visual reminder of the utter corruption of Trump.
43
I want to congratulate the NY Times on using the word "lie" in their reporting on Trump. Our journalists are heroes and we need to fiercely support them. It is Trump who has put them into the difficult situation of using the work "Lie", not "media bias", which has gotten way too overblown.
36
Charles Blow is a beacon in a world of journalism that seems fearful of telling the unmitigated truth about Trump's constant lies. Pathological is correct and that we've elected a man who's a world class liar will hurt us soon enough. His lies have been limited to the US so far but the world awaits.
Thank you Charles for hammering away at this man who commits fraud as if it's a virtue.
Thank you Charles for hammering away at this man who commits fraud as if it's a virtue.
37
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky". "You can keep your Doctor and your plan"
"Benghazi was the result of a video".
"My emails did not contain any classified information"
These don't qualify as lies to progressives, I suppose. Laughable Mr. Blow. Trump supporters are looking at the big picture, finally a pro business, pro growth President, who is keeping his campaign promises. Please know that you are preaching to your fellow progressives they love your rants, everyone else thinks your writing is laughable, you convince no one to change their views. I read your rants as riotous proof of how out of touch the left still is.
"Benghazi was the result of a video".
"My emails did not contain any classified information"
These don't qualify as lies to progressives, I suppose. Laughable Mr. Blow. Trump supporters are looking at the big picture, finally a pro business, pro growth President, who is keeping his campaign promises. Please know that you are preaching to your fellow progressives they love your rants, everyone else thinks your writing is laughable, you convince no one to change their views. I read your rants as riotous proof of how out of touch the left still is.
21
Thank you, Mr Blow, for your honest appraisal of this most horrendous situation. I never thought I would live to see my country being 'led' by such an immoral, uneducated, unqualified blowhard. America cannot survive four years of trumpist deception. We must end his reign of terror.
31
The Langer story makes me wonder if it's lying or maybe dementia?
25
Donald Trump will have to come to understand, if his attention span can extend so far, that although he is now the "Electoral" President of the United States, he is not the "Popular" President. Not by a long shot. In some ways that makes him a loser of historical proportions. He won the battle but lost the war, in a sense.
Recent approval ratings confirm the November vote. A majority of Americans simply do not like the guy and disapprove of what he stands for. Bigly.
For a man possessing such a fragile ego, that must really burn.
Sad!
Recent approval ratings confirm the November vote. A majority of Americans simply do not like the guy and disapprove of what he stands for. Bigly.
For a man possessing such a fragile ego, that must really burn.
Sad!
15
So far it's all running according to plan. Trump's step-by-step dismantling of the U.S. Constitution, and eventually, America itself.
Those people who voted him don't see it, and probably never will.
They'll continue to fight tooth and nail for their saviour, thinking he will save them by making America great again, when if fact he's doing just the opposite.
Nationalism. Check.
Isolationism. Check.
Racism. Check.
Abrogation of Womens Rights (= Kinder, Küche, Kirche). Check.
Wall. Check.
One Party rule (= Republican control of all branches of government). Check.
Guantanamo (= Camps). Check.
Control of the Media. (= Book Burnings). Check
Are we finally seeing the pattern?
WAKE-UP, AMERICA.
Those people who voted him don't see it, and probably never will.
They'll continue to fight tooth and nail for their saviour, thinking he will save them by making America great again, when if fact he's doing just the opposite.
Nationalism. Check.
Isolationism. Check.
Racism. Check.
Abrogation of Womens Rights (= Kinder, Küche, Kirche). Check.
Wall. Check.
One Party rule (= Republican control of all branches of government). Check.
Guantanamo (= Camps). Check.
Control of the Media. (= Book Burnings). Check
Are we finally seeing the pattern?
WAKE-UP, AMERICA.
34
As one reader stated "a lie is not a lie if you believe it". There are plenty of strange beliefs out there from the tooth fairy to the earth being 6000 years old. When the POTUS believes in them we have a serious problem.
Mr. Blow, thanks for using the L word! The news organizations needs to use that word every time they see it and keep seeking the truth. Maybe our President Elects should be required to take a medical/psychological evaluation along with their tax records?
Mr. Blow, thanks for using the L word! The news organizations needs to use that word every time they see it and keep seeking the truth. Maybe our President Elects should be required to take a medical/psychological evaluation along with their tax records?
16
Thank you Mr. Blow. History will keep your good name. Those Democratic Politicians that intend to find common ground with this human affront to the United States will lose their precious power.
This grotesque embodiment of hatred, violence and ignorance represents the cancer that has been ravaging our American progress and our path to lead the planet in enlightened values and scientific advances for some thirty years.
Godspeed the enlightenment, fight as if your life depended on it!
This grotesque embodiment of hatred, violence and ignorance represents the cancer that has been ravaging our American progress and our path to lead the planet in enlightened values and scientific advances for some thirty years.
Godspeed the enlightenment, fight as if your life depended on it!
14
If we are to survive as the American we wish to believe in, then our only hope is congress. All Republicans are not bigots, isolationists, anti-choice no matter what, lacking in compassion for the poor, nor fools. We must write, call, tweet, email them constantly and if they fail us, we must dump them in two years. Pence is no better than Trump, just sane. Sane people can do nasty things, like pass anti-abortion laws that affect everyone and are poorly written in his state. He has other misogynist traits which will not pass muster. If he becomes president when Trump falls, congress is still our only hope. Keep after them. Tell them what we want. And remember, War and Walls are expensive, deadly, and un-American. Are we still the last great hope of mankind, or are we a nation of bigots, racists, misogynists, egotists, me-first people?
16
Mr. Blow, you are a light shining in the darkness. May we allcontribute our lights so that a glaring searchlight is turned on DJT. He likes publicity so much, he probably would not see the disaster coming to him. Inform, enlighten, display his venality and impeach. I know Pence is evil, but at least he does not seem deranged.
16
Recently I was listening to one of my favorite Right Wing hate mongers (sometimes I'm just a glutton for punishment). I can't recall if it was Rush Limbo or Sean Insanity. Makes no difference, both foam at the mouth and are two pea-brains in a pod.
Anyway, one of them had this brilliant light bulb epiphany : Explaining to their flock of zealots, how to tell "fake news" from real. Basically, if it's in the NYTimes, WashPost, any of the broadcast networks, PBS, NPR, and the socialist BBC, it's fake. If it's Right Wing hate radio, or the unfair and unbalanced FOX, it's real news.
You can take that to the bank, though I don't believe any of those banks are New York banks. They're in Dubai or some such place, land of the head choppers, and then only ones left that will still make loans to the Trump organization.
DD
Manhattan
Anyway, one of them had this brilliant light bulb epiphany : Explaining to their flock of zealots, how to tell "fake news" from real. Basically, if it's in the NYTimes, WashPost, any of the broadcast networks, PBS, NPR, and the socialist BBC, it's fake. If it's Right Wing hate radio, or the unfair and unbalanced FOX, it's real news.
You can take that to the bank, though I don't believe any of those banks are New York banks. They're in Dubai or some such place, land of the head choppers, and then only ones left that will still make loans to the Trump organization.
DD
Manhattan
14
He who lives in a glass house....
Blow -- give it up. You cherry pick facts, distort, write narratives with their own set of pathological lies. Your hero -- Obama -- is notorious for lies (Benghazi, keep your doctor, rates will go down, Iran deal is good, ISIS = JV, etc.). Your candidate, HRC, has lied so many times about so many topics (as has Bill) that it is impossible to catalog.
And their lies were about serious topics. Trumps misrepresentations are primarily about minor issues. Yeah, arguing # of attendees at the inauguration is silly. Arguing voter fraud cost him the popular vote, while a false assertion, is, like many of Trump's statements, based on a reality that needs to be addressed. Voter fraud has and can occur and we have not put in safeguards.
This constant attack on Trump, this narcissistic "we are dissidents, we are the resistance" is silly and highly divisive. If you (CB and acolytes) really believe you are defenders of freedom against the horrible rule of people you disagree with, quit your jobs and start a revolution. Else, quit preening. My guess is none of you have the required intestinal fortitude and are nothing but poseurs.
So, quit bellyaching and start helping make government work. Oppose things you disagree with -- in a fair minded way (not by breaking storefront windows and burning cars). Try to win congress in 2018. All fair. But progressives are way out of bounds now. That means you, CB. And your admirers.
Blow -- give it up. You cherry pick facts, distort, write narratives with their own set of pathological lies. Your hero -- Obama -- is notorious for lies (Benghazi, keep your doctor, rates will go down, Iran deal is good, ISIS = JV, etc.). Your candidate, HRC, has lied so many times about so many topics (as has Bill) that it is impossible to catalog.
And their lies were about serious topics. Trumps misrepresentations are primarily about minor issues. Yeah, arguing # of attendees at the inauguration is silly. Arguing voter fraud cost him the popular vote, while a false assertion, is, like many of Trump's statements, based on a reality that needs to be addressed. Voter fraud has and can occur and we have not put in safeguards.
This constant attack on Trump, this narcissistic "we are dissidents, we are the resistance" is silly and highly divisive. If you (CB and acolytes) really believe you are defenders of freedom against the horrible rule of people you disagree with, quit your jobs and start a revolution. Else, quit preening. My guess is none of you have the required intestinal fortitude and are nothing but poseurs.
So, quit bellyaching and start helping make government work. Oppose things you disagree with -- in a fair minded way (not by breaking storefront windows and burning cars). Try to win congress in 2018. All fair. But progressives are way out of bounds now. That means you, CB. And your admirers.
17
Charles Blow, you are the best and most fearlessly honest columnist bar none! Thank you for your unflinching portrayal of "the president" as a complete and utter liar. He is. For all of you who actually listen to what the Cheato says, try this. There's a psychological concept called projection. Take everything Cheato says and listen to it as if he saying about himself. If he says there is voter fraud, it's probably because he cooked it up with the Russians to win. If he says the media is dishonest, it's because he's dishonest. And so on. It's quite illuminating, and is probably a better measure of what's going on in his "brain". I applaud you Mr. Blow for calling a liar a liar. We have to, otherwise everyone ends up gaslighted. Keep up your fearless reporting!
18
Hey Trump. You are a pathological liar. Oh, and show us your tax returns. I want to know how much taxes you have paid and who owns your debts. I want to understand why you cannot and so far, will not, say anything bad about Putin. What gives?
34
I have news for you Blow, illegals have government issued SS cards and drivers licenses, I know this because I use E-verify. So what makes you think illegals don't have voter cards?
The lefts meltdown continues and perpetrates it's demise, so please keep up the fake news.
The lefts meltdown continues and perpetrates it's demise, so please keep up the fake news.
13
I agree 100 percent. And take it a step farther: Trump intends to unmake TRUTH with his lies. And the lie about voter fraud is a path to undo fair democratic voting in America. He is a master manipulator and his lies have intentional goals. Finally someone is looking at the greater threat than the bills he has been signing. Taking over a country is a slow , intentional, methodical process. Watch for it!
12
One title for Mr. Donald J. Trump - Fabulist in Chief. Take it as you may but this man's ego was inflated more by the election and he has bet it all. America has lost its credibility as the leading Democracy in the Free World. Spreading Fake news or encouraging lies makes him someone not to be trusted. There are plenty of quotes for a man like this but to me, there is only one singular word to describe him - LIAR!
12
Don the Con is a product of "fake news" which has been around for decades in the guise of Fox Faux News & Conservative radio. Every Democrat should Boycott Fox & Not go on it because they are helping to corrode the fabric of OUR Country. Many of the Founders said that the only way for Democracy to work is for the Citizenry to be Educated as much as possible. Fox & Conservative radio undermine that Every Day & do so in a nasty fashion.
Yes Moscow Donald is certainly a Pathological Liar & the most psychologically damaged president since Nixon. Roy Cohn was one of his mentors & coached him in the Art of the Lie. We the People must Stand Up & Speak Truth to Power! One of the ways we can ALL do that is by going to
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov & Sign some of the Good Petitions (there are some ridiculous ones there as well) like putting Climate Change back on the White House website. I signed 7 of them so please join me & let your circle know about these petitions as well & maybe the President will see How Important these issues are to We the People.
Yes Moscow Donald is certainly a Pathological Liar & the most psychologically damaged president since Nixon. Roy Cohn was one of his mentors & coached him in the Art of the Lie. We the People must Stand Up & Speak Truth to Power! One of the ways we can ALL do that is by going to
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov & Sign some of the Good Petitions (there are some ridiculous ones there as well) like putting Climate Change back on the White House website. I signed 7 of them so please join me & let your circle know about these petitions as well & maybe the President will see How Important these issues are to We the People.
10
Thanks Mr. Blow and NYT for finally using the word "lie".
17
Trump has boasted about his use of what he calls "truthful exaggeration" to advance his business interests. He uses it more recently to also advance his political interests. Most people consider Trump's "truthful exaggeration" to be "lying." But Trump seems to feel that this is acceptable if some of the words in the lie can be used in making a truthful statement. For example:
Trump says "Build a wall and make Mexico pay."
The corresponding truth is "Build a wall and make AMERICA pay."
When Trump professes to believe in God, what he wants is for people who believe in GOD to believe in TRUMP.
When Trump says "America first!"
What he really means is "TRUMP first!"
TRUMP first! is the underlying reason for all of his truthful exaggerations and all of his lies.
Trump says "Build a wall and make Mexico pay."
The corresponding truth is "Build a wall and make AMERICA pay."
When Trump professes to believe in God, what he wants is for people who believe in GOD to believe in TRUMP.
When Trump says "America first!"
What he really means is "TRUMP first!"
TRUMP first! is the underlying reason for all of his truthful exaggerations and all of his lies.
9
Bravo. Thank you Mr. Blow.
9
RESIST,
We have to resist this pathological liar who is psychologically deranged that there are no truths in this world. No matter if the whole world thinks the opposite from him, he will never give up his world of lies as his base sees the world in the same way especially the American Christians who are behinds this new world of suppression and arrogance.
A new type of inquisition is around the corner.
We have to resist this pathological liar who is psychologically deranged that there are no truths in this world. No matter if the whole world thinks the opposite from him, he will never give up his world of lies as his base sees the world in the same way especially the American Christians who are behinds this new world of suppression and arrogance.
A new type of inquisition is around the corner.
9
NPR is taking the correct approach to using the term "lie". The NYT is losing credibility by trying to change the meaning for political purposes.
6
Well written! Moreover, "Character is Destiny" - as Sen. McCain titled his book. The first chapter of the book is devoted to Honesty - the foundation of character and destiny. Dishonesty is doom. So everything Pres. Trump says or writes must first be examined under the lens of honesty. Now we see contractors for the renovation of the Trump hotel in D.C. have sued for breach of contract-overdue millions in payments ... ultimately to contractors of workers! Recall about that Trump 'trumpetted' ..."finished early and under budget". That is the new euphemism for breaching the contract, refused to pay, got sued again.... for lying, cheating, fraud.... what is that ? # 4001 lawsuit ?
12
Now that we know he's a liar, the NYT and everyone else must call for invoking the 25th amendment ASAP - section 4 - and get him removed from office. Mr. Blow, your next column.
14
I shout it from the rooftops , the "president" is a pathological liar !!!! That felt good.
15
Are you certain you know what are lies and what are not in the mentioned instances, Mr. Blow? Why does Trump's challenging the media bother you so? What are you so afraid of? In case you didn't notice, most of the nation also wonders if you have your facts straight. More of us trust Trump than you. Odd
15
The good news.....the lies are so blatant, they take little time or effort to expose.
I totally reject the assertion that Trump actually believes his alternative facts, he's a con artist, not a moron.
The days of polite euphemism and grand explanation are gone. The times require four letter words. When the president or his staff lies, print "The president lied about...", "Kellyann Conway lied about...." See how easy! A sure boon for democracy.....and libel attorneys.
I totally reject the assertion that Trump actually believes his alternative facts, he's a con artist, not a moron.
The days of polite euphemism and grand explanation are gone. The times require four letter words. When the president or his staff lies, print "The president lied about...", "Kellyann Conway lied about...." See how easy! A sure boon for democracy.....and libel attorneys.
10
You nailed it, again!! Thank you, Mr. Blow. Keep up the good work!
10
THANK YOU Charles!
This confidence man FOOLED a lot of voters with his relentless sales tactics (straight lies!). Because of his psychosis, he will triple and quadruple down on even more deception using lies - knowing there's a ton of non-thinking partisans out there just thirsty for more lies consistent with their own pathology!
Once the media gives in, we're done for. I hope you all will recommit to holding the Truth Line - it's ALL this nation has left.
This confidence man FOOLED a lot of voters with his relentless sales tactics (straight lies!). Because of his psychosis, he will triple and quadruple down on even more deception using lies - knowing there's a ton of non-thinking partisans out there just thirsty for more lies consistent with their own pathology!
Once the media gives in, we're done for. I hope you all will recommit to holding the Truth Line - it's ALL this nation has left.
9
Mr. Blow, PLEASE PLEASE keep on doing exactly what you are doing.
We need many more voices like yours to expose this man or should I say boy
for the immoral egotist that he is.
We need many more voices like yours to expose this man or should I say boy
for the immoral egotist that he is.
9
In his book, The Art of the Deal, Trump explains his use of "truthful hyperbole." Holy Obfuscation, Batman!
The country for the most part is experiencing a huge anxiety attack because it has a man in power who thinks nothing of lying outright and boldly because he has never in his life had to pay a price for that.
I think Charles Blow is onto something here, and I was thankful to see the headline last week in the NY Times that used the word "lie" in a story about the president. For a president who loves to say he "tells it like it is" anything short of that from the media would be a disservice to the American people.
The country for the most part is experiencing a huge anxiety attack because it has a man in power who thinks nothing of lying outright and boldly because he has never in his life had to pay a price for that.
I think Charles Blow is onto something here, and I was thankful to see the headline last week in the NY Times that used the word "lie" in a story about the president. For a president who loves to say he "tells it like it is" anything short of that from the media would be a disservice to the American people.
36
I agree with you Mr. Blow. A lie is a lie. And the fact that Trump continues to be concerned with his popularity says a lot. Part of his platform was to curb government spending yet he's going to waste tax dollars for an investigation on a baseless accusation. Personally, I think his supporters are afraid to admit that they didn't do enough to see that he didn't get elected. I pray that he doesn't do too much damage to this country.
P.S. Before any Trump supporter responds, I want you to think about this...I understand that there are still people/families that are suffering from the Great Recession but did you ever stop to think how long it took for us to recover from the Great Depression? We were making progress! Recovery takes time.
P.S. Before any Trump supporter responds, I want you to think about this...I understand that there are still people/families that are suffering from the Great Recession but did you ever stop to think how long it took for us to recover from the Great Depression? We were making progress! Recovery takes time.
19
"Actually the last President to tell the truth to the American people on a consistent basis was Jimmy Carter"
peanuts! peanuts! (add smiley)
peanuts! peanuts! (add smiley)
5
Today Donald J Trump announced “Pigs can fly, they can fly bigly pigly wiggly”. Paul Ryan when asked if pigs could fly replied “I have seen no evidence to support this claim”. Lindsey Graham says “flying pigs would be a threat to our democracy”
All the major news outlets and publications, except for Fox News; CNN, MSNBC, The NY Times, the Washington Post, all published front page, head line stories challenging the legitimacy of the “pigs can fly” assertion by President Trump. When Sean Spicer was asked to site proof of Trumps assertion, considering no one could find any evidence supporting his claim, he replied” Mr. Trump has his own evidence. During his inauguration he saw a flock of flying pigs in a majestic delta formation flying above a record crowd of 3.5 million cheering supporters wearing pumpkin suits. He will launch a massive CIA and FBI investigation to prove he is correct.
A new survey found 0% of Democrats believe “pigs can fly bigly pigly wiggly” while 85% of Republicans believe it to be absolutely true including 50% which have actually seen flying pigs. So there you have it, our new reality.
All the major news outlets and publications, except for Fox News; CNN, MSNBC, The NY Times, the Washington Post, all published front page, head line stories challenging the legitimacy of the “pigs can fly” assertion by President Trump. When Sean Spicer was asked to site proof of Trumps assertion, considering no one could find any evidence supporting his claim, he replied” Mr. Trump has his own evidence. During his inauguration he saw a flock of flying pigs in a majestic delta formation flying above a record crowd of 3.5 million cheering supporters wearing pumpkin suits. He will launch a massive CIA and FBI investigation to prove he is correct.
A new survey found 0% of Democrats believe “pigs can fly bigly pigly wiggly” while 85% of Republicans believe it to be absolutely true including 50% which have actually seen flying pigs. So there you have it, our new reality.
23
Once you tell a lie you must correct it or continue with another lie.
Lack of character is fuel for 45 to continue lying. 45 can't be trusted by friend or foe.
Lack of character is fuel for 45 to continue lying. 45 can't be trusted by friend or foe.
16
Bravo Mr. Blow! Our president is indeed a liar. He lied to get elected and he will lie his way throughout his administration. His entire career has been based on lies. In one week, Trump has amply demonstrated what was obvious from the start - he is a willful, self-indulgent egotist unfettered by reason or truth. A free and independent Press is desperately needed to diligently report Trump's prevarications. Don't be silenced!
20
I have watched Mr. Trump's interviews and public appearances and speeches. I am no expert in linguistics or body language, but to me, it appears that Mr. Trump BELIEVES what he is saying about illegal votes, about the size of the inaugural crowds, etc., etc..
Sean Spicer Saturday tole the press that Mr. Trump "continues to believe" what he has been told about crowd size.
If a person "continues to believe" something that is demonstrably false, and repeats publicly that belief, then that is not a lie.
It is a delusion.
Compare Mr. Trump's demeanor to that of former President Nixon. Nixon lied, but -- to me at least -- he did not appear delusional.
What's worse is that there is an obsessional quality to Mr. Trump's delusion, i.e., he simply cannot let go of perceived slights. I suspect we will be seeing more and more of his aides complaining that they are helpless to influence his thinking and behavior.
If any of the aforementioned is remotely corect, then there will be significant implications for doemstic and foreign policy. An early appreciation of these implications by Congreee might lead to impeachment, under the best of circumstances.
Sean Spicer Saturday tole the press that Mr. Trump "continues to believe" what he has been told about crowd size.
If a person "continues to believe" something that is demonstrably false, and repeats publicly that belief, then that is not a lie.
It is a delusion.
Compare Mr. Trump's demeanor to that of former President Nixon. Nixon lied, but -- to me at least -- he did not appear delusional.
What's worse is that there is an obsessional quality to Mr. Trump's delusion, i.e., he simply cannot let go of perceived slights. I suspect we will be seeing more and more of his aides complaining that they are helpless to influence his thinking and behavior.
If any of the aforementioned is remotely corect, then there will be significant implications for doemstic and foreign policy. An early appreciation of these implications by Congreee might lead to impeachment, under the best of circumstances.
13
I had a dream last night in which I was a reporter addressing questions to Sen. McConnell and Rep. Ryan; and I said to them, “I believe President Trump is a nutcase
who is doing great damage to this country, what do you think of him?” And they replied, “We think he is a great man who is already doing great things for the country.”
To which I replied: “Thank you for saying that. I had a bet with myself that you would say that for which I have just won a chocolate milkshake."
who is doing great damage to this country, what do you think of him?” And they replied, “We think he is a great man who is already doing great things for the country.”
To which I replied: “Thank you for saying that. I had a bet with myself that you would say that for which I have just won a chocolate milkshake."
7
Pathological lying is a known hallmark of Narcissist Personality Disorder. The literature on it makes it clear (the DSM description doesn't reference the lying, which may be why it continues to mistify some). These aren't "lies" to Trump, or any Narcissist. Rather, in their world, where they are all powerful, the truth is literally what they make it.
The danger is when reality clearly conflicts with that, threatening the Narcissist's high opinion of themselves, and they lash out in a Narcissistic Rage. This is all Narcissism 101. Ask any ex-spouse of a Narcissist. Ask mental health professionals.
Narcissists often are very successful -- the lack of empathy, the ease with which they subvert truth (aka lie), and the blinding ambition combine in a drive that can make things happen. Steve Jobs famously had his "reality distortion field," was terrible to subordinates, and gave us the iWorld in doing so. But what might work for a CEO (stress on "might") cannot work for a President, who answers to everyone, who must bend and never break, and particularly now in our world of constant and instant feedback.
The challenge for the press is, as Mr. Blow rightly points out, overcoming the need to not call out lies too often, less it is used to attack journalistic credibility or give purchase to those who cry out "Bias." Make no mistake. Trump will continue to lie, all the time. About everything. The only path forward is to call him out each and every time. The lying IS the story here.
The danger is when reality clearly conflicts with that, threatening the Narcissist's high opinion of themselves, and they lash out in a Narcissistic Rage. This is all Narcissism 101. Ask any ex-spouse of a Narcissist. Ask mental health professionals.
Narcissists often are very successful -- the lack of empathy, the ease with which they subvert truth (aka lie), and the blinding ambition combine in a drive that can make things happen. Steve Jobs famously had his "reality distortion field," was terrible to subordinates, and gave us the iWorld in doing so. But what might work for a CEO (stress on "might") cannot work for a President, who answers to everyone, who must bend and never break, and particularly now in our world of constant and instant feedback.
The challenge for the press is, as Mr. Blow rightly points out, overcoming the need to not call out lies too often, less it is used to attack journalistic credibility or give purchase to those who cry out "Bias." Make no mistake. Trump will continue to lie, all the time. About everything. The only path forward is to call him out each and every time. The lying IS the story here.
16
It's refreshing to now see the media start to broach the mental illness elephant in the room. Textbook - right out of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - Narcissistic Personality Disorder. But....to Charles' point does he have some secondary affliction of Munchhausen by Proxy. He actually seems to believe his numerous fairy tales. I guess the betting goes to how long before we get enough Republicans to start coming out - and opposing - this dangerously precarious situation.
17
Charles Blow -- live long and prosper.
16
Why didn't Trump's lie about the weather get more attention? How do his supporters wrap their tiny little brains around that one?
16
Many people say we should move past things that are minor (like the fact that it was raining during the inauguration, though Trump said the sun was shining). But the problem is, if we are being subjected to routine lies about things like the weather and the vote tally, what is going to happen during a genuine crisis with China or Russia? We won't have a clue.
19
Lie. "Mexico will pay for the wall, down the road"
Truth. The next Democratic President will be stuck with the bill.
Truth. The next Democratic President will be stuck with the bill.
18
Thank you Charles Blow for this most important piece. Does Donald Trump
lie out of ignorance or treason or both? His lies are dangerous. His remarks are already making this country vulnerable and less safe. Our allies
should not believe anything he says. Our Congress and military must challenge and confront this man at every turn. Please keep writing for the world to read.
lie out of ignorance or treason or both? His lies are dangerous. His remarks are already making this country vulnerable and less safe. Our allies
should not believe anything he says. Our Congress and military must challenge and confront this man at every turn. Please keep writing for the world to read.
16
I think Charles alludes to Brook's off base approach of averting our gaze from the clownish spectacule. But much of what we expect of our president is not codified by law. It has been maintained by presidential norms - full financial disclosure, moral uprightness equal to that we would demand of our local school principal.
Trump is tarnishing these beyond recognition and this can not stand without vigorous push back. Keep up the good fight Charles Blow.
Trump is tarnishing these beyond recognition and this can not stand without vigorous push back. Keep up the good fight Charles Blow.
15
I think Charles alludes to Brook's off base approach of averting our gaze from the clownish spectacule. But many of what we expect of our president is not codified by law it has been maintained by presidential norms - full financial disclosure, moral uprightness equal to that we would demand of our local school principal.
Trump is tarnishing these beyond recognition and this can not stand without vigorous push back. Keep up the good fight Charles Blow.
Trump is tarnishing these beyond recognition and this can not stand without vigorous push back. Keep up the good fight Charles Blow.
5
So what?
The 46% of American voters who delivered Trump an Electoral College majority along with the election interference of Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, James Comey and Julian Assange do not care about his lies or alternative facts or falsehoods or unsubstantiated claims.
Trump is amorally and immorally beyond shame and embarrassment. Name calling is a waste of time. It is time to get even by any and all political means necessary. When they go low you go smartly and silently and rip their hearts out and eat them while shoving their heads up where the sun does not shine.
It is time to go Chicago South Side streetwise against the King Henry VIII wannabe. No threats. No whining. No crying. No yelling. Relentless swarming covert asymmetrical surprising political devastation.
The 46% of American voters who delivered Trump an Electoral College majority along with the election interference of Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, James Comey and Julian Assange do not care about his lies or alternative facts or falsehoods or unsubstantiated claims.
Trump is amorally and immorally beyond shame and embarrassment. Name calling is a waste of time. It is time to get even by any and all political means necessary. When they go low you go smartly and silently and rip their hearts out and eat them while shoving their heads up where the sun does not shine.
It is time to go Chicago South Side streetwise against the King Henry VIII wannabe. No threats. No whining. No crying. No yelling. Relentless swarming covert asymmetrical surprising political devastation.
12
Regarding Lie by any Other Name, Charles Blow's advice regarding published discourse is likely apt--except in the rare instance of "untruth," where Donald Trump and his liefuscators couldn't have access to reality-based information. But in terms of thoughtful understanding, there is a much more dangerpous possibility: they are delusions. Cases wher the statement represents either magical wish-fulfillment or unconscious suppression of truth that is very painful emotionally--running against deeply held beliefs. (The physical mechanism of such suppression in the brain was demonstrated by Drew Westen and colleagues of the Emory University Psychology laboratory in 2006*). Such wish-fulfillment propositions are likely particularly dangerous as prompts for action because, in addition to logical thought suppression, the brain provides an emotional "reward" for coming to an illogical conclusion that Westen, et al write is as strong as an addict getting a fix. [*Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 18:11, pp. 1947–1958]
9
The White House staff should just place trump in front of the TV with some milk and cookies and let pence run things. And Mr. Blow, you keep on preaching it! As a matter of fact it should be shouted from the rooftops.
9
Yes, our new "president" is, indeed, a pathological liar. Say it again, because it merits repetition. Trump is a pathological liar.
15
Thank you for your excellent article. For this president, if his lips are moving it is probably a lie!! He has lost the trust of so many people by his focus on his "winningness" and massive ego. Who cares. He won even if he lost the popular vote. Move on and govern, if you can!!!
12
The other day NPR had an interesting piece on the word LIE. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/lie?
I think the American people (a MAJORITY - proven fact) who didn't vote for this current president are onto him.
Please keep shining your light on the truth, Mr. Blow!
I think the American people (a MAJORITY - proven fact) who didn't vote for this current president are onto him.
Please keep shining your light on the truth, Mr. Blow!
11
Trump is the guy in the bar nobody wants to sit next to: he never shuts up and is continually insulting other people. For crying out loud, this guy is President of the United States. What an embarrassment. Crass, uncouth, classless, immature, childish, intolerant, insecure, he lied his way through the Republican primaries and the presidential campaign and continues to spew forth lies, supported and repackaged by his staff of apologists. His lack of respect for, or an understanding of, democratic principles, processes and institutions is appalling. He lacks any ability for introspection, reflection or deep thought (any thought whatsoever actually, save what is needed for his simpleminded tweets). His business acumen is nonexistent as demonstrated by his, at least, 4 bankruptcies, and his experience is limited I believe to running family businesses focused primarily on hotels, country clubs and golf clubs. He is wholly uneducated in matters of domestic and foreign affairs and does not want to expand his limited knowledge; aside from polls, ratings and the like, does he read? Does he challenge himself in any way? I do not believe so. He is all mouth, sarcastic and caustic, and a chest-thumper. As the old saying goes, empty barrels make the most noise. Trump is an enormous empty barrel.
16
There's a conditon even more troubling regarding the most powerful person in the world than outright lying. It's delusion.
Delusion is defined as "a belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, it's typically a symptom of mental disorder."
To reinforce that idea, the following is a letter written by several concerned psychiatrists before Mr. Trump's inauguration. Notice their concern about his ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-Elect. Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability — including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality — lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office. We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators."
Also, the "craziness" we are observing is so bizarre and hard to wrap the mind around that it can make us question our own sanity rather than his. I fear normalization. We and the media must not let that happen.
Delusion is defined as "a belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, it's typically a symptom of mental disorder."
To reinforce that idea, the following is a letter written by several concerned psychiatrists before Mr. Trump's inauguration. Notice their concern about his ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-Elect. Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability — including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality — lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office. We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators."
Also, the "craziness" we are observing is so bizarre and hard to wrap the mind around that it can make us question our own sanity rather than his. I fear normalization. We and the media must not let that happen.
19
The point of the continuous lying about voter fraud is to rationalize what this administration and its minions in the states intend to do to voting rights. They intend to make it so hard to vote, especially for people of color, that millions won't be able to vote at all in 2018.
The lying should not surprise us at this point. The continued defense of this man and his in-group by supporters is what's baffling. They will pick up any assertion he makes and pound it into anyone who disputes. The violence is all over the internet. It's just a matter of time before the violence is all over the street. In fact, I read on another site that four journalists who were in the process of covering vandalism in Wash DC during the Women's March were arrested along with the vandals and charged with felonies, even though all they were doing was documenting. Was that covered in the Times? It should have been up top and center.
The lies are there to manipulate. I doubt any of Trump's sycophants actually believe them either. I doubt he believes them, just as he recanted the birther idiocy during his campaign. Just recanted it and moved on. He never believed it. It was there to rabble rouse. It did its job. We must not only report the lies, but understand the plan underlying the lies. The GOP is in on this. Don't forget to include them in your reporting.
The man is not only pathological. He is brilliant at manipulation. A true snake oil salesman. Watch out. And thank you for this column.
The lying should not surprise us at this point. The continued defense of this man and his in-group by supporters is what's baffling. They will pick up any assertion he makes and pound it into anyone who disputes. The violence is all over the internet. It's just a matter of time before the violence is all over the street. In fact, I read on another site that four journalists who were in the process of covering vandalism in Wash DC during the Women's March were arrested along with the vandals and charged with felonies, even though all they were doing was documenting. Was that covered in the Times? It should have been up top and center.
The lies are there to manipulate. I doubt any of Trump's sycophants actually believe them either. I doubt he believes them, just as he recanted the birther idiocy during his campaign. Just recanted it and moved on. He never believed it. It was there to rabble rouse. It did its job. We must not only report the lies, but understand the plan underlying the lies. The GOP is in on this. Don't forget to include them in your reporting.
The man is not only pathological. He is brilliant at manipulation. A true snake oil salesman. Watch out. And thank you for this column.
12
Charles, what concerns me most is how the legitimate news organizations will respond over the long term, especially when this thin-skinned liar and obfuscator lashes back with, say, restrictions on that organizations access to the White House. I hope that reporters as well as columnists find strength in numbers by cooperating; for instance when President Delerium Tremens avoids answering one reporters question, the question will be repeated by another reporter and another until he either addresses it or leaves the room. As for empowering the media, I hope others will do as I have done and subscribe to the NYT (I also subscribe to The Guardian).
9
Please, I beg of you and all responsible journalists, do not stop writing the truth.
12
After the ABC interview last night it's clear that the man is seriously, clinically unhinged. He's a liar to the extent that he's deluded - he believes himself at any given moment. For narcissists symptoms are ego congruent; unlike, say, anxious people or depressed people, the manifestations of the disorder are entirely in sync with core identity (such as it is). Narcissists rarely get better, though they can sometimes be persuaded to alter behaviors that threaten their ability to dominate every situation. Trump actually does construct an alternate reality, and he fully inhabits it. That's the nature of his dishonesty.
Those guys are dangerous. "Malignant" is the term often used. Also seductive - they're often very skilled at reading and manipulatively wooing their marks, and every therapist knows that women in abusive relationships with true narcissists have the hardest time extricating themselves. Narcissists know how to make a reality that people don't want to leave, until they do, and by then they've gained power in a million ways and it's quite hard to safely undo the relationship.
(Retired therapist here - not that everyone unseduced isn't seeing this.)
Those guys are dangerous. "Malignant" is the term often used. Also seductive - they're often very skilled at reading and manipulatively wooing their marks, and every therapist knows that women in abusive relationships with true narcissists have the hardest time extricating themselves. Narcissists know how to make a reality that people don't want to leave, until they do, and by then they've gained power in a million ways and it's quite hard to safely undo the relationship.
(Retired therapist here - not that everyone unseduced isn't seeing this.)
20
I agree he is a pathological liar. He compulsively does it--most of the time toward self-aggrandizement but often he can't even get his lies straight. The real difficulty is that there is a population out there that believe his lies...that can't keep them straight either--and assume him to be correct. They want to believe the lies or as one relative of mine put it....he has God in his heart....
The press has a very big job to do. Thanks Mr. Blow.
The press has a very big job to do. Thanks Mr. Blow.
10
Will the new press room be located atop the former white house pool, converted into a waterboarding facility for those that refuse to accept alternative facts?
8
Is Donald Trump lying?
He is too smart to do so! He might be wrong occasionally till we prove otherwise, but he is not lying!
Have you ever wondered why your neighbors have a better lawn than you?
It’s not the fact but just your individual perception. Your wrong impression doesn’t mean that you are a liar. From your position you were speaking the truth and reported what you saw.
Your position influenced your conclusion.
See, you were standing in your own yard. By looking straight down, you could have seen every bare spot in your lawn.
However, you looked at neighbor’s yard from distance, thus from very low angle. From such a position, the sods of good grass have blocked your view so you could not see any bare spots in their yards.
Thus you wrongly concluded their grass is much better than yours.
The same happened in Washington D.C during the Trump inauguration.
From the stage at the very end of the National Mall and at very low altitude Mr. Trump could not have seen the empty spaces in the crowd. He saw just the enormous crowd as far as an eye could see...
His perception was wrong but he wasn’t a liar as our free press reported.
Don’t out media outlets owe a public apology to the incumbent for coming to the wrong conclusion and reporting that the president intentionally lied and misled?
He is too smart to do so! He might be wrong occasionally till we prove otherwise, but he is not lying!
Have you ever wondered why your neighbors have a better lawn than you?
It’s not the fact but just your individual perception. Your wrong impression doesn’t mean that you are a liar. From your position you were speaking the truth and reported what you saw.
Your position influenced your conclusion.
See, you were standing in your own yard. By looking straight down, you could have seen every bare spot in your lawn.
However, you looked at neighbor’s yard from distance, thus from very low angle. From such a position, the sods of good grass have blocked your view so you could not see any bare spots in their yards.
Thus you wrongly concluded their grass is much better than yours.
The same happened in Washington D.C during the Trump inauguration.
From the stage at the very end of the National Mall and at very low altitude Mr. Trump could not have seen the empty spaces in the crowd. He saw just the enormous crowd as far as an eye could see...
His perception was wrong but he wasn’t a liar as our free press reported.
Don’t out media outlets owe a public apology to the incumbent for coming to the wrong conclusion and reporting that the president intentionally lied and misled?
3
Yes. Donald Trump creates a world for himself, in his own head, then resides there, behind the gates, among the towers. In that place, he's not just rich, respected, potent, golden, and applauded. He's not just president (a troublesome job!). He is the monarch.
Ever read the story of "The Fisherman and his Wife"? An old Grimms' tale. The husband catches and releases a magic fish. His wife hears the news and makes him go back to the beach and demand a favor. They live in a dirty shack. She wants a nice clean cottage. The magic fish obliges, gives her a cottage, but it's not enough. Then she wants a castle, then she wants to be King. Pope. And then she demands the power to make the sun rise. That's it. She wakes up in a puff of smoke to find herself returned to the dirty shack by the pigs.
Trump will be humbled, Trump will find his imaginary castle door breached, if lots of people in this vast, democratic country keep working to challenge him ... and elect Democrats. We must be the citizens whose power (and anger and impatience) he is not allowed to forget.
He really is a lonely, isolated man, despite his many green resorts and cooperative children. And he's now unspeakably powerful. There's no reason to pity him. Let's send him back where he came from. Let him tweet, let him cheat, in the "private sector," where he's not obliged to remember that other people exist.
Ever read the story of "The Fisherman and his Wife"? An old Grimms' tale. The husband catches and releases a magic fish. His wife hears the news and makes him go back to the beach and demand a favor. They live in a dirty shack. She wants a nice clean cottage. The magic fish obliges, gives her a cottage, but it's not enough. Then she wants a castle, then she wants to be King. Pope. And then she demands the power to make the sun rise. That's it. She wakes up in a puff of smoke to find herself returned to the dirty shack by the pigs.
Trump will be humbled, Trump will find his imaginary castle door breached, if lots of people in this vast, democratic country keep working to challenge him ... and elect Democrats. We must be the citizens whose power (and anger and impatience) he is not allowed to forget.
He really is a lonely, isolated man, despite his many green resorts and cooperative children. And he's now unspeakably powerful. There's no reason to pity him. Let's send him back where he came from. Let him tweet, let him cheat, in the "private sector," where he's not obliged to remember that other people exist.
11
Trump. The Prevaricator-in-Chief. Aided and abetted by his enabler K-Con.
9
Let's see...
..."we've got close to 7 million Americans who have access to health care for the first time because of Medicaid expansion.." (Pres. Obama - 3/11/14) - The fact - It's well under 3.5 million.
...."we have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas..." (Pres. Obama 2/14/13). The fact - it will be doubled in 2025.
During his 2008 campaign, President Obama used his mother's experience as a cancer patient fighting to get coverage to pay for treatment for what her insurer said was a pre existing condition as an emotional argument to sway public opinion. New York Times reporter Janny Scott has revealed this story appears to be a fabrication.
I'm sure Mr. Trump has lied, so has Pres. Obama and probably every other President that's been in office......let's not forget Bill Clinton's famous quote....."I did not have sexual relations with that woman" - he has one of the highest approval ratings of any recent President.
Sorry Mr. Blow, it's not a big concern of mine.
..."we've got close to 7 million Americans who have access to health care for the first time because of Medicaid expansion.." (Pres. Obama - 3/11/14) - The fact - It's well under 3.5 million.
...."we have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas..." (Pres. Obama 2/14/13). The fact - it will be doubled in 2025.
During his 2008 campaign, President Obama used his mother's experience as a cancer patient fighting to get coverage to pay for treatment for what her insurer said was a pre existing condition as an emotional argument to sway public opinion. New York Times reporter Janny Scott has revealed this story appears to be a fabrication.
I'm sure Mr. Trump has lied, so has Pres. Obama and probably every other President that's been in office......let's not forget Bill Clinton's famous quote....."I did not have sexual relations with that woman" - he has one of the highest approval ratings of any recent President.
Sorry Mr. Blow, it's not a big concern of mine.
8
Thanks again to Mr. Blow for an excellent column. There is a distinction I would like to make that is important to understand. There are some pathological liars who on some level are aware that they are not telling the truth, but do so to manipulate others and avoid guilt as Mr. Blow states.
However, there is another group of apparent "liars" who are deeply disturbed individuals who cannot bear the truth and replace it with their own invented reality. This reality becomes their "truth" which they fervently defend. Such individuals live in a self-enclosed cocoon and bend reality, as Mr. Blow describes, to fit their personal construction of the truth. In a way, they are not technically "lying" since they have little or no sense of the truth that others share.
As a psychoanalyst in practice for many years, I have clinical experience with both types of patients. I assume that Mr. Trump feels he is being truthful (as he sees and sincerely believes it) when he argues about millions of illegal votes because he "knows" it to be true. I'm not sure there is a part of him that is aware he is lying.
Richard Nixon's lies were eventually revealed and he acknowledged these since he knew he had been untruthful. Donald Trump, on the other, may not have sufficient touch with reality and therefore has little ability to see beyond his falsely constructed world. The wall he intends to build is already constructed: it is between him and his awareness of reality.
However, there is another group of apparent "liars" who are deeply disturbed individuals who cannot bear the truth and replace it with their own invented reality. This reality becomes their "truth" which they fervently defend. Such individuals live in a self-enclosed cocoon and bend reality, as Mr. Blow describes, to fit their personal construction of the truth. In a way, they are not technically "lying" since they have little or no sense of the truth that others share.
As a psychoanalyst in practice for many years, I have clinical experience with both types of patients. I assume that Mr. Trump feels he is being truthful (as he sees and sincerely believes it) when he argues about millions of illegal votes because he "knows" it to be true. I'm not sure there is a part of him that is aware he is lying.
Richard Nixon's lies were eventually revealed and he acknowledged these since he knew he had been untruthful. Donald Trump, on the other, may not have sufficient touch with reality and therefore has little ability to see beyond his falsely constructed world. The wall he intends to build is already constructed: it is between him and his awareness of reality.
15
Blow, the government giveaways are over. You might actually have to earn something
5
The real danger is that his lies, suppression of the truth and inability to listen to our intelligence experts are driving dangerous and destructive policies. The conspiracy news that he mainlines has persuaded him we are living in some kind of violent apocalypse. Immigrants are stealing our jobs and feeding our drug habits, so let's build a 10 billion dollar wall even though net immigration from Mexico is close to zero. ISIL is winning, so let's ban Muslims and threaten their homelands with war crimes. His batty pronouncements are endangering our troops, undermining a war that is almost over, and alienating our allies (and every decent human being on the planet). Nations without allies do not survive.
The lies are also infecting the White House website, fake statistics that will support his twisted worldview and confuse our citizens. Crime in DC has increased by 50 percent, it tells us on the "law and order" page, when in truth DC crime is DOWN by 17 percent. This seep of misinformation is perhaps the most perilous thing we face, and, as the autocracy expert Masha Gessen has repeatedly said, almost impossible to counter. Her advice is to simple ignore the White House briefings and cultivate your own sources. There will be plenty of whistleblowers, and you might start with the National Parks Service and other departments who are sending out bravely defiant flares. To paraphrase the old detective-show cliché: They look like people who really want to talk.
The lies are also infecting the White House website, fake statistics that will support his twisted worldview and confuse our citizens. Crime in DC has increased by 50 percent, it tells us on the "law and order" page, when in truth DC crime is DOWN by 17 percent. This seep of misinformation is perhaps the most perilous thing we face, and, as the autocracy expert Masha Gessen has repeatedly said, almost impossible to counter. Her advice is to simple ignore the White House briefings and cultivate your own sources. There will be plenty of whistleblowers, and you might start with the National Parks Service and other departments who are sending out bravely defiant flares. To paraphrase the old detective-show cliché: They look like people who really want to talk.
10
Perfectly said, Mr. Blow.
No lie uttered by this clown president is too small to highlight, because it's impossible to know which one might result in his downfall or ours.
No lie uttered by this clown president is too small to highlight, because it's impossible to know which one might result in his downfall or ours.
8
Charles, it's all about narcissism! President Trump is a narcissist which means everything about him has to feed his sense of grandiosity. So, his election has to be a clear "win" in order (horror of horrors) for some not to consider him a "loser." Likewise his inauguration crowd has to be "the largest ever in history" and his cabinet have the highest IQ ever. So, don't get distracted by the small stuff; the real problem is that Trump suffers from a mental disorder. The big issue is that grandiosity also leads to greed as we see in "America First" which is a narcissist's code for self-importance and it's 'all about me." The President is blithely thumbing his nose at the Constitution as his actions increase his personal wealth. And, that's where narcissism becomes criminality.
6
The new Resident of the White House makes no distinction between truth and fiction. He consistently tells us what he wants us to believe. George W. Bush exhibited the same syndrome: "If I say it, it is true. It must be true if I say it." Yes, he actually said that once when accused of distorting the facts about our reasons for invading Iraq. It is a signal that the perpetrator is mentally ill. As a nation, we must persist in pitting the facts against the tsunami of misinformation or we will be swept away by it.
4
I'm not so sure. A lie is only a lie if the liar knows the statement not to be true but says it anyway.
Trump is the chemtrails president. Sometimes he may actually believe some of the demented stuff he says. So in those cases, he's not lying, he's deranged.
But as for most of it, yeah, he's a filthy liar.
Trump is the chemtrails president. Sometimes he may actually believe some of the demented stuff he says. So in those cases, he's not lying, he's deranged.
But as for most of it, yeah, he's a filthy liar.
5
Thanks for another thoughtful column.
Let me suggest that there seems to be a disconnect on the subject of what we call "Truth" and it's opposite, "Lies". Many assume that the purpose of a statement is to move the conversation forward from the accepted, evidence-based facts. However, we don't have to look very far to find examples of another communication strategy.
Late last November (11/25/16) Gretchen Morgenson wrote an article titled 'My Soul Feels Taller' for the NYTimes Business Day section. In it she describes a sales tactic she encountered at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, know as "TAFT days". "TAFT" is apparently an acronym for "tell 'em any frigging thing" to close the deal. I had never heard the term before reading the article but certainly have experienced the sales tactic many times.
Let me suggest that our new president, DJ Trump and his idol Putin are big proponents of the TAFT school of thought. Good Americans who are familiar with the story about President George Washington and the cherry tree will tell you that "honesty is the best policy" but experience suggests that hustlers like president Trump and Putin believe that honesty is for losers.
Let me submit that calling our president a liar is yesterday's news and misses the point. I believe that it would be more accurate to refer to president Trump's tweets as Propaganda. And not just ordinary hustler propaganda but ordinary everyday Russian propaganda.
Let me suggest that there seems to be a disconnect on the subject of what we call "Truth" and it's opposite, "Lies". Many assume that the purpose of a statement is to move the conversation forward from the accepted, evidence-based facts. However, we don't have to look very far to find examples of another communication strategy.
Late last November (11/25/16) Gretchen Morgenson wrote an article titled 'My Soul Feels Taller' for the NYTimes Business Day section. In it she describes a sales tactic she encountered at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, know as "TAFT days". "TAFT" is apparently an acronym for "tell 'em any frigging thing" to close the deal. I had never heard the term before reading the article but certainly have experienced the sales tactic many times.
Let me suggest that our new president, DJ Trump and his idol Putin are big proponents of the TAFT school of thought. Good Americans who are familiar with the story about President George Washington and the cherry tree will tell you that "honesty is the best policy" but experience suggests that hustlers like president Trump and Putin believe that honesty is for losers.
Let me submit that calling our president a liar is yesterday's news and misses the point. I believe that it would be more accurate to refer to president Trump's tweets as Propaganda. And not just ordinary hustler propaganda but ordinary everyday Russian propaganda.
8
"Hallowed ground", adjective, holy, blessed,sacred, honored, dedicated, revered, consecrated, sacrosanct, inviolable, beatified.
If anybody is qualified to write about lies it is Charles Blow.
If anybody is qualified to write about lies it is Charles Blow.
I have been having flashbacks to when my Uncle Leonard was alive and a piece of my life. He was every bit the narcissist that DJT is. Mr Blow, you have reminded me of something about this man (my Uncle). Forget all the other horrible things about him, he had an absolute need to control what other people heard about him. He wouldn't talk to people who talked to people who he didn't like or who didn't like him. Voila, DJT and the press!
89
Consider tyhe scary parallels between Hitler and Donald Trump: From Wikipedia: "In a report prepared during the war by the United States Office of Strategic Services in describing Hitler's psychological profile:[5][6] "His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.[7]""
Sound familiar?
What's is there to do? Live the !st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America: "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."
America's great free press needs to have the courage (as do the NY Times and op-ed columnist Charles M. Blow) to fulfill their sacred obligation. We the people need to do the other part, exercise "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
We are fighting for the very fabric of what has made America great. Wake up people and fight to defend it!
Sound familiar?
What's is there to do? Live the !st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America: "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."
America's great free press needs to have the courage (as do the NY Times and op-ed columnist Charles M. Blow) to fulfill their sacred obligation. We the people need to do the other part, exercise "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
We are fighting for the very fabric of what has made America great. Wake up people and fight to defend it!
14
FYI Mnuchin, Bannon and even Tiffany Trump are all registered in two states! How dare this mental midget accuse the CIA, of whom I'm no great fan, of Nazi tactics, when clearly his propaganda-distribution mechanism, including an app for that, is so similar?
7
"No, sir, the default is to call a lie a lie"
Why are you calling Illegal aliens undocumented immigrants?
Why are you calling Illegal aliens undocumented immigrants?
3
Mr. Blow: He's worse than a pathological liar. The first step EVERY dictator takes to undermine democracy is to work to control the news and the flow of information. Shut down anyone who questions you. Shut down whistle-blowers. Vigorously go after ANYONE who questions what YOU want the public to hear and believe. Give no quarter, take no prisoners.
Make no mistake, Mr. Blow: Donald Trump is seeking and working to make himself, as President, the same thing he is as head of the Trump companies, the absolute unchallengable and unquestionable dictator whose every word is ironclad law, and who has no limits on him whatsoever. Trump openly admires men who have done just that, like Duterte, Assad, Erdogan, Victor Orban (Hungary) and, yes, Putin. Marine le Pen seeks the same power in France and is following Trump's model--she, too, admires Putin.
It astonishes and saddens me how many Americans are willing to cast aside 241 years of a democratic republic in order to empower (they think) reg'lar White people and establish a fundamentalist Christian public education system.
When the coal miners in states that went for Trump lose their pensions, their health care, their Social Security and their jobs, and their children are inadequately and improperly educated so they cannot get out either, will they then realize that they, themselves brought it down on their own heads? And should we still have sympathy for them?
Make no mistake, Mr. Blow: Donald Trump is seeking and working to make himself, as President, the same thing he is as head of the Trump companies, the absolute unchallengable and unquestionable dictator whose every word is ironclad law, and who has no limits on him whatsoever. Trump openly admires men who have done just that, like Duterte, Assad, Erdogan, Victor Orban (Hungary) and, yes, Putin. Marine le Pen seeks the same power in France and is following Trump's model--she, too, admires Putin.
It astonishes and saddens me how many Americans are willing to cast aside 241 years of a democratic republic in order to empower (they think) reg'lar White people and establish a fundamentalist Christian public education system.
When the coal miners in states that went for Trump lose their pensions, their health care, their Social Security and their jobs, and their children are inadequately and improperly educated so they cannot get out either, will they then realize that they, themselves brought it down on their own heads? And should we still have sympathy for them?
13
Mr. Blow needs to recognize that Mr. Trump is much more intellectual than his critics give him credit for. It's becoming clear that his governing philosophy is Nietzschean. After all, wasn't it Nietzsche who said "There are no facts, just interpretations." Clearly that's what Trump believes.
Mr. Trump could also be a deconstructionist along the lines of Jacques Derrida, who believes there is no such thing as objective truth. I think Mr. Blow should investigate the links between Mr. Trump's philosophy and that of Nietzsche and Derrida. That would make an interesting column.
Mr. Trump could also be a deconstructionist along the lines of Jacques Derrida, who believes there is no such thing as objective truth. I think Mr. Blow should investigate the links between Mr. Trump's philosophy and that of Nietzsche and Derrida. That would make an interesting column.
It is abundantly obvious that the news organizations around the country are having great difficulty in finding ways to deal with a president who lies casually and more or less constantly. Not only does Trump lie, he attacks the best efforts of news media organizations to find and tell the truth. It is hard to imagine any time when American journalism has been under such a dire threat.
Elsewhere in the Times today, there is this evidence of NPR dancing around this problem and, presumably, hoping to keep its funding as well:
"Michael Oreskes, NPR’s senior president for news... said that “the minute you start branding things with a word like ‘lie,’ you push people away from you.” The inherent risk, he suggested, was that news organizations would be seen as taking sides."
HEY! WAIT! News organizations are supposed to take sides. They are supposed to report and defend the truth. Otherwise, close up shop.
It is difficult to report that a president is lying to the public, yet it happens, even before Trump, with some regularity, just not as blatantly and boldly. Many lies are shadings, interpretations of the truth or information passed along by the govt. to reporters that are, at best, uncertain truths, things that are partially known but not certified.
Trump is attempting to push his category of imagined truth as the prime version for public consumption. Anyone who falls for it deserves the results, perhaps.
Elsewhere in the Times today, there is this evidence of NPR dancing around this problem and, presumably, hoping to keep its funding as well:
"Michael Oreskes, NPR’s senior president for news... said that “the minute you start branding things with a word like ‘lie,’ you push people away from you.” The inherent risk, he suggested, was that news organizations would be seen as taking sides."
HEY! WAIT! News organizations are supposed to take sides. They are supposed to report and defend the truth. Otherwise, close up shop.
It is difficult to report that a president is lying to the public, yet it happens, even before Trump, with some regularity, just not as blatantly and boldly. Many lies are shadings, interpretations of the truth or information passed along by the govt. to reporters that are, at best, uncertain truths, things that are partially known but not certified.
Trump is attempting to push his category of imagined truth as the prime version for public consumption. Anyone who falls for it deserves the results, perhaps.
6
How did an intelligent nation, I believe, elect a pathological liar?
9
Bravo Charles Blow. Lies are just that.
The proportionality of the coverage will help us folks craft the people's response. Please let's keep the sideshow just that, and not take the energy from dispassionate examination of hateful policies and newly appointed swamp-dwellers.
Why not just list the lies in a daily roster and use the bulk of the coverage space to either refute or support the policies? Even if web-based journalism is less space-constrained than print, our attention must be prioritized.
Wouldn't a defined sidebar do the job? It may be even called, "Today's Blow by Blow"!
The proportionality of the coverage will help us folks craft the people's response. Please let's keep the sideshow just that, and not take the energy from dispassionate examination of hateful policies and newly appointed swamp-dwellers.
Why not just list the lies in a daily roster and use the bulk of the coverage space to either refute or support the policies? Even if web-based journalism is less space-constrained than print, our attention must be prioritized.
Wouldn't a defined sidebar do the job? It may be even called, "Today's Blow by Blow"!
4
Instead of allowing itself to be bewitched and misdirected by Trump's flamboyant lies, the Times should focus on setting its own agenda to discover and report the truth. Where, for example, are the daily headlines on whether Trump worked with Russia, a hostile foreign power, to steal the Presidency? Move the lie reporting to a recurring article cataloguing the lies in the back pages, e.g. "Day 10 of Presidential Lies" and fill your front page with articles focusing on the truth.
10
I am trying to recall Mr. Blow's comments about the bald faced lies the previous president continuosly repeated when selling his major legislative initiatives.
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your insurance you can keep your insurance.
Shovel ready projects.
24/7 unannounced inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities.
And for good measure, the Benghazi attacks were the result of a U-Tube video.
All blatant lies that Obama and his administration went around the country repeating. Lies much more consequential than anyting Trump gas said. However the dishonest NYT and MSM never made even a minor fuss about Obama's lies because he was their " guy".
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your insurance you can keep your insurance.
Shovel ready projects.
24/7 unannounced inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities.
And for good measure, the Benghazi attacks were the result of a U-Tube video.
All blatant lies that Obama and his administration went around the country repeating. Lies much more consequential than anyting Trump gas said. However the dishonest NYT and MSM never made even a minor fuss about Obama's lies because he was their " guy".
9
The word PROPAGANDA is the correct term to use for communication from this president and his team. Propaganda precedes the rise of dictators and fascists.
357
Where's Toto to pull back the curtain when we need him? Trump is Oz, his big bully face on the screen, spouting smoke, projecting fear. Riled-up-fans feed his ego and do harm in his name as he gets free coverage and inside help from truant FBI agents and his ex-KGB hero. Unlike the Wizard when he is found out, he doubles down. He is desperate in a way that only makes sense in light of Trump's cannabalistic obsession. The night President Obama neatly roasted him at the Correspondence Dinner a few years back, it germinated. Trump was horrified and humiliated in the spotlight. Obama's jokes were funny and shrewd, plus he's got a gift for comedic timing. The big audience of reporters, media mogels, and celebrities, was laughing, clapping even, the camera tight on Trump, looking both pistol-whipped and putty-faced. Right then he goes off the deep end. He needs revenge like a shark needs to keep moving. He enters the race and wins, sort of. At Trump's inaugural, he uses a saber to slice an identical inaugural cake as Obama's. He will essentially pee on Obama's greatest accomplishments, while sitting at Obama's desk, living in the Obama's private quarters. So sad, as Pelosi said. It's like "The Talented Mr. Ripley"movie. Man gets even by stealing his rival's place in the world. But Trump knows better. Never will he be called "America's Black Ninja President," nor startup singing "Amazing Grace," joined by countless mourners trying to lift each other out of madness.
5
***** DONALD J. TRUMP -- MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA *****
Observers have debated whether Trump engages in "Lies" or suffers from "Delusions". He lies repeatedly -- but the systematic and calculated manner in which he does this puts it in a different category.
It is clear that Trump does not actually believe many of the outrageous things he says.
For instance, the Birther controversy was just a long-running bit of political theater designed to get him attention, rile up the rabid right, and delegitimize and humiliate Obama. Trump never literally believed it at all — he knows that state birth records, newspaper birth notices, and hospital records are accurate and cannot realistically be transformed by time-traveling operatives or “Mission Imposssible” ruses.
By making the President “prove” he was American and topping it off by the denigrating the “proof”, Trump positioned himself as the source of all truth and Obama as his suppliant.This was made crystal clear in the news conference where Trump perversely portrayed himself as the hero who forced out the truth.
These tactics could be called "lying", or "delusion", but a better term is "propaganda". Propaganda is false information knowingly disseminated in a calculated way to achieve a political or diplomatic objective. Hitler and Stalin had their ministers of propaganda and Trump is simply acting as his own MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA.
Observers have debated whether Trump engages in "Lies" or suffers from "Delusions". He lies repeatedly -- but the systematic and calculated manner in which he does this puts it in a different category.
It is clear that Trump does not actually believe many of the outrageous things he says.
For instance, the Birther controversy was just a long-running bit of political theater designed to get him attention, rile up the rabid right, and delegitimize and humiliate Obama. Trump never literally believed it at all — he knows that state birth records, newspaper birth notices, and hospital records are accurate and cannot realistically be transformed by time-traveling operatives or “Mission Imposssible” ruses.
By making the President “prove” he was American and topping it off by the denigrating the “proof”, Trump positioned himself as the source of all truth and Obama as his suppliant.This was made crystal clear in the news conference where Trump perversely portrayed himself as the hero who forced out the truth.
These tactics could be called "lying", or "delusion", but a better term is "propaganda". Propaganda is false information knowingly disseminated in a calculated way to achieve a political or diplomatic objective. Hitler and Stalin had their ministers of propaganda and Trump is simply acting as his own MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA.
12
A video in Benghazi,keep your doctor ,keep your health insurance,unemployment statistics,no scandal at the IRS ,
only discussed golf and grandchildren,and on and on and on.
Lying by and in politics is hardly an earth shattering new phenominum,
despite Mr Blows present shock and horror.
only discussed golf and grandchildren,and on and on and on.
Lying by and in politics is hardly an earth shattering new phenominum,
despite Mr Blows present shock and horror.
4
Today felt like Christmas, with not only another spot-on opinion by the irreplaceable Mr. Blow, but by the deeply insightful and often wickedly funny remarks from the most brilliant commenters in this space. Thank you all for making my day.
As to the subject at hand, those of us with functioning eyes, ears and brains understand that Trump lies on a second by second basis, enabled by the lying liars Spicer, Conway, et al. The tough question is: WHY does Trump lie?
Some commenters here see Trump as a cold and calculating liar. But I detect a major difference between Trump and, say, Ted Cruz in this regard. Cruz, unlike Trump, is wickedly smart and extremely well-educated. He knows exactly what he's doing, and is what I'd call a "strategic liar." Cruz isn't going to make facially preposterous lies that can be quickly debunked. Trump, on the other hand, is impelled to lie because of his personality disorders, and as a result a large number of his lies tend to be foolish (e.g., about his inauguration being the "biggest" or that he would have won the popular vote by millions and millions but for "voter fraud"). I would characterize Trump as a "dumb liar".
Whether or not my theory is correct, there is much to be gained strategically by figuring out exactly why Trump lies. Not all lies are equal.
While we need to call out all of Trump's lies, perhaps his "dumb lies" deserve less focus than the lies he tells because Stephen Bannon has whispered them into his ear.
As to the subject at hand, those of us with functioning eyes, ears and brains understand that Trump lies on a second by second basis, enabled by the lying liars Spicer, Conway, et al. The tough question is: WHY does Trump lie?
Some commenters here see Trump as a cold and calculating liar. But I detect a major difference between Trump and, say, Ted Cruz in this regard. Cruz, unlike Trump, is wickedly smart and extremely well-educated. He knows exactly what he's doing, and is what I'd call a "strategic liar." Cruz isn't going to make facially preposterous lies that can be quickly debunked. Trump, on the other hand, is impelled to lie because of his personality disorders, and as a result a large number of his lies tend to be foolish (e.g., about his inauguration being the "biggest" or that he would have won the popular vote by millions and millions but for "voter fraud"). I would characterize Trump as a "dumb liar".
Whether or not my theory is correct, there is much to be gained strategically by figuring out exactly why Trump lies. Not all lies are equal.
While we need to call out all of Trump's lies, perhaps his "dumb lies" deserve less focus than the lies he tells because Stephen Bannon has whispered them into his ear.
8
"In the big lie, there is always a certain force of credibility . . . [The broad masses of a nation] more readily fall victim to the big lie than the small lie . . . [They] would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously . . . even though the facts may be brought clearly to their minds. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire in the art of lying."
Donald Trump's notoriously short attention span may have precluded his reading this passage from Mein Kampf, but it's a safe bet that his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, can quote it verbatim. And remember: Trump acts impulsively on the advice of whichever trusty whispers in his ear loudest and most often.
In his timely "WHY? Explaining the Holocaust," Peter Hayes warns against "the politics of division and emergency, of bullying and rage," adding that "to succeed, antisemitism needs a host that it can exploit--a pervasive sense of crisis and victimization that allegedly justifies lashing out in reprisal." Substitute "Trumpism" for "antisemitism," and that statement becomes chillingly familiar.
No one does lashing-out better that Donald Trump, and his eminence grise down the hall in the White House knows it. If you want to know what America's next national emergency will lead to, just think Reichstag fire--and Hitler's odious playbook.
Donald Trump's notoriously short attention span may have precluded his reading this passage from Mein Kampf, but it's a safe bet that his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, can quote it verbatim. And remember: Trump acts impulsively on the advice of whichever trusty whispers in his ear loudest and most often.
In his timely "WHY? Explaining the Holocaust," Peter Hayes warns against "the politics of division and emergency, of bullying and rage," adding that "to succeed, antisemitism needs a host that it can exploit--a pervasive sense of crisis and victimization that allegedly justifies lashing out in reprisal." Substitute "Trumpism" for "antisemitism," and that statement becomes chillingly familiar.
No one does lashing-out better that Donald Trump, and his eminence grise down the hall in the White House knows it. If you want to know what America's next national emergency will lead to, just think Reichstag fire--and Hitler's odious playbook.
6
Unless you have proof that Trump does not actually believe what he is saying is not true, than it is not a "Lie". By all accounts, it appears that Trump believes everything he says. So to call Trump a "liar" is "fake news"
And that's where the "alternative facts" come in. "Alternative facts" are not lies. They, are the truth.
The biggest example, of Fake news and false facts is in the Media's conflation of "immigrant" for "ILLEGAL Immigrant".
Everyone in America outside of the media elite bubble and the Liberals/Democrats they serve knows that Trump is talking about ILLEGAL immigrants when he speaks about deportation, the wall, sanctuary cities, etc.
But for 20 months now, the Press continues to use the term "immigrant" to describe the group targeted by Trump and his rhetoric and policies.
That's Fake news. That's not facts. And KellyAnne is right, the only way to counter the Media's false facts is with "Alternative facts" (aka "the Truth")
Given that the trust in the Press now hovers around 12%, it appears that Trump is winning the fight against dishonest Media. And with every article like this by Mr. Blow, or front page story calling the President a "Liar" when he's not, the NY Times is complicit in their own destruction without even realizing it.
And that's where the "alternative facts" come in. "Alternative facts" are not lies. They, are the truth.
The biggest example, of Fake news and false facts is in the Media's conflation of "immigrant" for "ILLEGAL Immigrant".
Everyone in America outside of the media elite bubble and the Liberals/Democrats they serve knows that Trump is talking about ILLEGAL immigrants when he speaks about deportation, the wall, sanctuary cities, etc.
But for 20 months now, the Press continues to use the term "immigrant" to describe the group targeted by Trump and his rhetoric and policies.
That's Fake news. That's not facts. And KellyAnne is right, the only way to counter the Media's false facts is with "Alternative facts" (aka "the Truth")
Given that the trust in the Press now hovers around 12%, it appears that Trump is winning the fight against dishonest Media. And with every article like this by Mr. Blow, or front page story calling the President a "Liar" when he's not, the NY Times is complicit in their own destruction without even realizing it.
4
A pattern is now clear: the Leader not only lies constantly, but communicates constantly. Every day, he presents more plans, more doubts (voting), more personal attacks (Streep). It is a barrage He reminds me of the person you get stuck with at the party who never stops talking, but just blathers on and on until you figure out how to extricate yourself before you go mad.
Before November 8, I was impatient for the election to end simply to shut him up. When he won, my initial reptilian reaction focused on the realization I—we—would have to listen to this claptrap for four years. It seemed an unusual punishment. And it is; after nearly three months of this, I feel I too might go mad.
But now, the pattern is beginning to make sense. Pathological talking is a distraction. We are being distracted. Our heads are spinning. Why? Let’s shut out the claptrap and focus on what is really happening: many of our rights are being challenged. Money will be stolen, voting rights will be stolen, land will be stolen, air and water will be stolen. Women’s status will be reduced to handmaidens, immigrants will be “housed” in deportation centers. We will have “access” to health care, but no actual health care. Real things are happening—and by design, they are happening very quickly.
“They” know our heads are spinning. They want our heads to spin so they can install a totalitarian regime before we even know it.
Before November 8, I was impatient for the election to end simply to shut him up. When he won, my initial reptilian reaction focused on the realization I—we—would have to listen to this claptrap for four years. It seemed an unusual punishment. And it is; after nearly three months of this, I feel I too might go mad.
But now, the pattern is beginning to make sense. Pathological talking is a distraction. We are being distracted. Our heads are spinning. Why? Let’s shut out the claptrap and focus on what is really happening: many of our rights are being challenged. Money will be stolen, voting rights will be stolen, land will be stolen, air and water will be stolen. Women’s status will be reduced to handmaidens, immigrants will be “housed” in deportation centers. We will have “access” to health care, but no actual health care. Real things are happening—and by design, they are happening very quickly.
“They” know our heads are spinning. They want our heads to spin so they can install a totalitarian regime before we even know it.
24
"Truth seekers????" The motto should be changed from "All the News That's Fit to Print" to "All the News That Fits Our Agenda"
7
The media needs to call a lie, a lie. It needs to continue to investigate anything that comes out of the president's mouth or off of those fingers.
I've looked up the words "pathological" and "sociopath" and the definitions fit our president to a T.
For whatever reasons trump feels the need to lie, no one will ever know. But the man will never have any respect from anyone who values the truth.
Unfortunately, the man has set himself up for massive and worldwide ridicule and will continue to do so.
Credibility? ZERO.
I've looked up the words "pathological" and "sociopath" and the definitions fit our president to a T.
For whatever reasons trump feels the need to lie, no one will ever know. But the man will never have any respect from anyone who values the truth.
Unfortunately, the man has set himself up for massive and worldwide ridicule and will continue to do so.
Credibility? ZERO.
10
The media have a duty to call out lies, and relentlessly to challenge the Liar-in-Chief on his falsehoods (and, of course, his ridiculous policies). Trump's absolute lack of character and integrity is both a stain on, and a threat to, this country.
In addition, every member of Trump's administration is obligated to resign, immediately -- or forever be branded as an enabler, supporter, and spreader of lies and propaganda. Those who stay will not thereafter be qualified to work as janitors or grocery baggers (with apologies to all the honest and honorable janitors and grocery baggers now at work in this country!).
Some in Trump's administration, like Conway and Spicer, are already unqualified for any honest work, and should probably be institutionalized, based on their inability to distinguish reality from fantasy, truth from deceit. The rest should save themselves as soon as possible.
In addition, every member of Trump's administration is obligated to resign, immediately -- or forever be branded as an enabler, supporter, and spreader of lies and propaganda. Those who stay will not thereafter be qualified to work as janitors or grocery baggers (with apologies to all the honest and honorable janitors and grocery baggers now at work in this country!).
Some in Trump's administration, like Conway and Spicer, are already unqualified for any honest work, and should probably be institutionalized, based on their inability to distinguish reality from fantasy, truth from deceit. The rest should save themselves as soon as possible.
6
Charles, your claim that Trump's statement that millions of illegal aliens voted is a lie is the same lie.
You have no idea how many illegal aliens did or did not vote.
Why don't we find out?
A lot of people listen to the competing claims and would really like to know the answer. No illegal aliens ever voted anywhere. Large numbers of illegal aliens vote.
It is about time a serious review of the US voting process is conducted. How many dead people vote? How many illegal aliens vote?
Perhaps the answer is absolutely none, as the Democrats insist, but they seem too petrified to find out the real answer for their statements to be credible.
You have no idea how many illegal aliens did or did not vote.
Why don't we find out?
A lot of people listen to the competing claims and would really like to know the answer. No illegal aliens ever voted anywhere. Large numbers of illegal aliens vote.
It is about time a serious review of the US voting process is conducted. How many dead people vote? How many illegal aliens vote?
Perhaps the answer is absolutely none, as the Democrats insist, but they seem too petrified to find out the real answer for their statements to be credible.
4
All politicians lie. Try to keep up Charles.
6
In the Trump Era...when we have seen the Normalization of the Abnormal,
we have brought forth the crucial question "What is 'Truth'?".... We have
been focused on the issue with the presence of a "President" who
believes he, alone, has the Power to Define Truth as he wishes. His "Truth"
Is a Malleable commodity, composed of Anything He deems Convenient
and Valuable in the moment.
we have brought forth the crucial question "What is 'Truth'?".... We have
been focused on the issue with the presence of a "President" who
believes he, alone, has the Power to Define Truth as he wishes. His "Truth"
Is a Malleable commodity, composed of Anything He deems Convenient
and Valuable in the moment.
2
Thank you Charles. Your words deeply resonate with me. One of my favorite lines is, "He is in fact having a running war with the truth itself." Such a simple yet profound description of trump's lack of character.
Recently I read that as a young man George Washington practiced his handwriting and sharpened his character by copying "The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior," The last rule, number 110 is this, "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." Is this not the root of trump's abhorrent behavior? The man has no conscience. He lacks the basic moral compass that guides most human beings. This is the source of his totally outrageous lies and behavior.
There is hope in your words, Charles. As I read, I experienced a slight lifting of the angst I've been living with since the election, however, words must be accompanied by action. I, a common citizen, feel powerless to know which actions I can take. God help us all.
Recently I read that as a young man George Washington practiced his handwriting and sharpened his character by copying "The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior," The last rule, number 110 is this, "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." Is this not the root of trump's abhorrent behavior? The man has no conscience. He lacks the basic moral compass that guides most human beings. This is the source of his totally outrageous lies and behavior.
There is hope in your words, Charles. As I read, I experienced a slight lifting of the angst I've been living with since the election, however, words must be accompanied by action. I, a common citizen, feel powerless to know which actions I can take. God help us all.
233
So many of us wonder where the Republican Party went, and now with Trump “off a cliff” springs to mind. Some say they’ll help keep Trump in check, such as Sen. McCain, but given the back and forth endorsements it appears most Republicans are just trying to stay relevant in the party of Trump. Yes, the Party left them too.
Policies change, but as any scientist or engineer would let you know they are many ways to solve an issue. Sticking to one path simply limits possibilities. Personality-wise though, how did we go from a president that was a gentleman and a scholar to a liar and a cheat?
We point to other countries and wonder “how did they get there?” and now we see we have many unique issues of our own. Partisan ideology being one of them though how many in the Republican Party notice Trump has no ideology, just a compass to defend self in the party of Trump?
Policies change, but as any scientist or engineer would let you know they are many ways to solve an issue. Sticking to one path simply limits possibilities. Personality-wise though, how did we go from a president that was a gentleman and a scholar to a liar and a cheat?
We point to other countries and wonder “how did they get there?” and now we see we have many unique issues of our own. Partisan ideology being one of them though how many in the Republican Party notice Trump has no ideology, just a compass to defend self in the party of Trump?
4
Thank you, Mr. Blow, for calling a lie, a lie. When you're dealing with a madman who is now in office, the job is even harder for journalists. Human decency is gone. In it's place, morals, integrity and value MUST replace lies and deceit and manipulation at every turn, at every utterance and every time. I honor your courage, because it is just that one, single human emotion that knows right from wrong, that is going to power and fuel millions of Americans who see what you see. We have YOUR back, sir.
When you put lipstick on a pig? It's still a pig. A lie, is a lie, is a lie. Call Trump and anyone else in his dysfunctional administration or the Congress, out on lies, manipulations and distortions of the truth. If you can't trust your own president to be honest with the American people--ALL American people?
You have gone too far. Trump does NOT deserve to be in that office. Ever. I served my country. I'm so ashamed of it now. But I'm not going away and I am now a resistor. So are journalists.
When you put lipstick on a pig? It's still a pig. A lie, is a lie, is a lie. Call Trump and anyone else in his dysfunctional administration or the Congress, out on lies, manipulations and distortions of the truth. If you can't trust your own president to be honest with the American people--ALL American people?
You have gone too far. Trump does NOT deserve to be in that office. Ever. I served my country. I'm so ashamed of it now. But I'm not going away and I am now a resistor. So are journalists.
7
The press is no pathological liar, for those are intelligent. The press is a submissive liar.
4
Dear Mr. Blow,
Quite frankly, I hope his "investigation" of "voter fraud" takes at least four years for if that's all that's on his mind, then, perhaps, he will ignore all the other "campaign promises" he made to those who voted for him.
Sort of like mesmerizing a baby in a carriage with a "shiny object" just a tad longer than usual, that's all.
Quite frankly, I hope his "investigation" of "voter fraud" takes at least four years for if that's all that's on his mind, then, perhaps, he will ignore all the other "campaign promises" he made to those who voted for him.
Sort of like mesmerizing a baby in a carriage with a "shiny object" just a tad longer than usual, that's all.
2
Charles, whenever you're down (and we all fight that every day now), listen to/watch this several times, and let the tears and the joy take over:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQD9QwYC5M&autoplay=1
Then, back to your priceless work!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQD9QwYC5M&autoplay=1
Then, back to your priceless work!
2
Yes, and can the press please use the word censorship, too, instead of 'limiting communications'? Stop pussyfooting around? The euphemisms fail to communicate the gravity of this crisis.
10
Wow! You said it. And said it again. I am still struggling with what I can personally do to have an impact. But I sure am glad that you have the platform and are clear, eloquent and persistent. Please keep up the pressure.
7
No doubt Trump lies. Most politicians do but it's no excuse. The people deserve the truth.
That said the BUT has shown time and again a selective use of facts to write stories. Obama recently shamed the US for being the only industrialized country that makes it harder to vote by requiring ID. In fact the US is the only industrialized country that does not require ID. Yet no headlines or Op Ed pieces calling out Obama.
While the truth is of paramount importance, the press has clearly chosen sides and in the last election chosen to relay only facts that support its ideologies.
If the truth is so important, write it BUT rather than filter it. You are as guilty as the politicians who lie.
That said the BUT has shown time and again a selective use of facts to write stories. Obama recently shamed the US for being the only industrialized country that makes it harder to vote by requiring ID. In fact the US is the only industrialized country that does not require ID. Yet no headlines or Op Ed pieces calling out Obama.
While the truth is of paramount importance, the press has clearly chosen sides and in the last election chosen to relay only facts that support its ideologies.
If the truth is so important, write it BUT rather than filter it. You are as guilty as the politicians who lie.
4
Charles.
You are dangerous 'off-leash'.
Good.
You are dangerous 'off-leash'.
Good.
5
"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor," Mr. Blow.
4
The Republicans came to believe that it was acceptable to bend the truth and to fabricate lies rather than have meaningful policy discussions. GWB and Cheney led us into one of if not the most ill conceived wars in our history predicated upon a big lie. Republicans have used that as their model ever since. They even have their own TV network to add credibility to their fabrications. Now they have made a deal with the devil, the ultimate liar and the price they wil pay is a heavy one. They will not only be dealing with trump but his inner circle of liars that surround him. No one will know who to trust. Trump will soon discover than governing does not follow the closely regulated script of a television show. When one speaks to the truth he operates from a position of strength. A government filed with liars is like gasoline on a fire.
This may just set the scenario for something we Americans have never witnessed in our governments history, a coup d'etat.
This may just set the scenario for something we Americans have never witnessed in our governments history, a coup d'etat.
8
President Trump most likely has one or more diagnosable mental disorders. What any casual observer can note are his need to be the center of attention, tendency to grossly exaggerate everything from his wealth, intelligence, IQ, "brain", ability to figure things out on his own, negotiating skills, strength and stamina, likability, lovability etc, etc. Old term "megalomania" comes to mind.
Paranoia (believe me, it's there) and jealousy are prominent. In his inner workings, he appears to view the Presidency (as defined by him), bordering on complete ownership of the country, the people, the government as his own and all the problems invented by him are HIS and his alone, to solve.
He might believe Richard Nixon's few written words as prophetic, he is destined to be THE President and that Mr Obama was the interloper that stole his country. To him, what's on TV is more real than the real people around him. He has successfully neutralized the opposition, starting with his brother and the brother's family. He has no rivals but has "enemies".
His success has worked because we, his family, business associates, local groups and village governments, the many voters that have played along with his rhetoric, hoping for some return for their support and loyalty, NBC, etc have been seduced by his presentation. Making fun of him or comparing him with Andrew Jackson are unhelpful. He is the bull in the china shop. He needs a psychiatric evaluation and soon.
Paranoia (believe me, it's there) and jealousy are prominent. In his inner workings, he appears to view the Presidency (as defined by him), bordering on complete ownership of the country, the people, the government as his own and all the problems invented by him are HIS and his alone, to solve.
He might believe Richard Nixon's few written words as prophetic, he is destined to be THE President and that Mr Obama was the interloper that stole his country. To him, what's on TV is more real than the real people around him. He has successfully neutralized the opposition, starting with his brother and the brother's family. He has no rivals but has "enemies".
His success has worked because we, his family, business associates, local groups and village governments, the many voters that have played along with his rhetoric, hoping for some return for their support and loyalty, NBC, etc have been seduced by his presentation. Making fun of him or comparing him with Andrew Jackson are unhelpful. He is the bull in the china shop. He needs a psychiatric evaluation and soon.
5
In watching Trump talk about his inaugural crowd size to David Muir of ABC News, I was reminded of Groucho Marx’s immortal words:
“Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?”
So for the next four years we have a choice between “alternative facts” and our lying eyes.
“Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?”
So for the next four years we have a choice between “alternative facts” and our lying eyes.
4
And so Donald Trump has assumed the Throne and like all despots the world over has declared himself King. Tweet, tweet, tweet tweet little birdie........ you
may fool people for a time; you can
fool a part of the people all the time;
but you can’t fool all the people all the
time.”
and you can't silence a free press!
may fool people for a time; you can
fool a part of the people all the time;
but you can’t fool all the people all the
time.”
and you can't silence a free press!
2
It is imperative that the media continue to expose the lies that the Trump administration is putting forward to the public, particularly in light of the apparent campaign to erode the influence of legitimate, factual information. I have come to believe, however, that Mr. Trump does indeed suffer from narcissistic personality disorder. If so, any attempt to convince him that he is lying would be unsuccessful. A person with this disorder is unable to distinguish the difference between lies and the truth. The truth is what they believe and what they believe is always self-serving.
Continue the fight to present the truth to the public, as you and respected journalists have always done, but don't expect Mr. Trump to ever acknowledge the veracity of that information unless it supports his beliek.
Continue the fight to present the truth to the public, as you and respected journalists have always done, but don't expect Mr. Trump to ever acknowledge the veracity of that information unless it supports his beliek.
7
It feels as though we are watching a movie. Unfortunately we are in it. Everyday news comes from "leaks." Thank goodness--may they continue.
3
Thank you, Mr. Blow for your article. We elected a dictator. I did not vote for him but apparently, 62,000,000 of my peers did. How shameful!
4
Thank you, Charles Blow, for having the strength of character that Trump lacks. Thank you for your honesty in calling Trump out for who and what he is: a person with an extreme ego flaw that, due to his extreme insecurity, causes him to defend his ego over anything else, including lying as a means by which to try to strengthen his weak ego. Perhaps Congress will free up the funds necessary for intense psychotherapy for Trump. Oh, wait, these are Republicans, so that will never happen. We will just have to endure and call out all of Trump's lies, every time. I am eternally grateful to the likes of Charles Blow and others who have the courage to call out Trump every time he lies. Thank you.
8
Trump's difficulty with the truth and his inability to remember the lies that he tells can be explained.
Given behavioral patterns of Trump, it is certainly possible that he may suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
He demonstrates severe memory problems and a great deal of confused thinking.
He will say one thing in one sentence and then contradict himself immediately thereafter.
We have been continually exposed to his obvious memory problems, his inability to focus on the matter at hand, tendency to wander off topic, confusion regarding facts and figures, and his desire to avoid the task of answering questions in Q & A forums.
Another attribute of AD can be irascible behavior and poor anger management.
A brain PET scan can determine possible AD.
Observation, testing, and close questioning by a neurologist is called for in all cases - especially those cases of a far reaching nature - for the sake of possible damage control.
If Trump is so afflicted the sooner we know this the better. Any delay will only serve to further damage the country and all its citizens.
A NYT article noted:
"In the last decade of his life, the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease slowed Fred Trump, according to his friends and relatives, and he died at the age of 93 with difficulty recognizing people."
"Mr. Trump said he wasn’t scared that the disease might be the last thing he inherits from his father. 'Do I accept it? Yeah,' he said. 'Look, I’m very much a fatalist.'
Given behavioral patterns of Trump, it is certainly possible that he may suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
He demonstrates severe memory problems and a great deal of confused thinking.
He will say one thing in one sentence and then contradict himself immediately thereafter.
We have been continually exposed to his obvious memory problems, his inability to focus on the matter at hand, tendency to wander off topic, confusion regarding facts and figures, and his desire to avoid the task of answering questions in Q & A forums.
Another attribute of AD can be irascible behavior and poor anger management.
A brain PET scan can determine possible AD.
Observation, testing, and close questioning by a neurologist is called for in all cases - especially those cases of a far reaching nature - for the sake of possible damage control.
If Trump is so afflicted the sooner we know this the better. Any delay will only serve to further damage the country and all its citizens.
A NYT article noted:
"In the last decade of his life, the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease slowed Fred Trump, according to his friends and relatives, and he died at the age of 93 with difficulty recognizing people."
"Mr. Trump said he wasn’t scared that the disease might be the last thing he inherits from his father. 'Do I accept it? Yeah,' he said. 'Look, I’m very much a fatalist.'
5
We all can probably live with a pathalogical liar as our President, if we support the creation of an office whose function is to tell the ACTUAL TRUTH!
How about Agency for Presidential Clarification?
Or Bureau of What's Really Happining?
How about Agency for Presidential Clarification?
Or Bureau of What's Really Happining?
1
Hitler spoke of the Big Lie - don't tell a small lie that can be investigated and challenged - instead tell a Big Lie that bends reality and is actually harder to refute.
George Orwell taught us about New-Speak and Thought-Crime. We are already deep into New-Speak and Trump's attacks on the free press is the prelude to Thought-Crime.
I thank Victor Hugo for revealing to me that "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come."
Bob Dylan implored thinkers to pick up the pen:
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again...
I don't have a pen - I have a word processor and I don't have a printing press - I have the internet.
Thank you Charles Blow for speaking the truth about lies.
George Orwell taught us about New-Speak and Thought-Crime. We are already deep into New-Speak and Trump's attacks on the free press is the prelude to Thought-Crime.
I thank Victor Hugo for revealing to me that "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come."
Bob Dylan implored thinkers to pick up the pen:
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again...
I don't have a pen - I have a word processor and I don't have a printing press - I have the internet.
Thank you Charles Blow for speaking the truth about lies.
3
I'm not convinced the Trump is a liar. A liar is a person who lies, ie makes statements that he or she knows to be untrue. That is why most liars, unless they are the coldest of psychopaths with nerves of steel, will fail a lie detector test because they themselves know they are lying, and this causes them to sweat slightly when they lie.
With Trump, it's likely different, I think. He may well lie a lot. But most of the time, he is literally trumpeting loudly like the bull elephant at the head of his herd.
If Trump were only a liar, then there might be some hope for him, As it is, the USA has elected as the most powerful man on the planet a person who simply says whatever comes into his mind, even if it contradicts what he just said several minutes earlier.
With Trump, it's likely different, I think. He may well lie a lot. But most of the time, he is literally trumpeting loudly like the bull elephant at the head of his herd.
If Trump were only a liar, then there might be some hope for him, As it is, the USA has elected as the most powerful man on the planet a person who simply says whatever comes into his mind, even if it contradicts what he just said several minutes earlier.
4
Although it's perverted, disgusting, stupid, or whatever, I don't think you can call his claims of fraud a lie. Here's why. He believes it. He's not trying to deceive. He trying to educate us to what he is convinced is true. He doesn't need evidence. It just has to be. To quote another commenter, He's nuts".
2
As Mr. Blow cited, the Liar-in-Chief said this:
“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states [NOTE: which would include his daughter and Steve Bannon, by the way], those who are illegal and even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”
Anyone with a modest sense of history can see the chilling parallels between Trump's tactics and what Nazi Germany did with Poland n 1939:
"Operation Himmler was a 1939 false flag project planned by Nazi Germany to create the appearance of Polish aggression against Germany, which was subsequently used by Nazi propaganda to justify the invasion of Poland."
The end game with Trump's fake voter fraud claim is to use it as a pretext to justify voter suppression, a.k.a "strengthening up voting procedures". Cue Republican legislatures to act.
There is no doubt that Trump and the Republican Party are menaces to democracy, just as there is no doubt that Trump is a pathological liar.
“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states [NOTE: which would include his daughter and Steve Bannon, by the way], those who are illegal and even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”
Anyone with a modest sense of history can see the chilling parallels between Trump's tactics and what Nazi Germany did with Poland n 1939:
"Operation Himmler was a 1939 false flag project planned by Nazi Germany to create the appearance of Polish aggression against Germany, which was subsequently used by Nazi propaganda to justify the invasion of Poland."
The end game with Trump's fake voter fraud claim is to use it as a pretext to justify voter suppression, a.k.a "strengthening up voting procedures". Cue Republican legislatures to act.
There is no doubt that Trump and the Republican Party are menaces to democracy, just as there is no doubt that Trump is a pathological liar.
3
Spot on, Mr. Blow.
I, for one, foresee horrors in our future.
No lie.
I, for one, foresee horrors in our future.
No lie.
6
The Press should work as one unified tenacious whole and not allow Trump to divert/distract until he has answered the question put before him in press conferences. We need a"March to Demand Trump Reveal his Taxes" to follow the Women's March since his shameless proxies Conway and Spicer recently asserted that "Only the Press care about Trump's taxes" when in fact most of America cares deeply and recognize that he has much to hide. The heads of companies need to stand firm and not bow down to his pressure. His tactics are increasingly becoming transparent. And YES, call his lies out CONSISTENTLY for what they are, the earmarks of a deeply pathological administration. This is vital to maintain our democracy and a society based on fact, not fiction.
4
I have another word for theses lies: Delusional. Seeing thousands of attendees at the inauguration where there was blank spaces and empty bleachers? The rain ceased to fall at the start of the swearing in and restarted after he finished? Really?!! This is stuff from a bad script that could be written as facts in our kids history books. Mr. Blow, keep writing the truth.
3
If the Times and other responsible news outlets do not brand Mr. Trump's lies for what they are, they become complicit in his war on the truth.
Mr. Trump really leaves no option. The old legal adage, going back to before Thomas More in English common law, is "qui tacet consentire", silence gives consent. No one who cares about this country can consent to what the Trump administration is attempting to do, to control what is perceived as true. This is just what Karl Rove told the Times reporter Ron Suskind: "We create our own reality," he said. Theirs, maybe; not ours.
Mr. Trump really leaves no option. The old legal adage, going back to before Thomas More in English common law, is "qui tacet consentire", silence gives consent. No one who cares about this country can consent to what the Trump administration is attempting to do, to control what is perceived as true. This is just what Karl Rove told the Times reporter Ron Suskind: "We create our own reality," he said. Theirs, maybe; not ours.
5
Our president is a pathological liar. I have no problem saying that because it is the truth. What worries me is how the media and everyone else - with the exception of Mr. Blow here - dance around it. And it worries me even more that some are saying we shouldn't pay too much attention to it. Imagine any other President saying half the things Trump has said. Imagine President Obama spouting even one of the lies that has come out of the mouth of this president. Imagine if it were Hillary spouting this dribble during the campaign. Or any politician for that matter. What is it about this particular man, this particular politician, this particular, God help us, president, that make so many in the media, most Democrats, and yes, even those Republicans who know better so afraid to call things as they see it? As they say, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's pretty safe to say it is a duck. .....or a liar.
6
I'm surprised Conway/Spicer don't flank themselves with Soviet-style propaganda posters during their galling attempts to spin lies. A 'love' of country running as deep as their next paycheck from King Don. Trump strikes me as someone completely unfamiliar with the truth, feeling superior to it. His presidency is alarming and dangerous for our country. Journalists must be vigilant and take him to task on all of it, regardless of any repercussions from his propaganda ministers or how exhausting it will be. Citizens cannot retreat into insular bubbles of denial either—our very democracy is at stake. Speak up. Show up. Hold elected officials accountable, call them. Challenge him, repeatedly.
1
Hahahahahahaha......ya made my day, Mr Blow. Loved every syllable of your blunt, accurate assessment of the Donald Duck Trumpet and his sycophants.
How many more days of this regime will we tolerate? That is the question of the day.
Waiting with bated breath for Humpty Dumpty to fry from the heat......
How many more days of this regime will we tolerate? That is the question of the day.
Waiting with bated breath for Humpty Dumpty to fry from the heat......
Yes, he lies constantly...and they are not little lies; (although some that we do not hear may be little...like maybe he lies about potato chips) they are big, serious, frightening lies. And, Mr. Blow, you are WONDERFUL AND BRAVE for calling him out on these lies. But I feel so helpless, so disenfranchised, so powerless...because here, in the New York Times comments section, most of us are of the same sentiment, the same morality, the same intellectual bent...and I feel that we are banging our heads against a wall. Somehow (not by normal means) a very mentally sick man got elected to the Presidency. and we are not speaking of a "gentle" sickness. We are looking at a profoundly, dangerously, mentally impacted individual, and as someone said in these comments yesterday...he will continue to get away with everything, do horrible damage, hurt millions of people, destroy our standing in the world, and commit as much mayhem and corruption as he so desires...BECAUSE the
Republicans are in control, and as long as they can line their pockets, they will do NOTHING to stop him, and they will let the country burn. So millions can march, and people of morality, commitment, decency, and common sense can speak out, as you do, and so many do...but to what end? Not that we should stop calling him out on these outrageous lies and insane behaviors...BUT WHO IS GOING TO ACTUALLY HELP US? HOW CAN WE STOP OUR COUNTRY FROM THIS DISASTER? I am so very afraid. And I am afraid for you, too.
Republicans are in control, and as long as they can line their pockets, they will do NOTHING to stop him, and they will let the country burn. So millions can march, and people of morality, commitment, decency, and common sense can speak out, as you do, and so many do...but to what end? Not that we should stop calling him out on these outrageous lies and insane behaviors...BUT WHO IS GOING TO ACTUALLY HELP US? HOW CAN WE STOP OUR COUNTRY FROM THIS DISASTER? I am so very afraid. And I am afraid for you, too.
2
He is a madman. He is mentally ill. He is not fit to hold this job. He does not have policies, only grievances and bullying. Let us now work to remove him from office as soon as possible. We must reach out to our fellow Americans who believe in his lies and act upon them. There must be a Third Great Awakening, but this time, not of religious faith, but of rationality, science and the rule of law.
1
Charles: Drumpf is not just a pathological liar. He is severely mentally disturbed. I can tell by the way his family relates to him. They seem deathly afraid of his rage. I don't believe anyone understands just how truly dangerous he is.
2
Bravo, Mr. Blow. Bravo
3
In one Seinfeld episode, Geoge remarked:"it's not a lied if you believe it". Trump lives in a world of delusion. He has a narcissist personality disorder that naturally defends him from any reality that does not confirm his greatness. If he didn't win the popular vote, the popular vote must be wrong. If Obsma's crowd was bigger, the picture must be wrong. If the Mexican President won't pay for the Wall, he better stay home. Americans must come to terms with the idea that they have turned the nuclear codes over to a man who lives in a world of delusion impervious to any consensus reality.
1
If we want our democracy to survive this administration we need honest journalists to demand the truth. Thank you Mr. Blow.
3
Thank you Mr. Blow. Continue to speak the truth about this mentally disturbed hate-monger. Trump and his band of deplorables can never be allowed to be normalized. We are already on the path to fascism in this country, and only decent-minded citizens supported by an objective and free press can prevent this. I despair that so many of my fellow citizens have already accepted and supported this charlatan, this grifter, as a legitimate leader.
1
Beam me up, Scotty...
You won't believe the story I have to tell you...
Bob;~(
You won't believe the story I have to tell you...
Bob;~(
3
"Our president is a pathological liar."
Finally.
Thank you.
Finally.
Thank you.
7
Thank you Charles. At least some of the REAL TRUTH is still being printed by you and the Times. Please dont stop.
2
Trump wants us to think that he has a "running war with the media" because of the media's transgressions. That's what gaslighters do - shift the blame others for their own infractions. Hail to the Gaslighter in Chief!
Excellent piece, Mr. Blow.
Excellent piece, Mr. Blow.
2
Thank you for speaking truth to power, Mr. Blow. It is imperative that the press and citizens of this and other countries continue to hold Mr. Trump to a standard that most parents hold their 6 year-olds to.
It is very simple to say Trump is a narcissist and go on to the next subject, but Trump is a psychopathic narcissist who will take our country down with him if we let him. Just saying.
We are all in very grave danger as is the world. This isn't name calling. I was trained to and performed assessments for involuntary commitment based on danger to self, danger to others, or grave disability. Trump is close to being detainable. We cannot afford for him to remain in office. This is who he is. He is not going to get better or change. He is who he is. We can only change what he is--our president--before he marches us off a cliff like lemmings.
We are all in very grave danger as is the world. This isn't name calling. I was trained to and performed assessments for involuntary commitment based on danger to self, danger to others, or grave disability. Trump is close to being detainable. We cannot afford for him to remain in office. This is who he is. He is not going to get better or change. He is who he is. We can only change what he is--our president--before he marches us off a cliff like lemmings.
2
What is amazing is that every time he tells a whopping lie, which is every day, his supporters will counter by saying....well, what about Hillary saying she was dodging bullets (although she was rushed to the terminal in a flack jacket, she was mistaken there were bullets flying) Same as the e-mails: complete false equivalence, which his supporters have totally bought into. Yet in their minds, these are all somehow equal. You can't even argue with these people. No amount of reasoning will change the minds of these misled and illogical haters. So we can only hope that if there were in fact "reasonable" Trump supporters, they will somehow see what they have brought to the world. A dangerous pathologically lying sociopath. And more and more looking like a psychopath.
1
Our whole culture is based on lying. Getting away with what you can. Trump is the leader of this culture, but it's been going on for decades. Just look at professional sports as an example. It's the exceptional, American way. What other country has "buyer beware" as part of its credo? Of course, in the public arena, nobody lies and cheats like the Republicans since Nixon. We should be ever vigilant to call out Trump's lies, but the problem is much greater than just him.
1
The importance of this to me is that at this point there is absolutely no reason for a thinking, intelligent, logical, educated, reasonable person to believe anything at all that comes from this administration. If there is some independent confirmation for what they say, fine, but anything they say, one should just simply assume is a lie. So, for example, when they start talking about classified intelligence assessments, you have to assume that everything they say is a lie, said to bolster whatever it is they want to do.
Anyone who believes anything they say is simply a sucker. That's what happens when you're so willing to lie through your teeth about something anybody can see with there own eyes. You can't be given any credibility.
Anyone who believes anything they say is simply a sucker. That's what happens when you're so willing to lie through your teeth about something anybody can see with there own eyes. You can't be given any credibility.
2
According to the Mayo Clinic:
Criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:
Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerating your achievements and talents
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
Taking advantage of others to get what you want
Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others and believing others envy you
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it's not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.
Criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:
Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerating your achievements and talents
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
Taking advantage of others to get what you want
Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others and believing others envy you
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it's not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.
5
President Predator should clean his own house. Both Bannon and Mnuchin are reported to have double registrations. Rumor has it so does Tiffany. I have a home in NY and one if Florida (where it would have counted) but am only REGISTERED to vote in NY. It's a case of do as I do, not as I say.
1
The sad thing is, voters want to be lied to. If we didn't, we would demand the truth from our elected officials instead of comforting lies that reinforce our prejudices, lay blame on others for our troubles, persuade us that issues are simple and solutions to problems come at no cost.
We elected a serial liar as president because we believe in liars, not those who are honest.
The biggest lie perpetrated on the American people by the right in this election was that we can't beat the liars, so we have to vote for the biggest one. If all politicians lie, it's better to elect the one that does so gleefully and unapologetically, right? No. It's not right.
It's easier to give in to the false equivalence of "everybody lies," instead of demanding that our elected representatives hold themselves to a higher standard, so we do just that. And so we willingly allow oursellves to be played by thr likes of Donald Trump.
Until we stop wallowing in cynicism; until we decide to demand the truth from our elected representatives and reward them for being honest even when the truth hurts, we will get the lying demagogues in government that we deserve.
We elected a serial liar as president because we believe in liars, not those who are honest.
The biggest lie perpetrated on the American people by the right in this election was that we can't beat the liars, so we have to vote for the biggest one. If all politicians lie, it's better to elect the one that does so gleefully and unapologetically, right? No. It's not right.
It's easier to give in to the false equivalence of "everybody lies," instead of demanding that our elected representatives hold themselves to a higher standard, so we do just that. And so we willingly allow oursellves to be played by thr likes of Donald Trump.
Until we stop wallowing in cynicism; until we decide to demand the truth from our elected representatives and reward them for being honest even when the truth hurts, we will get the lying demagogues in government that we deserve.
3
Yes, Trump is a pathological liar. He cannot stand anything against his ego, narcissism and self-aggrandizement in power and wealth. Trump suffers from Dunning-Kruger effect: “a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their ability much higher than it really is”. This bias is attributed to a “metacognitive inability to recognize their ineptitude and evaluate their competence accurately”. Trump’s cognitive bias is so deep that he is unable to recognize competence in others. This effect is not new. It has been observed by philosophers like Confucius “real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance"; Darwin "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge" and Shakespeare in ‘As You Like It”: “the fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool”. Is there a possibility that some day Trump will be able to gauge the severity of his incompetence and abilities? If cognitive biases are shaped by perception, exposure and experiences, perhaps by being exposed and surrounded by new experiences as president he will learn new skills allowing him to recognize previous inadequacy. Let’s hope that it will happen some day. However, if republicans submit their wills and judgments to his will, Trump will use terror to coerce the American people into a ‘false unity’ damaging further our democracy. Let’s hope that our power of reasoning, understanding, and common sense will prevail.
1
He lies constantly, consistently twisting and spinning chaos. And all of it servers the purpose of making those who can and will name the truth standing by helplessly with our mouth hanging open. "How can he do that?" And he just runs on like the crazy kid in the candy shop, next to the expensive glass and crystal shop, which he is now spinning around in wildly while his parents say "oh, he'll be fine".
This saga has no good ending. The kids goes home, pretends to be sweet, and people keep moving, because there is a lot going on and we have to keep moving. My question to everyone, is what do you do with this kid? You can't lock him up, those with some authority won't exercise it and in fact are amused by his antics, and those who suffer the damage to their livelihood are ruined.
I'm not a hand wringer generally, but this has me feeling particularly helpless because the people who could take action ( Lawmakers) are not. We the people must hold them accountable and ask them to do something to contain that damage.
This saga has no good ending. The kids goes home, pretends to be sweet, and people keep moving, because there is a lot going on and we have to keep moving. My question to everyone, is what do you do with this kid? You can't lock him up, those with some authority won't exercise it and in fact are amused by his antics, and those who suffer the damage to their livelihood are ruined.
I'm not a hand wringer generally, but this has me feeling particularly helpless because the people who could take action ( Lawmakers) are not. We the people must hold them accountable and ask them to do something to contain that damage.
1
"he who is devoid of morality is immune to demoralization. You can’t wring water from a rock"
Preach!!!!!!!
Preach!!!!!!!
3
Day by day, tweet by tweet, exec order by exec order, lie by lie, the Trump presidency will eviscerate the free press and by gag and blindfold stifle the information coming from his "regime". And, hopefully, day by day, tweet by tweet, etc. the American people will see this man for what he is: a pompous egoist who will be seen one day as the worst president this country has had the misfortune to elect
3
It is a truly frightening situation because we cannot figure out which way is up. Trump does lie but like a child afraid of punishment will not admit it. His need to control everyone and everything, to create the reality that is his reality is dangerous. New restrictions on social media and interaction with the press exhibit the need to control what information is released from this administration. What information will it be? The flattering, fall in line with the regime information?
I honestly do not want to see the ghoulish face of Steve Bannon standing behind the smug face of Donald Trump. I don't want to see Kellyann Conway every day spewing her off message spin. I don't want to hear that Donald Trump likes his new home! All of the distraction is to insure we can't focus on what is going on behind their curtain. Let's keep alert and pay attention!
I honestly do not want to see the ghoulish face of Steve Bannon standing behind the smug face of Donald Trump. I don't want to see Kellyann Conway every day spewing her off message spin. I don't want to hear that Donald Trump likes his new home! All of the distraction is to insure we can't focus on what is going on behind their curtain. Let's keep alert and pay attention!
3
Please. Our "progressive" media and their loudmouths like Blow are not the arbiters of truth. The are propaganda outlets and try and push opinion as truth. One would expect folk would welcome a major investigation into voter fraud unless of course one fears the outcome.
3
Thanks for your continued truthful words. Pathological narcissists lie, but even their personality disorder doesn't excuse it. I have wondered how much Bannon is fueling his disorder, as Trump doesn't have the political experience or know how, while Bannon has been planning for a large portion of his life to groom someone for the presidential role. Articles have stated Trump wasn't his preferred candidate, but he was ripe for the picking and went with it. I imagine Bannon is whispering much of the same alternative facts into Trump as he did into Brietbart and getting the same enraged responses. While a Trump presidency is dangerous, it is equally as dangerous to have Bannon at his side.
4
I no longer read the Blow rants. The headlines are always the same--racist nonsense. I would think the Times would encourage its writers to refrain from name calling.
3
It will be interesting to see how the NYTimes handles Trump's lying, since they had a lot of trouble with Newspeak issues during the Bush and Obama administrations. For example, for years the NYTimes could not bring itself to say that torture was torture, accepting the euphemisms coming from Washington, such as enhanced interrogation.
So you can keep your doctor and plan was a lie, no other interpretation allowed? So be it. Obama was a bald-faced liar. So was the architect of the plan, who did not think those would happen, but withheld that. How about that 'No sexual relations' whopper WJC told? Or that set of lies the woman who became the 2016 Democratic candidate went out and repeated that her philandering husband did no such a thing, knowing darn well he did? Or the lie that if yo don't vote for her this time you are a sexist? We seem to only hear lies when told by political enemies. We even like lies if they are spoken presidentially and with rhetorical polish by our favorite. We have no absolute principle against lying, only a distaste for certain liars and the way they lie.
3
Donald Trump has many of the symptoms of a personality disorder. To understand this disorder, its ramifications and how to respond and react to the subject is explained in a very readable format in Al J.Bernstein's paperback entitled "Emotional Vampires."
To deal with this man in a "traditional way" leads to failure. Emotional Vampires don't go by the "rules." Media and Congress take heed.
To deal with this man in a "traditional way" leads to failure. Emotional Vampires don't go by the "rules." Media and Congress take heed.
1
Rmember Trump is now the leader of a party and movement based on an errant world view. The arch core of conservatism is that if big business makes money everyone gets wealthier; wealth trickles down. Since St. Ronnie the working classes have received less and less of the pie.
The biggest lie of all is that America will prosper under conservative legislation. Overturning the New Deal and 100 years of progressive legislation will not build the middle class. Fight this lie.
I have a prediction. In the coming years the commerce clause will be litigated such that states and the federal government will be very limited in regulating business.
Trump represents the worse of Amrrican business practices. They all lie for the sake of their single bottom lines.
The biggest lie of all is that America will prosper under conservative legislation. Overturning the New Deal and 100 years of progressive legislation will not build the middle class. Fight this lie.
I have a prediction. In the coming years the commerce clause will be litigated such that states and the federal government will be very limited in regulating business.
Trump represents the worse of Amrrican business practices. They all lie for the sake of their single bottom lines.
4
Many thanks, Mr. Blow, for yet another fine column.
What we are observing in Donald Trump, is a classic sociopath/narcissist whose vanity and fragile sense of self is imploding. Without even the smallest of truths to call upon to support his executive orders and vile policies, Trump and his amoral coterie "degrade all truth to meaningless triviality" as Hannah Arendt stated and is quoted today in this paper's excellent section on "The Intellectual Life of Violence".
What we are observing in Donald Trump, is a classic sociopath/narcissist whose vanity and fragile sense of self is imploding. Without even the smallest of truths to call upon to support his executive orders and vile policies, Trump and his amoral coterie "degrade all truth to meaningless triviality" as Hannah Arendt stated and is quoted today in this paper's excellent section on "The Intellectual Life of Violence".
How can we trust POTUS Trump's word? We can't. National security and national well-being threat.
5
Roy Cohn taught him well. NEVER acknowledge defeat, or accept responsibility. ALWAYS attack.
11
I have a mental picture of Trump grinding away at the handle of a machine with an "In" hopper labeled "TRUTH, and an "Out" hopper labeled "LIES." Now all output from Government Agencies will be directed to the "In" hopper before being disseminated to the public.
2
When a person lies they lose face and credibility. The president must be held to that standard or you, the press, will become complicit in a coup.
Thank you! We need the press to sift through the rantings of this man and call him and his administration out on every single LIE they try to perpetuate. Alternative facts? Perhaps they just live in an alternative reality!
5
Thank you for your courage in stating the TRUE facts loud and clear. I just hope we can recover from the damage this president will wreak on our country. Heaven help us. We all need to become activists and hope that our actions will mitigate his disastrous "reign"
3
There's a little background music you might want to listen to as you read this column. Written by our Nobel Laureate for Literature, Bob Dylan.
An excerpt:
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
... It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
An excerpt:
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
... It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
3
Donald Trump, or Mendex Flagrante, as he is now known, will never stop to tell the truth when he cannot benefit. Everything he does is transactional, that is if he can keep his name in the headlines, why not lie? Everything is about him, after all. why let facts get in the way when the simplest fib can earn him hours of free media time. Every lie is a win for him. What he says has no weight because, in the end, he has the power of the pen.
If tweedle dum lies all of the tim,e was the oath of office also a lie? Perhaps an alternative truth.
If tweedle dum lies all of the tim,e was the oath of office also a lie? Perhaps an alternative truth.
3
Trump is a revolutionary leader, not a politician. The rules applied to politicians do not apply to him. He has a goal: to destroy and disrupt using the noisy and fanatical minirity. Anything goes, so please stop wondering why he lies, that is how revoltionary leaders operate, he must be compared to Lenin, Mao, Khomeini, Castro and Chavez.
3
Beware of falling into the trap of only calling out Trump for his falsehoods without looking for the underlying agenda of what does the falsehood open the door to. In this instance of proclaimed voter fraud it opens the way for even more legislation in the 50 states to impose more stringent requirements on prospective voters to prove they are citizens. Please pay attention to bills in the state houses where restrictive voting bills were introduced, as well as those that may jump into curtailing citizens access to the voting booth.
While there is an psychic satisfaction to saying you are a liar to Donald Trump, there is with it a demeaning of the discourse. Document the falsehood and explore just what agenda would be furthered by it.
While there is an psychic satisfaction to saying you are a liar to Donald Trump, there is with it a demeaning of the discourse. Document the falsehood and explore just what agenda would be furthered by it.
5
It is not really a surprise that Trump has declared a war on the truth since that is the way of all demigogs. The US has a population of almost 320 million people and yet only the "ideas and beliefs" of our dear leader now matter.
It is no wonder that he has so openly admired other dictators around the world as "strong leaders". Welcome to authoritarian rule America. You asked for it and I hope that you enjoy it!
It is no wonder that he has so openly admired other dictators around the world as "strong leaders". Welcome to authoritarian rule America. You asked for it and I hope that you enjoy it!
2
I wholeheartedly agree that these lies deserve focus and attention. When this administration calls for a "major investigation into VOTER FRAUD" - what will that mean? Is Conway writing up the fake results right now, the way Trump wants to hear them, and will the public be asked to swallow it hole? Then the Republicans will roll voter rights back another mile, after what they've already done, so we'll be guaranteed 8 years of Trump? Hell, maybe they'll change the Constitution and make him king.
This propaganda campaign to muddy the line between reality and Trump's bogus assertions is VERY ominous. I'll just quote from Hannah Arendt's seminal 1951 work, The Origins of Totalitarianism:
"The ideal subject of totalitarianism is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
"The ideal subject of totalitarianism is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
This comment is not about Trump's lying or his psychopathology. We all know now that what he is doing will be disastrous to the country and the world. But are "we", the majority of folks in this country, really so powerless? Its astonishing. Is Trump allowed to rule like a dictator, via an endless stream of Executive Orders? Don't any of these orders require the 60 Congressional votes?
1
What can we do to stay safe? Why am I crying in despair? I wake up in the middle of the night in dread of what America has become. What do I say to my children and grandchildren? How do we live with hope under this frightening regime? Where can we feel safe again? How can so much be overturned in one week? When will it be too late for America to reclaim decency and inclusion? And then what?
1
Trump's supporters have been bombarded with lies for decades.
It is no wonder now rhat they see him as the Saviour-in-Chief because he speaks their "truths". He did not create a movement, he crystalized a cult that had been lying in solution.
It is no wonder now rhat they see him as the Saviour-in-Chief because he speaks their "truths". He did not create a movement, he crystalized a cult that had been lying in solution.
1
The transcript for his interview with journalist David Muir reveals an obsessed mind, relentlessly fixated on proving his own popularity and continually veered into The Twilight Zone....
.... where reality isn't real, but the psychological horror you feel is real, as the most powerful human in the world is living a fantasy existence where truth or facts are irrelevant and shut down.
We are literally being transported into an unknown dimension, “between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.”
.... where reality isn't real, but the psychological horror you feel is real, as the most powerful human in the world is living a fantasy existence where truth or facts are irrelevant and shut down.
We are literally being transported into an unknown dimension, “between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.”
Yes, thank you for your honesty and courage. I can't agree with you more. If its a lie, don't sugar coat it and call it what it is a lie; and call a pathological liar what he or her is-a pathological liar.
2
Trump is clearly deranged, and is not a legitimate president. He is destroying any shred of credibility he may have had.
He is dangerous, unfit, and is wrecking havoc on America and the world.
The resulting damage is his fault, and the fault of the spineless Republicans that don't stand up to him. So much for "conservative values" or any respect for the constitution.
He lives in a fantasy land of lies. He must be removed from an office he never earned or deserved.
He is dangerous, unfit, and is wrecking havoc on America and the world.
The resulting damage is his fault, and the fault of the spineless Republicans that don't stand up to him. So much for "conservative values" or any respect for the constitution.
He lives in a fantasy land of lies. He must be removed from an office he never earned or deserved.
6
I believe that the lies are calculated to serve both tactical and strategic goals. Tactically they control the new cycle and deflect from anything else that might be happening. How could more news coverage be given to how Trump feels about the size of his inaugural audience and the 3 million people who marched worldwide on the following day? Strategically, each lie provokes a skirmish that further establishes the "running war with the media". This "war"
has been carefully cultivated to buffer him from any negative news stories which he will always counter by "Listen, folks, you all know that the press is at war with me and how thoroughly dishonest they are".
has been carefully cultivated to buffer him from any negative news stories which he will always counter by "Listen, folks, you all know that the press is at war with me and how thoroughly dishonest they are".
2
This is all he knows. Puffery is the only value of the Trump brand. Everything is hyperbole- the greatest, most beautiful, very classy, all gilt and velvet, all show with no need of substance.
He has never had to suffer negative consequences of any untruth, all has been cleaned up by his father's accountants and managers. Mr. Trump has no understanding of the difference between reality and his bloated imagination, and doesn't care. His word is not his bond, it means nothing, and it never has.
He has never had to suffer negative consequences of any untruth, all has been cleaned up by his father's accountants and managers. Mr. Trump has no understanding of the difference between reality and his bloated imagination, and doesn't care. His word is not his bond, it means nothing, and it never has.
2
Disaster, famine and death was a direct result of Soviet ideology in the early 50's and copied by Mao in this Five Year plan in the late 50's. Any science based fact contradicting accepted ideology was rejected resulting in the death of tens of millions of people in both nations. People did not just die from hunger but commited suicide, infanticide, fraticide and murder and were left to eat the dead. Western civilization did not succeed except with the use of Knowledge and Truth. There is a price to be paid when reality is denied because it contradicts someones inflexible preconceived notions of truth.
Thank you, Mr. Blow, for all your columns on Trump.
He is mentally unfit to be president, unhinged. Call your senators and representative and tell them so. They hate to get calls from upset constituents -- so definitely call them.
Congressional main switchboard phone number is 202-224-3121. That number puts you through to any senator's or representative's office.
He is mentally unfit to be president, unhinged. Call your senators and representative and tell them so. They hate to get calls from upset constituents -- so definitely call them.
Congressional main switchboard phone number is 202-224-3121. That number puts you through to any senator's or representative's office.
3
"Poland has just attacked us; they started the war."
"Hillary is leading by 85%"
"America The Beautiful"
The world has had it with "The Truth" and is more interested in emotions rather than "facts and figures." Trump is just taking advantage of these millions of moments of fake truth.
"Hillary is leading by 85%"
"America The Beautiful"
The world has had it with "The Truth" and is more interested in emotions rather than "facts and figures." Trump is just taking advantage of these millions of moments of fake truth.
How did Trump meet up with Conway, Manafore, and all the surrogates on the TV shows. That such alternate facts supporters have been gathered in Golden World it seems a statistical impossibility that so many truth tortured beings could be gathered in one spot. Is there a online site for liars to meet kindred souls? A bar for the untruthy to gargle together? A 12 step anonymous meeting place where the cure is to be avoided at all costs?
It's absolutely astonishing that so many truth troubled deranged apologists could even fit in Trump tower or 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
It's absolutely astonishing that so many truth troubled deranged apologists could even fit in Trump tower or 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Thank-you Charles Blow. Your courage in speaking the truth about Trump provides all with the belief that this swindler’s lies will be called out, and this administration and the GOP will be called to account for their actions. Continue to speak against this morally corrupt con-man and his white house proxies. You are correct 'double speak' and ‘alternative facts’, is nothing less than lying.
1
Thank you for your valiant efforts to describe the horror Trump & gang are doing to the USA. It is truly astonishing to me how much stupidity, malice and ignorance exists in the USA.
Please keep on calling the liars out. It is encouraging to those of us who are determined to survive Trump' malicious, petty regime.
a retired librarian
Please keep on calling the liars out. It is encouraging to those of us who are determined to survive Trump' malicious, petty regime.
a retired librarian
1
An "alternative fact" is an oxymoron. There are not alternative facts. There could be additional facts, but an alternative fact is a lie. It is incumbent on the press to investigate what they print and make sure it is true. The same should be true for Trump. Since he won't do that and he is the leader of the free world, the free press is our only hope in making clear to the world what is a fact and what is a lie. Charles Blow accepts this responsibility. Let's see if the rest of the free press takes this responsibility seriously!
What could explain the concurrence of Mr. Trump's rise to power and the utterance of fake news other than right wing mendacity? Is there any alternative view? Alternative fact?
1
The front page of this newspaper says reporters are struggling with describing Trump's statements. The answer is so easy, call them LIES.
1
It must be hard being Donald Trump.
1
He spent the campaign calling Hillary a liar. Maybe she was but he certainly is and who would know better than a chronic liar.
1
In less than a week, the Mad Hatter has created more uproar than even Warpresident Bush could generate in his disastrous eight years of havoc. The Hatter is seriously deranged, utterly dysfunctional. When psychopaths are caught in a lie, they tell a bigger lie. God knows where this will lead or how many will follow this madman.
Of course I'm with Charles on this because he is telling the truth.
"Indeed, one of the greatest threats Trump poses is that he corrupts and corrodes the absoluteness of truth, facts and science."
But what the Times and all of journalism should be required to own is how it has allowed important powerful figures to state whatever they want unchecked basically forever. We still routinely read and hear lies day in and day out in our news media.
And there are so many ways to lie. It can even be said that when reporting the news journalist who do not call out any misrepresentation are lying. Their stated mission is to report events accurately so when they allow politicians to use them to propagandize they are aiding and abetting. While Democrats obviously are not perfect Republicans have run a thirty year misinformation campaign with the cooperation of our news media. And it is infuriating as it is very much responsible for the current situation where absoluteness of truth, facts and science have been corroded with the aid of a spineless media who have become experts in the use of weasel words used to work around falsity they haven't the courage to challenge.
"Indeed, one of the greatest threats Trump poses is that he corrupts and corrodes the absoluteness of truth, facts and science."
But what the Times and all of journalism should be required to own is how it has allowed important powerful figures to state whatever they want unchecked basically forever. We still routinely read and hear lies day in and day out in our news media.
And there are so many ways to lie. It can even be said that when reporting the news journalist who do not call out any misrepresentation are lying. Their stated mission is to report events accurately so when they allow politicians to use them to propagandize they are aiding and abetting. While Democrats obviously are not perfect Republicans have run a thirty year misinformation campaign with the cooperation of our news media. And it is infuriating as it is very much responsible for the current situation where absoluteness of truth, facts and science have been corroded with the aid of a spineless media who have become experts in the use of weasel words used to work around falsity they haven't the courage to challenge.
Claiming an "alternative fact" you actually believe is technically not lying. It is delusion
Dear Mr Blow, please keep writing about all the lies of this despicable megalomaniac... The rest of us, those who don't have a public platform to complaint about his attempts to kill truth, control ideas, or otherwise prevent reality from surfacing, depend on you. Thank you for being the voice of reason, sir!
Sometimes I have these fantasies ... What if were to continually present DJT with incontrovertible truth of his lies? Would that cause his teeny, tiny brain to explode (and I mean this figuratively not literally)? But then I think about Pence as President-in-Waiting, and those fantasies disappear.
Liars calling someone else liars never works out very well. Maybe the collective media should review the moral of the children's fable: The little boy who cried, "wolf"....
2
The reputable media will always post a correction when they make a mistake in their facts with an qpology if needed. Trump does not care. If he says it it must be true. We are talking about a person with a god complex, but his lies about voter fraud is truly horrifying as it strikes at the structure of our freedom to vote with coming voter suppression laws. If Trump has his way his bumbling and insidious causes will wind up costing billions and perhaps as Republicans hope destroy the government.
I guess we can just call this madman's despicable lying as alternative facts. Republicans beware. The progressive movement will boot you all out of your cushy seats come two years. I just hope the country and world can survive until then.
Stop worrying about Trump , he is a GOP patsy and is to stupid to know it...worry about Pence..thats a time bomb ready to go off.
I don't disagree with Trump's trouble with veracity. Charles Blow is largely correct in his assessment of the new president.
Trouble is Trump himself and his followers are all saying the same things about their opponents and their critics in the media: everything we hear and see is a lie to damage Trump.
So we have two factions, Trump and his throng, and the Trump dissenters, who believe the other side only lies about everything.
And that's where we are in America right now: everybody is a liar. Who you lie to depends on who you support politically.
I have no answer to this quandary, and see no end to this strife; I see just bewilderment.
Trouble is Trump himself and his followers are all saying the same things about their opponents and their critics in the media: everything we hear and see is a lie to damage Trump.
So we have two factions, Trump and his throng, and the Trump dissenters, who believe the other side only lies about everything.
And that's where we are in America right now: everybody is a liar. Who you lie to depends on who you support politically.
I have no answer to this quandary, and see no end to this strife; I see just bewilderment.
There is a much larger issue here. A president who is, by nature, an unfettered liar is also a moral polluter. The damage this man will do to the integrity of the office and to the country he serves is inestimable. Thank goodness for journalists like Charles Blow who are willing to call Trump out and tell the truth about his lies.
2
Who can forget the lie that started his campaign and propelled him into the hearts and minds of the electorate that supported him , Birtherism, or by another word racism ! He repeated that lie so often and made up facts and nonexistent evidence for years until cornered he feigned innocence and blamed Hillary. The man is depraved, a pathological liar, charlatan and crook yet he is the President. Every single falsehood, every single exaggeration must be called out , denounced and used to push this dangerous man out of the White House.
1
Dear Charles,
I just wanted to thank you and encourage you to continue doing what you are doing. We need people that is not afraid to tell the truth as it is and there are not that many left.
I just wanted to thank you and encourage you to continue doing what you are doing. We need people that is not afraid to tell the truth as it is and there are not that many left.
Is it a lie if the person saying it is insane, and believes each inconsistent, incoherent thing as he says it? Is the person reporting his hallucinations in all their exact detail lying, if he truly can't tell them from reality? Or is some of the press using "lying" as an euphemism for "insane"?
Thanks so much Charles for your solid work unifying our country, but, Oh, now I remember, you have professed a desire to undermine our President at every opportunity. So helpful. Gee thanks.
Come on guys...stop nitpicking about "delusion" v. "lie" and let's get on with forming a resistance movement that will have clout in the next election cycle and boot the monstrous extremists who now sully the Oval Office and Congress.
Love you,Mr. Blow...but please write "elected" from here on in, not elected!
Love you,Mr. Blow...but please write "elected" from here on in, not elected!
You have to be totally insane to claim that an election you won was rigged.
However, the investigation sounds like a great idea.
And when the (fraudulent) report is issued "proving" that there was widespread voter fraud and that the election was invalid, we must demand a redo.
However, the investigation sounds like a great idea.
And when the (fraudulent) report is issued "proving" that there was widespread voter fraud and that the election was invalid, we must demand a redo.
That line be "Donald Trump lying at the White House on Monday."
Bravo, Mr. Blow for not being afraid to tell the truth!
Breaking (fake) News!
Boy Scouts of America will drop "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent" from Twelve Points of Scout Law after complaints of "moral elitism."
Scout leaders will be instructed to offer President Trump as an "alternative role-model" in their ongoing work to strengthen the character of America's youth.
Boy Scouts of America will drop "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent" from Twelve Points of Scout Law after complaints of "moral elitism."
Scout leaders will be instructed to offer President Trump as an "alternative role-model" in their ongoing work to strengthen the character of America's youth.
Distortions, misrepresentations, falsehoods, these things are relics of a kindler, gentler era. Perhaps they are even misunderstood. But everybody knows what lying is. Some make their living trying to divert attention from lying, but even they know what a lie is.
Just saw on TV where his younger daughter is registered to vote in two states and they are both active registrations. Off to jail Tiffany!
2
Powerfully relevant to Mr. Blow's shrewd analysis is a Washington Monthly piece yesterday (1/25) by Nancy LeTourneau, "Is Trump Morally Unfit or Are We Facing a Constitution Crisis?" Is Trump deliberately disseminating lie after lie, LeTourneau explores—or is he in fact crazy? Ms. LeTourneau quotes conservative writer Jennifer Rubin: "Is he lying or is he unable to separate what he wants to believe and what exists, literally, in front of his eyes? The first makes him morally unfit…. If the latter, they [the Republicans]—and we all—have a constitutional crisis the likes of which we have never seen." Also see Martin Longman's WM piece of that same day, "The Emperor is Actually Crazy." Whatever at the crux of it, we cannot afford to sit back, legitimize this man's vile words and actions, and otherwise pretend that everything is OK.
Through his irresponsible rhetoric, Mr. Trump is destabilizing our country and the entire planet. He has put forth an image of angry America, randomly and often irrationally lashing out at foes and allies alike. Other counties are starting to look upon us as a petulant child with nuclear weapons. A constitutional test like no other is being thrust upon us by the most unstable and immature president in modern history.
I would advise the President and Sean Spicer that the media are journalists, not publicists. As to their feeling of "demoralization" because of the press behaving as journalists should, I can't help but realize that the President may be just too sensitive for the job he campaigned for. Looks like the Bully POTUS may really be "Snowflake" POTUS. Sad!
Now you know why your high school English teacher wanted you read Orwell's 1984. Too bad those white working class folks were all skipping class.
10
Not only do we need journalists to call out all the lies coming from this administration, we (the people) need to hear/learn/be reminded of just what the lie-of-the-moment is distracting us from.
So, how 'bout them Russian hackers?
So, how 'bout them Russian hackers?
2
The press never called out the Reagan/Bush family lies, always deferring.
Enough already.
Lives are at stake.
Enough already.
Lives are at stake.
2
when it comes to jurisprudence in this country we have always been told that it is better to let ten guilty go free than to find one innocent person guilty. of course we have learned that what happens in actuality is that an astounding number of innocents are found guilty and incarcerated and even executed. now the republicans want to do the same thing to voting rights. instead of taking the approach that it is better to let one illegal voter vote than to deny ten righteous voters the vote they are willing to deny millions the right to vote in order to stop a few tens of illegal voters from doing so. this is the state of affairs in the united states of trump - sad.
12
Protect the feeling of one insane megalomaniac, or protect 240 years of American democracy. Republicans, your choice.
31
If almost 3 million "Illegals" were smart enough to be able to vote in the election, I think they would also have been smart enough to vote in states where it would have made a difference in the Electoral College.
40
Thank you Charles Blow. You are holding up a standard by speaking truth to power, and providing an essential service to your readership.
I don't know where to begin. So I am going to simply say, thank you. Thank you for being so clear and straightforward in describing the man we now call president. Thank you, thank you.
15
I believe a psychological exam is required for work at the CIA and NSA. Startling that we're just trusting his statement "nobody's saner than me".
8
Thank you for continually calling out his lies - but of course this was, is and ever will be trump's modus operandi. What upsets me most about the "investigation" into the non existent voter fraud is that he is again deflecting from the fact that his entire presidency has arisen from the Russian interference in the US election process. The investigation should be into the Russian influence, rather than on non-existent voter fraud. Why is he wasting the US tax payers' money on a needless investigation into voter fraud rather than Russian interference. Oh wait, he doesn't really care about tax payers since he's not one himself - and is he or is he not a Russian puppet?
Perhaps Mr Trump is not lying but honestly believes much that sounds irrational to others. Delusions of grandeur "I am the most brilliant man who ever lived; I don't have to read books; I know more than my generals" are often fortifies by paranoid delusions :I can never fail; any apparent failures can only be explained by conspiracies against me or the tricks of my enemies.
4
Do not interview his associates who will simply repeat the lie. Let Trump's lies stand alone, let the press inform and the people scorn and protest and let Trump hear us LAUGH at his ridiculous boasting. We have all seen this before, on the various "playgrounds" in our lives where bullies roam. Let our calling out of these lies swell in every media so that our members of Congress know where we stand. Give our fellow citizens a chance to acknowledge that, whatever their reasons for voting for him, that they will not condone or stand for lying.
9
Thank you, Charles, for your peerless patriotism in continuing to call this immoral administration out. Ceaselessly spewing lies to adult Americans is one thing, but what damage is being caused to the youth of this nation? How are their challenged educators in civics classes, etc. dealing with this? How are their burdened parents coping, their religious leaders? Do we run the risk that Trump's pathology will, over time, seep into and do irreversible harm to the moral compass of future generations? Besides undermining the ethical stature of the Office of the President, Trump is so cynically instructing our sons and daughters that "truth" is just another position that may be readily ignored, discarded, or attacked. I fear for the long-term consequences of our "Lier in Chief" and his cronies.
7
Maybe it's just that I'm older. "Thou shall not bear false witness" used to be regarded seriously. It was a Commandment or something.
13
This will only be turned around if Fox News and the conservative commentators decide to tell their audiences the facts about most of these things, showing Trump and his minions are trying to deceive the public. If this happens, then only the really alternative media will be defending Trump, which represents too small an audience to protect him. He needs the 40% to stay intact. it remains to be seen whether the mainstream right-wing media will stay in line behind him.
7
It's hard to imagine the childhood Trump must have had to create such a warped sense reality and self image.
7
Mr. Blow tells us that "the press...when properly performing...are truth seekers" and Trump arose "during an age of severely damaged faith in institutions".
One of those severely damaged institutions is The Press. Poll after poll reveals that most of the American public does not believe or respect The Press. The failure of The Press to properly perform its truth seeking responsibilities explains much of the public distain for The Press.
The Press would do well to adhere to the oath to tell the Truth, the WHOLE Truth, and nothing but the Truth.
One of those severely damaged institutions is The Press. Poll after poll reveals that most of the American public does not believe or respect The Press. The failure of The Press to properly perform its truth seeking responsibilities explains much of the public distain for The Press.
The Press would do well to adhere to the oath to tell the Truth, the WHOLE Truth, and nothing but the Truth.
1
I notice that the title has shifted from calling President Trump a pathological liar to something more harmless. It would be interesting to know how the change came to be.
1
There should be deep concern about where Mr. Trump is trying to lead us.
So far, he seems to be playing from the Putin playbook. First, he is attempting to discredit and create distrust of the media. Second, with the claims of voter fraud, he is trying to destroy any confidence in the voting system. These a tactics used by would-be authoritarian regimes as we have seen in many countries and particularly in Russia. Where is Mr. Trump trying to lead us and how far will he go? Will the Republican Congress help in his endeavors?
So far, he seems to be playing from the Putin playbook. First, he is attempting to discredit and create distrust of the media. Second, with the claims of voter fraud, he is trying to destroy any confidence in the voting system. These a tactics used by would-be authoritarian regimes as we have seen in many countries and particularly in Russia. Where is Mr. Trump trying to lead us and how far will he go? Will the Republican Congress help in his endeavors?
5
Please do keep on writing so boldly, no matter what.
11
So the question is, which Democrat representative will shout at President Trump, "You lie, and lie, and lie, and lie...."
6
I'm told he cheats at golf, too.
It is imperative that journalists stay after Trump: bear down on him, challenge every lie, and keep light shining brightly on everything the Trump administration does. The press needs to work its sources, dig for leaks, and develop inside sources. As Trump clumsily alienates dedicated and talented workers throughout the federal government, as he did when speaking at the CIA headquarters, he will motivate people to leak information to the press.
When Trump refused to answer the CNN reporter's question at his absurd press conference, I wish the reporters had acted in solidarity, repeating the CNN reporter's question. Members of the press, we are counting on you!
When Trump refused to answer the CNN reporter's question at his absurd press conference, I wish the reporters had acted in solidarity, repeating the CNN reporter's question. Members of the press, we are counting on you!
7
Calling for an investigation of voter fraud shows that Trump is not simply a delusional liar, but he is not of a sound mind. He needs to resign.
6
as nixon said - it's not illegal if the president does it...
This is spot on, Charles. Those enablers surrounding him are equally responsible for the destruction he causes. It's unfathomable to me that he continues to behave without consequence.
5
Trump's inauguration was the most watched in history. The reason is all the online media, especially Twitter and Facebook. If you add all the numbers up Trump wins. I find it incredible that the media insists that Trump is wrong. I have a framed picture at home now with the headlines about Hillary Clinton winning with 98%. I want to make sure my kids learn about how trustworthy the media is (not at all). As soon as the final and complete numbers on the inauguration come out I will add another frame to my wall.
2
Since the one lie he keeps insisting on is the illegal voting matter I suggest we have another election right away- with Bernie Sanders running on the Democratic ticket.
3
Blow is bloviating about the meanings of words but doesn't even know what "continuously" means. Sad,
1
If around 40% of the U.S. population believes whatever President Trump says, then the news media needs to cover everything he says. It would be dangerous for his supporters and opponents as well to plead ignorance about the veracity of what Trump says. Fact check him and call him out when he lies.
5
Thank you Mr Blow. It is heartening to finally read a non-euphemistic
description of what is before everybody's eyes and ears.
description of what is before everybody's eyes and ears.
4
Thank you Mr Blow.
4
Hitler said, on April 27, 1923: "Again we need to reform the German press. A press which is in principle anti-nationalist cannot be tolerated. Whoever denies the nation can have no part in it. We must demand that the press shall become the instrument of the national self-education."
6
"Newspeak was designed not to extend but to diminish the range of thought ..."
George Orwell - 1984
George Orwell - 1984
5
Had members of the press been doing their job these last 35 years t rump would not have had a sniff of the Oval office. So it might be that his election will reawaken the sleeping giant that is our 4th Estate and it will one again speak truth to power.
No more false equivalence from you guys in the media. OK?
No more false equivalence from you guys in the media. OK?
3
Everyone should see the repeat of the Tavis Smiley interview with Professor & Author Robert Kuttner and co-Editor of The American Prospect (January 23, 2017). Not mincing words cloaked in euphemisms, he provided a clinical analysis of the mind and deeds of Donald Trump. The frightening this is; there was nothing hyperbolic about the assessment. Calling Donald Trump's every utterances not attached to a fact or truth- A LIE, must be done. No one should fear the word will lose its potency: Just as the "Birther Lie" became more potent over time- Repeated time-after-time; "Donald Trump's Lies"; "The Lies of Donald Trump"; "Donald Trump is lying" or any iteration thereof- Requires Stating.
5
Trump's investigation will be another debt the taxpayers will have to pay for to assuage his ego. Add that to the taxpayers' upfront expense of paying for the wall (which Trump says we will be reimbursed for - haha) and our tax bills will be through the roof.
4
Hogtie Trump to the Republican Party. Make the Republican Party the Party of Trump, forever. When their ship starts to sink, and it is already taking on water, the rats will drown, one at a time.
4
I am reminded of ship's Captain Queeg of the classic novel/film Caine Mutiny. Queeg, brilliantly portrayed by Humphrey Bogart, is at the helm of a ship in the war-time Pacific. Problem is, he lives in his own implacable, paranoid reality. In one remarkable episode, he becomes obsessed with the theft of a gallon of ice cream. He just won't let it go, distracted to the point of endangering the lives of his crewmen in the treacherous war-time waters. His delusional behavior finally inspires mutiny.
DJT is at the helm of our ship of state. We are in danger of foundering. There may or may not be a mutiny/impeachment. But one thing is for sure. As is the case with Herman Wouk's fascinating character study, there will be no happy ending. We sail on treacherous waters and are lost at sea.
DJT is at the helm of our ship of state. We are in danger of foundering. There may or may not be a mutiny/impeachment. But one thing is for sure. As is the case with Herman Wouk's fascinating character study, there will be no happy ending. We sail on treacherous waters and are lost at sea.
35
I got it! Finally!
I am the Trump thy Trump and I will not have false Trumps before me. It goes on from there , but you get the picture. He can't lie. Whatever he says is true. What's all this fuss about? He says it, its true. What a relief it is! Finally we have a Leader we can trust. Trustworthy Trump.
That's the ticket!!
I am the Trump thy Trump and I will not have false Trumps before me. It goes on from there , but you get the picture. He can't lie. Whatever he says is true. What's all this fuss about? He says it, its true. What a relief it is! Finally we have a Leader we can trust. Trustworthy Trump.
That's the ticket!!
11
Charles,
Thank you for the article. Truth to power today and everyday. Not just for the next four years but forever. It is the only way to save us from our mistakes and keep us free. Keep up the good work. Time to focus on Pence and Bannon. The puppet masters need to be exposed much more because they are puppets themselves. In the grand old tradition, follow the money. It is the path to the truth and the power that seeks to control all of us. Keep shining the light so all of us can see the ugly truths. But once in a while do remember to show us a few beautiful ones just to keep us going by reminding all of us what we are fighting for. God Bless.
Thank you for the article. Truth to power today and everyday. Not just for the next four years but forever. It is the only way to save us from our mistakes and keep us free. Keep up the good work. Time to focus on Pence and Bannon. The puppet masters need to be exposed much more because they are puppets themselves. In the grand old tradition, follow the money. It is the path to the truth and the power that seeks to control all of us. Keep shining the light so all of us can see the ugly truths. But once in a while do remember to show us a few beautiful ones just to keep us going by reminding all of us what we are fighting for. God Bless.
28
Yes indeed he is a liar.
Can we now pick one or two of his most blatant impeachable offenses and start the process of impeaching him? Please.
Can we now pick one or two of his most blatant impeachable offenses and start the process of impeaching him? Please.
24
Not going to happen with Republican control of Congress
Has anything changed in America after the Trump inauguration? Of course! Before he was a bad presidential candidates who hated the immigrants and mocked the people with disability. Afterwards he became a bad president married to an immigrant barely speaking the English language fathering an autistic child...
That tells you about the overall incompetence of our free press and how much they lack the professional integrity.
We have the worst journalists in the world that intentionally divided and polarized the citizens. When the press does the same in the Saudi Arabia by inflaming the sectarian Sunni-Shiite hatred we know they do it because they would be tortured or killed otherwise. What kind of excuse have the American journalists?
Was there the massive voter fraud during the last election? You bet! How do I know it? It fits the pattern. We are famous for breaking the law on the mass scale...
Is there any dispute that there are a few dozen million illegal immigrants in America? They didn’t come here to visit but to work. There is the law on the books requiring the certain documents to be legally employed including the Social Security card and personal ID document. All of them had to be counterfeit in order to be hired.
It’s not that just the illegal immigrants broke the law but the employers and businesses hiring them as well as the journalists intentionally turning a blind eye on the chronic problem.
The working Americans and blue color class paid the price!
That tells you about the overall incompetence of our free press and how much they lack the professional integrity.
We have the worst journalists in the world that intentionally divided and polarized the citizens. When the press does the same in the Saudi Arabia by inflaming the sectarian Sunni-Shiite hatred we know they do it because they would be tortured or killed otherwise. What kind of excuse have the American journalists?
Was there the massive voter fraud during the last election? You bet! How do I know it? It fits the pattern. We are famous for breaking the law on the mass scale...
Is there any dispute that there are a few dozen million illegal immigrants in America? They didn’t come here to visit but to work. There is the law on the books requiring the certain documents to be legally employed including the Social Security card and personal ID document. All of them had to be counterfeit in order to be hired.
It’s not that just the illegal immigrants broke the law but the employers and businesses hiring them as well as the journalists intentionally turning a blind eye on the chronic problem.
The working Americans and blue color class paid the price!
3
Great job Charles. Although each of us can talk blue in the face, only the Press can really engage a liar by never letting go of it. Think about what the Republican Party and especially Congress did to Hillary about Benghazi and then later with the so-called emails. That's what really costs Hillary the election, even though nothing was really proved. It was just implied and that's all it took.
Don't let him off the hook: EVER! Remember Trump with the Birth-er conspiracy? When it came to the point when he had to say something, what did he say? Not that I was wrong. He said that Hillary started that; not him. Trump is a LAIR and will always be a LAIR. Never let him go!
Don't let him off the hook: EVER! Remember Trump with the Birth-er conspiracy? When it came to the point when he had to say something, what did he say? Not that I was wrong. He said that Hillary started that; not him. Trump is a LAIR and will always be a LAIR. Never let him go!
20
Trump should have been born in the Dark Ages. He would have made a great Pope. Not a shred of comprehension of science, instead the conviction that science was magic of the black sort that must be eliminated, punishing, torturing and executing those who delved into and, worse, spread the knowledge of the wonders of the world. Trump fears science today for the same reason the popes did: it is the search for Truth.
Pope Donald the First believes himself infallible, and demands he be declared as such, just as the early Roman Catholic leaders believed. The words that issue forth from his mouth are not his but God's. And Pope Trump has appointed his Knights Templar and expects --demands-- they be given free rein to impose his whims.
A free press must be our Galileo, out Copernicus, our Bruno. Trump has said within the past 48 hours that he will bring back torture, changing the law to allow it if need be. (Well, yes , Mr. Trump, the law would need to be changed, but that is the work of the legislative branch, remember? Oh right, you still haven't read the Constitution. Sorry, my bad. I don't tweet, but I'll try to find someone who does to tweet it to you, hopefully before you begin burning ink-stained wretches at the stake.) He is not merely a pathological liar; he is criminally, dangerously so.
Kellyanne Conway (Alice in Trump's Wonderland) and Sean Spicer (he of the Mad Hat) are merely automatons spewing Trump's lies when he feels the need to rest for a few moments.
Pope Donald the First believes himself infallible, and demands he be declared as such, just as the early Roman Catholic leaders believed. The words that issue forth from his mouth are not his but God's. And Pope Trump has appointed his Knights Templar and expects --demands-- they be given free rein to impose his whims.
A free press must be our Galileo, out Copernicus, our Bruno. Trump has said within the past 48 hours that he will bring back torture, changing the law to allow it if need be. (Well, yes , Mr. Trump, the law would need to be changed, but that is the work of the legislative branch, remember? Oh right, you still haven't read the Constitution. Sorry, my bad. I don't tweet, but I'll try to find someone who does to tweet it to you, hopefully before you begin burning ink-stained wretches at the stake.) He is not merely a pathological liar; he is criminally, dangerously so.
Kellyanne Conway (Alice in Trump's Wonderland) and Sean Spicer (he of the Mad Hat) are merely automatons spewing Trump's lies when he feels the need to rest for a few moments.
12
Dear Mr Blow
I wish you would spend less time on Trumps lies and more time on ISSUES
I think everyone who reads your column already knows that the Birther disabled mocking trump university scam person is a liar
What we need to know are how his day to day actions are affecting people
I wish you would spend less time on Trumps lies and more time on ISSUES
I think everyone who reads your column already knows that the Birther disabled mocking trump university scam person is a liar
What we need to know are how his day to day actions are affecting people
3
Thank you Mr. Blow. This needs to be repeated every single day. He is a liar.
19
I find it rich that this author is finally standing up for the truth. Where were you when mr. Obama said that we could keep our doctors if we wanted to? How about when Harry Reid stood on the floor of the senate and lied about Mitt Romney paying no taxes? No Charles, you are not the keeper of the truth. As a matter of fact, you are a particularly skillful purveyor of fake news.
4
Or the attack in Benghazi blamed on a YouTube video?
Or Bill Clinton (a serial liar if there ever was one) perjuring himself under oath?
It's only lying when done by a non-Lefty.
Or Bill Clinton (a serial liar if there ever was one) perjuring himself under oath?
It's only lying when done by a non-Lefty.
Trump is our President and I would like to see him act presidential. Please, face the facts, President Trump you lost the popular vote - by a lot. Your inauguration crowds sucked. But you are the President. Stop whining - and stop lying - you are losing the support of even those who are willing to give you a chance. And, to Trump staffers, the only thing worse than playing a buffoon, is playing the buffoon's buffoon.
10
As with disasters such as train wrecks and airplane crashes, the disaster that befell the USA on the USA on November 8, 2016 had had more than one but-for causes. Usually, it takes multiple failures for a fatal crash to occur. If any of the failures did not occur the crash would not have happened. Thus, it is equally valid to say that Putin's hacking had as much to do with Trump's election victory as the FBI interference.
We now know that the statistics are that Clinton would have needed to win the popular vote by about 3.4 million to have won in the electoral college as opposed to the 3 million that she actually won by. She probably could have survived the FBI interference were it not for the Russian interference and vice versa. Thus, it can be said both were equally responsible and the outcome would have been different if either had not occurred.
More important now is what the motives were. There has been much speculation concerning Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“…he question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes. That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shock came with the 1973 war. Iran also provides opportunities for conflict.."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
We now know that the statistics are that Clinton would have needed to win the popular vote by about 3.4 million to have won in the electoral college as opposed to the 3 million that she actually won by. She probably could have survived the FBI interference were it not for the Russian interference and vice versa. Thus, it can be said both were equally responsible and the outcome would have been different if either had not occurred.
More important now is what the motives were. There has been much speculation concerning Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“…he question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes. That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shock came with the 1973 war. Iran also provides opportunities for conflict.."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
6
It's about time someone in the media called him a liar. I just wish you had said this during the campaign!
11
He did and so did a lot of others
1
Four "diagnoses", Mr. Blow.
Extreme Narcissist
Sociopath (or perhaps psychopath)
Borderline personality
Defective reality testing (i.e., psychosis)
Extreme Narcissist
Sociopath (or perhaps psychopath)
Borderline personality
Defective reality testing (i.e., psychosis)
10
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
17
Maybe we need a new word to describe a person who tweets things he may or may not believe to be true, but are demonstrably incorrect. How about "imagineer?
4
"imagineer"? Disney already owns this word.
Thank you to the press for finally labeling these as lies. Thank you.
One other word we might start using: "distraction."
One other word we might start using: "distraction."
14
Most political figures lie to a certain degree, but Trump is indeed a pathological liar. It seems he can't help himself, and when he is clearly caught in a lie he just keeps repeating it. But the scariest part is the people who support him don't see it. Fertile ground for fascism.
25
look, we are all wasting our time trying to understand Trump. I am a psychiatrist and if I saw this man, he would have the clear diagnosis of a manic state featuring delusions of grandeur, and a break from reality, He demonstrates pressure of speech and tangential thinking. He would be admitted to the psychiatric ward, put on antipsychotic drugs and warrant time in the seclusion room. In such a state, none of what he says makes any sense. One would hope that the antipsychotic drugs bring him back to reality, but only a certain amount because his baseline is narcissistic personality disorder. That will not change. He should go and live out his life in a stress free home, and be monitored for relapse into further psychosis. End of story.
36
Is it a lie when the falsehood is believed to be true? It's a mental illness. Trump is repeating things that are demonstrably false: 1) He never mocked the disabled reported. 2) He never dissed the Intelligence Community. 3) The crowd at his inauguration was larger that Obama's.
Trump is mentally unbalanced and dangerous. The Republicans who truly are patriots will have to remove him from office for the good of the country.
Trump is mentally unbalanced and dangerous. The Republicans who truly are patriots will have to remove him from office for the good of the country.
20
The only sure way to find the truth behind the election results is to have a redo. I propose that on April 1 everybody gets to recast their vote to prove one way the other who should be the president of the United States. What say you Mr. Trump? Do you have the "hands big enough" to try a real reelection to prove your point?
I didn't think so.
I didn't think so.
12
What if he is not technically "lying"? What if he believes this? What if he does not just suffer from personality disorders (narcissism, sociopath)? What if he is also psychotic?
This is not going to end well.
This is not going to end well.
10
Fact: The audience (Spicer's word) for Trump's inaugural was the largest in history. Technology made this possible.
Fact: Voter fraud at the polling booth exists (check out Project Veritas tape of New York election official).
Did 3-5 million voters do so fraudulently? TBD.
Lie: Calling Kellyanne Conway "Trump's mistress of misdirection."
Fact: Voter fraud at the polling booth exists (check out Project Veritas tape of New York election official).
Did 3-5 million voters do so fraudulently? TBD.
Lie: Calling Kellyanne Conway "Trump's mistress of misdirection."
2
He is deeply ill, and the "vast right-wing conspiracy" is using him to further their ends. We thought he was Putin's puppet, but who is really pulling his strings?
7
What is driving the news these days is Trump's lies. Perhaps what is worse, though, is moving on to the next lie and forgetting and perhaps dismissing the old lies. Russia interfered with our election. Last week it was a catastrophe, this week it is forgotten. For at least two years, Trump shouted that Barack Obama was an illegitimate president because he wasn't even a real American. Now he is called illegitimate be John Lewis, not the entire tea party as Obama was, and stop the presses. Now the entire press corps is lower than dirt. This excuse for a president has been getting a pass his whole life. Thank you Mr. Blow for not yielding. Please advise your fellows to keep hammering the Russia-Trump connection. Paul Manafort is gone, but I hope, not forgotten.
6
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Steven Bannon was found to be registered to vote in two states. When might we expect Trump to demand his prosecution? Oh, that's right - this voter fraud fiction applies only to left-leaning voters, not to the right wing. No doubt we'll receive the "results" of Trump's "major investigation" at the same time he and Joe Arpaio release their "findings" about the ostensible "illegitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate, " about which Trump ow simply declines to speak. 1/26, 10:39 AM
270
In Politico Magazine, Maria Konnikova offers the science for why lying works. When we process a statement, we first must accept it as true and then - if we have the mental time and energy - we interrogate its validity. Some "alternate facts" are so silly that we can dispose of them quickly; different minds at different speeds. But some facts are more difficult and when we're barraged with too many, we develop cognitive overload: the statement sits, untested . . . until we hear it again. If we hear it again and again and don't take the effort to test it, apparently it "sticks" and becomes part of our perception of reality.
This explains my own (irritated) reality, where multiple family members, all with advanced degrees, have begun to "forward" untested pseudo-facts to friends/family, who probably then forward again - exponentially broadcasting to an audience, some/many of whom don't take the time to validate/test. And so on.
It seems wholly unlikely that Donald Trump is bright enough to be doing this consciously - if he was that smart, he could have used the same technique to seduce far more of us. He's preying on the vulnerable, on those who are predisposed (or intellectually unwilling/unable) to accept without verifying. In these pages those who respect truth need to stop whining. We get it. He really is doing this to us. We need to harness psychology, ethically, to counter alternative facts. Less bitterness; more thoughtful action.
This explains my own (irritated) reality, where multiple family members, all with advanced degrees, have begun to "forward" untested pseudo-facts to friends/family, who probably then forward again - exponentially broadcasting to an audience, some/many of whom don't take the time to validate/test. And so on.
It seems wholly unlikely that Donald Trump is bright enough to be doing this consciously - if he was that smart, he could have used the same technique to seduce far more of us. He's preying on the vulnerable, on those who are predisposed (or intellectually unwilling/unable) to accept without verifying. In these pages those who respect truth need to stop whining. We get it. He really is doing this to us. We need to harness psychology, ethically, to counter alternative facts. Less bitterness; more thoughtful action.
232
Please stop it, people.
It doesn't matter even a little bit if Trump is lying, if he is delusional, if he believes what he says and so is not, technically lying. None of it matters.
What he says is patently false. Not supported by facts. Unconnected to reality. And dangerous.
It doesn't matter what you call it, he is actively pursuing the ruin of our country. Willfully pursuing it.
He is a bad man. He is not a leader, he is a dictator. In point of fact, it will be easy to get rid of him whenever the will to do so manifests itself, and from wherever it comes.
The bigger danger, the deeper problem, is the true ugliness that resides at the top of Republican Party. For them, Trump represents a transient if magnificent opportunity. But Trump or no Trump they will persist in their lust for power and their disregard for America.
McConnell and Ryan, especially are the Lenin and Stalin of Republican America. Priebus, while noticeable, is just one more seeker of crumbs from the big boys' table.
It doesn't matter even a little bit if Trump is lying, if he is delusional, if he believes what he says and so is not, technically lying. None of it matters.
What he says is patently false. Not supported by facts. Unconnected to reality. And dangerous.
It doesn't matter what you call it, he is actively pursuing the ruin of our country. Willfully pursuing it.
He is a bad man. He is not a leader, he is a dictator. In point of fact, it will be easy to get rid of him whenever the will to do so manifests itself, and from wherever it comes.
The bigger danger, the deeper problem, is the true ugliness that resides at the top of Republican Party. For them, Trump represents a transient if magnificent opportunity. But Trump or no Trump they will persist in their lust for power and their disregard for America.
McConnell and Ryan, especially are the Lenin and Stalin of Republican America. Priebus, while noticeable, is just one more seeker of crumbs from the big boys' table.
3
"the press ... when properly performing, ... are truth seekers " Yes, yes, yes. Truth seeking is number 1, not profits, not devotion to our fearless leader, not devotion to a political party or our ethnic groupl and yes, not devotion to our religion. I will always take the side of the truth seekers, the Galileos, the scientists, the Charles Blows and the the Malia Yousafzies of the world.
2
"He will not divide us"
You already have.
You already have.
Report lies - one lie leads to another and erodes all trust. What is left when we cannot trust anything our President says? Trump is pathological liar; he cannot distinguish reality from his magical thinking of whatever he says is true. He is mentally ill.
I hold his enablers fully accountable- Conley, pence, Bannon are fully aware of what they are saying and doing; Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are close behind. These people are not fools but they are behaving foolishly. They are using Trump for their own means just as Chaney corrupted and used a decent George W. Bush . they have no shame or true loyalty to America and our founding values.
I hold his enablers fully accountable- Conley, pence, Bannon are fully aware of what they are saying and doing; Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are close behind. These people are not fools but they are behaving foolishly. They are using Trump for their own means just as Chaney corrupted and used a decent George W. Bush . they have no shame or true loyalty to America and our founding values.
2
"Also, he who is devoid of morality is immune to demoralization. " Well said, Mr. Blow.
3
It is sad to see how frustration, loss, fear and hatred affect a good writer's work.
Charles and the progressive 90% of the mainstream media reporters and editors have been at WAR with Mr. Trump for over a year, their reputations for independence long abandoned. That is something that Thomas Jefferson considered essential for a democratic republic to work.
Charles now endorses this pity-pat war of attrition the failing media still want to fight against our President. Meanwhile, American business is awakening from sixteen years of indolent management of the economy and jobs AND wages are going to be better and better for the rest of the U.S.
For years after WWII people were finding isolated Japanese soldiers who had been forgotten by their army who didn't know the war was over. Charles now stands as a bleak reminder that we still have people who haven't admitted that their war to keep the voters' choice out of the White House is over.
When Mr. Obama was being resisted eight years ago this month, Charles constantly called those resisters ''RACIST!''. Does Charles own a mirror?
Charles and the progressive 90% of the mainstream media reporters and editors have been at WAR with Mr. Trump for over a year, their reputations for independence long abandoned. That is something that Thomas Jefferson considered essential for a democratic republic to work.
Charles now endorses this pity-pat war of attrition the failing media still want to fight against our President. Meanwhile, American business is awakening from sixteen years of indolent management of the economy and jobs AND wages are going to be better and better for the rest of the U.S.
For years after WWII people were finding isolated Japanese soldiers who had been forgotten by their army who didn't know the war was over. Charles now stands as a bleak reminder that we still have people who haven't admitted that their war to keep the voters' choice out of the White House is over.
When Mr. Obama was being resisted eight years ago this month, Charles constantly called those resisters ''RACIST!''. Does Charles own a mirror?
4
The "voters choice"? He lost by 2.8 million votes!
1
Staunch should be "stanch"
This spoiled, entitled, self-obsessed Liar-In-Chief is so unaware of any consequences as to not care about collateral damage from his reflexive lies. In one case that includes me and my co-workers.
Election day I started work at 6:15, before dawn, and got home from delivering ballots after midnight. I am a PA election worker and have been for 16 elections. Our small team of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents works long hours for less than minimum wage as a form of public service. We do it because we want our elections fair. It can be fun, challenging, nerve-wracking work, and all on the same day. The one thing it is not is corrupt.
I am one of the top two. I am a life-long Rep who works with the top Dem to insure a fair process. We pride ourselves on doing the job correctly. We have a great team.
To claim that 3 million foreigners voted, all against him, is absurd, but also an insult to poll workers across the country. If the claim were uniform, it would mean that 2.3%, about 50 illegal votes, were in my township, which did not happen. The alternative supposes that in some corrupt precincts there was massive fraud, on the order of 20%+ of votes cast, to overwhelm precincts like mine where the process worked.
This fantasy insults all of us who believe in and work hard for fair elections. Lies do have consequences. Why isn't winning the E.C. enough? Why tell hurtful lie about it?
Election day I started work at 6:15, before dawn, and got home from delivering ballots after midnight. I am a PA election worker and have been for 16 elections. Our small team of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents works long hours for less than minimum wage as a form of public service. We do it because we want our elections fair. It can be fun, challenging, nerve-wracking work, and all on the same day. The one thing it is not is corrupt.
I am one of the top two. I am a life-long Rep who works with the top Dem to insure a fair process. We pride ourselves on doing the job correctly. We have a great team.
To claim that 3 million foreigners voted, all against him, is absurd, but also an insult to poll workers across the country. If the claim were uniform, it would mean that 2.3%, about 50 illegal votes, were in my township, which did not happen. The alternative supposes that in some corrupt precincts there was massive fraud, on the order of 20%+ of votes cast, to overwhelm precincts like mine where the process worked.
This fantasy insults all of us who believe in and work hard for fair elections. Lies do have consequences. Why isn't winning the E.C. enough? Why tell hurtful lie about it?
8
Welcome to the REAL WORLD of trump DICTATORSHIP - yes, now happening in the USA - this vulgar, vengeful bully of a boy is so upset he didn't get voted access to the COOL KIDS table he can't focus on being a dignified US president.
Someone in the world needs to stand up to trump.
Our Republican legislators have not the courage or the backbone.
Even our Democrat politicians have no voice against injustice except for Bernie Sanders - this man has grace & morals!
The American Voters chose economic gain over SOCIAL JUSTICE and ETHICS.
The white American voters have and will continue to allow trump to destroy our Constitutional rights to gain money/ greatness and pander to the Christians that demand LGBTQ, women's control over their body functions, religious freedom& destruction of our environment, be controlled by the NEW CHRISTIAN SHARIA LAW - coming soon to a sanctuary city and the rest of our country near you sooner then you thought possible.
Someone in the world needs to stand up to trump.
Our Republican legislators have not the courage or the backbone.
Even our Democrat politicians have no voice against injustice except for Bernie Sanders - this man has grace & morals!
The American Voters chose economic gain over SOCIAL JUSTICE and ETHICS.
The white American voters have and will continue to allow trump to destroy our Constitutional rights to gain money/ greatness and pander to the Christians that demand LGBTQ, women's control over their body functions, religious freedom& destruction of our environment, be controlled by the NEW CHRISTIAN SHARIA LAW - coming soon to a sanctuary city and the rest of our country near you sooner then you thought possible.
2
Is it not possible that those who voted for Trump knowing that he lied often, use this rationale:
"I have been out of work for a while, I don't have a decent health care, I don't feel safe anymore, immigrants are taking over my job, if Donald can give my job back, then, who cares if he lied, if he can't control himself, if he is not releasing his tax return, even if he is actually a Putin's puppet, or even if he is actually making tons of money by being a president and still keeping his Trump business. Who cares with all of that, if he can bring my job back, make me and my family a decent living again, and make us feel safe again?"
How would you reply to that?
"I have been out of work for a while, I don't have a decent health care, I don't feel safe anymore, immigrants are taking over my job, if Donald can give my job back, then, who cares if he lied, if he can't control himself, if he is not releasing his tax return, even if he is actually a Putin's puppet, or even if he is actually making tons of money by being a president and still keeping his Trump business. Who cares with all of that, if he can bring my job back, make me and my family a decent living again, and make us feel safe again?"
How would you reply to that?
3
I might refer them to the Trumpgrets (it is either instagram or twitter) where other Trump voters are starting to describe second thoughts about the guy they voted for)
1
That he won't...bring your job back, give you a decent living, or make you feel safe again.
1
Donald Trump does not really care about creating meaningful, well-paying jobs for American Citizens. And... he is going to eliminate many American's Healthcare. He is lying. His team of conspirators which include Putin and many of the wealthiest people in this country and the world care about their own future and wealth. His actions indicate that he is interested in increasing his own bank account and that of his businesses and his ability to control his businesses within a global economy. Do you think building a Wall is going to improve our economy? Really?
1
How can anyone with any degree of intelligence not realize that our President is mentally ill and that every thought in his head is all about feeding his ego?
How long can we live under the control of a man who needs to be psychoanalyzed?
How long can we live under the control of a man who needs to be psychoanalyzed?
13
See 25th amendment procedure for declaring a president unable to do the job; then the VP takes over (Pence has dumb ideas but does not appear insane)
Trump is a master communicator who wishes to control the news cycle at all times. "Truthful Hyperbole" is one way he achieves his objective of staying top of mind. The problem I see is the more people call out the administration for perpetuating false narratives, the more they divert the narrative to his agenda of controlling the news. The lies are not the issue. They are a feint. Don't fall for it.
3
"A truly independent press is not stocked with political acolytes but political adversaries"
I disagree. I always felt like the press should be neutral. Report the facts.
Let the reader form their own opinion. (But, even that's a problem as everyone challenges each other's facts and who paid for for the studies, how were they conducted, etc..)
We also have our own innate biases that no matter what we do, work their way into how something is reported and written about. I yearn for exact and true reporting of real facts, and the desire for everyone to work together even though we know not everyone will agree or get their way all the time.
I disagree. I always felt like the press should be neutral. Report the facts.
Let the reader form their own opinion. (But, even that's a problem as everyone challenges each other's facts and who paid for for the studies, how were they conducted, etc..)
We also have our own innate biases that no matter what we do, work their way into how something is reported and written about. I yearn for exact and true reporting of real facts, and the desire for everyone to work together even though we know not everyone will agree or get their way all the time.
2
Bravo, Charles. Agree with you 100%. I believe Philip Roth has described Trump the best when he said that as president there wasn't anybody as humanly impoverished as Trump Is: ignorant of government, of history, of science, of philosophy, of art...destitute of all decency, and wielding a vocabulary of seventy-seven words that is better called Jerkish than English.
9
As soon as the critical press is silenced, government agencies fall in line, re-armament is completed, all non-Republican Parties are outlawed, elections are eliminated, Trump is recognize as our leader, those who resist are relocated to "special" settlements, and the Anschluss of Canada is complete, the US will be great again!
6
Great post, Edward. We are in 1984 territory. I keep remembering a high school play: It Can't Happen Here. It can. It did.
By casting doubt on the value of our free press and on the legitimacy of our free elections, Trump is undermining two vital pillars of our democracy. If he and his spokespeople succeed in doing this, not much else matters. Repression and dictatorship follows, as history has witnessed.
11
Trump's lies are deliberate.
His numerous bankruptcies led him from US banks (who would no longer lend to him) to Russian banks (among others). The reason he won't divest from his holdings is that the process would reveal that most of his money is outside the US. He won't publicize his taxes because would know he's not as financially successful as he claims.
He is indebted to the Russians for bailing him out financially, and now he is doing their bidding. We don't have to wait for a secret investigation. The puzzle pieces are in the public domain. However, Malcolm Nance (in The Plot to Hack America), recently put together two big pieces for me.
Nance (a retired intelligence agent with 35 years experience) says that the people the FSB (formerly KGB) wants to recruit are: "Ego-centric people who lack moral principles--who are either too greedy or who suffer from exaggerated self-importance." Trump meets ALL of these criteria.
After a short history of the Russian intelligence community and Putin's role in it, Nance also said: "To Putin, the best of all possible worlds would be an economically crippled America, withdrawn from military adventurism and NATO, and with the leadership friendly to Russia."
Trump has expressed his affection for Putin and Russia, his desire to disassociate from NATO, and has signed Executive Orders for $Billions while proposing tax cuts. He wants to bankrupt the US government.
Thank you for your courage to speak truth to power, Charles!
His numerous bankruptcies led him from US banks (who would no longer lend to him) to Russian banks (among others). The reason he won't divest from his holdings is that the process would reveal that most of his money is outside the US. He won't publicize his taxes because would know he's not as financially successful as he claims.
He is indebted to the Russians for bailing him out financially, and now he is doing their bidding. We don't have to wait for a secret investigation. The puzzle pieces are in the public domain. However, Malcolm Nance (in The Plot to Hack America), recently put together two big pieces for me.
Nance (a retired intelligence agent with 35 years experience) says that the people the FSB (formerly KGB) wants to recruit are: "Ego-centric people who lack moral principles--who are either too greedy or who suffer from exaggerated self-importance." Trump meets ALL of these criteria.
After a short history of the Russian intelligence community and Putin's role in it, Nance also said: "To Putin, the best of all possible worlds would be an economically crippled America, withdrawn from military adventurism and NATO, and with the leadership friendly to Russia."
Trump has expressed his affection for Putin and Russia, his desire to disassociate from NATO, and has signed Executive Orders for $Billions while proposing tax cuts. He wants to bankrupt the US government.
Thank you for your courage to speak truth to power, Charles!
525
Donald Trump is a strange figure and It's really quite frightening where he seems to be trying to take us. I've been around since the 50's but this one wins the Oscar for the most mean-spirited, destructive, and emotionally ill-equipped to handle the huge challenges that lie ahead...(including GLOBAL WARMING!).
The man has no conscience, no moral compass with which to guide his thoughts and actions. His decision tree seems to be deeply rooted in some toxic soil. He's also very careless about the potential consequences of what he says and does. He is a man without principle who will stoop to whatever he deems necessary to get what he wants. He lives in his own "alternate universe" with, if necessary, his "alternative facts". As you stated, Mr. Blow, he lies with alarming ease and doesn't seem to realize how foolish he appears in the process. Does he think we are morons?
The bottom line is that he represents a radical departure from our way of life where freedom and justice reign supreme. He seems to lack an appreciation for what it means to be an "American". And as far as "voter fraud" is concerned, the only voter fraud taking place is within the ranks of the Republican Party who have been working tirelessly to deprive millions of Americans of their right to vote through their various voter suppression efforts. I think Trump will ultimately do serious damage to the Republican brand. And if his "Reign of Terror" continues unabated, the GOP will be the big loser in the end.
The man has no conscience, no moral compass with which to guide his thoughts and actions. His decision tree seems to be deeply rooted in some toxic soil. He's also very careless about the potential consequences of what he says and does. He is a man without principle who will stoop to whatever he deems necessary to get what he wants. He lives in his own "alternate universe" with, if necessary, his "alternative facts". As you stated, Mr. Blow, he lies with alarming ease and doesn't seem to realize how foolish he appears in the process. Does he think we are morons?
The bottom line is that he represents a radical departure from our way of life where freedom and justice reign supreme. He seems to lack an appreciation for what it means to be an "American". And as far as "voter fraud" is concerned, the only voter fraud taking place is within the ranks of the Republican Party who have been working tirelessly to deprive millions of Americans of their right to vote through their various voter suppression efforts. I think Trump will ultimately do serious damage to the Republican brand. And if his "Reign of Terror" continues unabated, the GOP will be the big loser in the end.
354
Trump is a student of his own popularity, as measured by ratings and money. He is not a man of principle. SAD!
3
Consider this explanation: Trumph's purpose in pursuing-- and yes, lying about--the myth of voter fraud in our national elections is calculated to generate support for further restrictions on the voting rights of minorities and the poor. He needs this initiative in order to have any chance of being re-elected in 2020 (not to mention control of the Congress in 2018).
Look for new laws aimed at shutting down the ballot for sectors of the electorate hostile to him in the wake of his pronounced grand investigation into non-existent voter fraud.
Look for new laws aimed at shutting down the ballot for sectors of the electorate hostile to him in the wake of his pronounced grand investigation into non-existent voter fraud.
3
Mr Blow, there is a difference between lies and delusions. I believe this difference will become more and more apparent to the press and the public, and important to the fate of the country as time passes.
1
I agree with everything you say in today's column, but why put "president" in quotes? As much as I might wish otherwise, Donald Trump has been sworn in as President and is serving in that capacity. To suggest otherwise is to ignore fact-based reality as much as he does, and to provide low-hanging fruit to the administration in any fight it may choose to wage with the press. Protest Donald Trump, his lies, and his policies as much as you'd like, but don't float your own alternative facts about his role in our government.
3
Cant wait to see the check for the wall from the do nothing congress . He blame them that the wall isn t built , wait and see.
It would be one thing if the lying Trump administration showed any empathy whatsoever. But so far their as mean as Fer de Lance snakes!
1
It is in the public's interest to have unfettered access to the president's tax returns as is customary since the Nixon Administration. The Trump Administration has conveniently changed its grounds for refusing to release Trump's taxes by claiming at various times that they're too complex for the public to understand, they would be made available after the primaries, they would be released after Hillary Clinton revealed her 30,000 lost emails, they would be provided after the conclusion of the IRS' audit, and now most recently and dubiously, that they are not compelled to be released since the voters don't seem to care. In fact, a new PPP poll shows that 59% of voters want the tax returns released (with just 32% deeming their release unnecessary).
The Trump Administration is clearly trying to "run out the clock" or distract the public from focusing on the issue. Trump's failure to release his tax returns is indicative of his desire to hide something "big league" from the public, which could reveal some of his biggest lies of all.
The Trump Administration is clearly trying to "run out the clock" or distract the public from focusing on the issue. Trump's failure to release his tax returns is indicative of his desire to hide something "big league" from the public, which could reveal some of his biggest lies of all.
3
What made Spicer’s inaugural statement as press secretary so horrifying is the way he doubled-down on a self-serving lie in the face of abundant contrary evidence—evidence that the rest of the world could see. This is how authoritarian regimes function, and the Trump administration was testing the waters to find out how far he could move in this direction, to find out who would push back and who would just play along.
We know that decency and a respect for the free press won’t stop Trump, so it’s up to each of us to push back whenever he lies, however we can.
We know that decency and a respect for the free press won’t stop Trump, so it’s up to each of us to push back whenever he lies, however we can.
1
Now if we can just convince enough of the Republican establishment to have the courage to stand up to Trump and stop being so fearful of a crazy man's retaliatory tweet. Who will be first to find their ethical backbone and call Trump out on his lies? An odd question to have, especially following a presidential election, but who's going to emerge as a true champion of our democracy?
1
Some people seem to think that voter fraud hardly ever occurs. Others seem to think that it is an obvious and prevalent fact of political life. So one might think that we should welcome an investigation into the prevalence of voter fraud as a way of testing whether or not the claims people make about it are true or false---though this, of course, would not be enough to determine whether or not they are actually lies, as some people vehemently claim.
1
He can't handle the truth.
1
Thank you for this piece and many others.
Our Constitution was not designed to protect us from a president so lacking in integrity, honesty, empathy or respect for our democracy. Unless the GOP-lead Congress takes action to oppose his dishonest, authoritarian regime, Donald Trump may do enough damage to our country to cripple our democracy for decades to come, if not permanently.
3
Thank you, Mr. Blow for your eloquent outrage.
1
There have long been "state secrets" precluding complete candor from the federal government, but between President Pinocchio and Alice-in-Wonderland Conway, we're now living in a hybrid of The Twilight Zone and Fantasy Land.
Thank you so much Mr. Blow for saying what should be said. If we start dancing around and bowing to this president (and it gags me to call trump that), if we allow him to keep tax-funded agencies silenced and not provide us with the most current scientific findings, if we allow him to screen what comes out of these agencies or what is printed in the news, then what's to keep us from becoming the next North Korea or China, or.....
Only an extremely insecure man would need his ego constantly boosted. I hope that no foreign country leader says anything slightly against Trump. Trump would become furious---furious enough to hurl a nuclear bomb against the country of the insulting leader?
We live in a very scary time.
We live in a very scary time.
1
expose the lies, early and often. No pictures, just list the lies.
2
And with all this talk of "voter fraud" we are no longer talking about investigations into Russian meddling and influence in the November election. Another ploy to tempt us all with a new shiny object. The Russia issue must not fade away.
1
Like the lies about "You can keep your doctor." and "You'll save $2500 per year?"
1
Thank you for continuing to point out Trump's vile loathsomeness (and don't forget Steve Bannon's). Keep it up, there are lots of us behind you.
But if I were you, considering Trump's close ties to Putin, I'd start testing my drinks with a Geiger counter.
But if I were you, considering Trump's close ties to Putin, I'd start testing my drinks with a Geiger counter.
1
Thanks for finally stating what has become patently obvious! The man can't defend his ideas without fabricating evidence or covering his own blunders with excuses or falsehoods.
1
First order of the day to combat Voter Fraud: Investigate, Charge and Convict, Steven Mnuchin, Steve Bannon and daughter Tiffany. It was- after all, Candidate Trump that implored his supporters to "Vote Often"- which some did?
On one hand, The Donald is correct, there was an instance of voter fraud. It was in Iowa and it was a person voting for The Donald. Perhaps he lost by more than 3MM votes... perhaps a recount in ALL states is warranted.
1
I am waiting to see a reporter (or more than one) at one of Sean Spicer's press briefings react to one of the baldfaced lies he is telling by getting called on, rising from his or her seat, and saying, "Sir, I refuse to permit the publication for which I work to be used as a megaphone for your ridiculous lies," and turn his or her back and walk out of the briefing.
1
And if Trump runs again in 2020 and loses, will he accept the vote count and peacefully allow the transition of the presidency to his opponent? Or will he lie, as he promised before the election, that the only way he could lose was through a rigged vote?
And if he is impeached and convicted by the Senate, will he step down in accordance with the Constitution?
How far will Trump go to maintain his hold on the presidency?
And if he is impeached and convicted by the Senate, will he step down in accordance with the Constitution?
How far will Trump go to maintain his hold on the presidency?
1
Thank you sir. My subscription to the NY Times is assured because of your clarity and moral stance. Who, what, where, when, why, how. The journalistic formula of my ancient of days high school jornalism class still serve the Republic and honest people everywhere.
A remarkable aspect of the Trump "truth" is not just that it doesn't align with the facts, but that it changes day-to-day. What was "truth" yesterday won't be what is spouted tomorrow from the administration's mouthpieces. It doesn't even consist of coherent lies.
I'm all for the investigation of voter fraud if the investigators are independent. They should include a study of how many people didn't vote because of voter suppression measures and an explanation of the "no vote" results in some of Pennsylvania's paperless voting machines.
1
Bravo,,, Pathologically speaking, the empower believes he's clothed but we can see his true nakedness. Keep up the good work.
There seems to be some lack of clarity in Charles' piece in distinguishing between the knowing statement of falsehoods for personal advantage (lying) and the repetition of falsehoods believed to be true despite hard evidence to the contrary (delusion).
Trump probably does both, but the presence of delusion seems dominant to me. In any event, when government action is taken based upon falsehoods, there are people involved beyond Trump, and they should be identified and their complicity made to haunt them. There is little to be done with Trump, who is beyond reality and probably certifiable. The others, particularly in Congress and the courts, are sane and despicable.
Trump probably does both, but the presence of delusion seems dominant to me. In any event, when government action is taken based upon falsehoods, there are people involved beyond Trump, and they should be identified and their complicity made to haunt them. There is little to be done with Trump, who is beyond reality and probably certifiable. The others, particularly in Congress and the courts, are sane and despicable.
1
Trump is proof that pride is number one sin.
1
Trump has lied so often and so successfully throughout his life that it's become his modus operandi. I doubt that he's capable of changing, not least because lying has worked so well for him. After all, it helped him build a business and win the presidency.
But the biggest threat that Trump poses is in the very nature of his lies. He expects us to believe him when he claims that black is white, to ignore the evidence of our eyes and the evidence of careful research – his attitude to climate change is a case in point. He doesn't simply spin – he tries to create alternative realities, Orwellian fantasies. Inevitably he will try to shut down anyone who contradicts him or calls him out.
We know this because we've seen all the signs of authoritarianism in his very first week in office. If left unchecked, he could become a truly monstrous autocrat.
But the biggest threat that Trump poses is in the very nature of his lies. He expects us to believe him when he claims that black is white, to ignore the evidence of our eyes and the evidence of careful research – his attitude to climate change is a case in point. He doesn't simply spin – he tries to create alternative realities, Orwellian fantasies. Inevitably he will try to shut down anyone who contradicts him or calls him out.
We know this because we've seen all the signs of authoritarianism in his very first week in office. If left unchecked, he could become a truly monstrous autocrat.
275
When Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on February 28th, I challenge Joe Wilson - or any other Republican - to shout out "You lie!" during any part of the speech that is not true.
The problem for the MSM, led by the Times, is how totally hated they are by virtually every member of Trump's base, which constitutes almost half of our entire electorate. Trump wins every fight he picks with the MSM, because every attack warms the cockles of his base's hearts. Of course, we liberals are constantly outraged, but that's just more fun for Trump's base. They LOVE how easy it is to outrage us. That's a large part of the fun of Trump for them. In short, this is a battle Trump wins every single time, as he well understands. Trump is simply Bill O'Reilly in the White House. Lots of luck, fellow liberals.
178
According to Pew Research, the total electorate in 2016 was 225,778,000, while the total number of votes cast was 136,628,459. Trump received 62,979,879, nowhere near one-half of the electorate. If we want a different kind of government, we need to mobilize more of the available electorate. Trump's lies, authoritarian agenda and manner may make that objective much easier to achieve.
3
It's really quite frightening where Donald Trump is trying to take us. I've lived through a number of presidential administrations, but this one takes the prize for the most mean-spirited, destructive, and most ill-equipped to handle the significant challenges that lie ahead...(including GLOBAL WARMING!).
The man has no conscience, no moral compass with which to guide his thoughts and actions. His decision tree seems to be rooted in some toxic soil. He's also very careless about the potential consequences of his words and deeds. He, quite literally, is a man without principle who will stoop to whatever he deems necessary to get what he wants.
He lives in his own "alternate universe" with, if necessary, his "alternate facts". As you stated, Mr. Blow, he lies with reckless abandon and doesn't seem to realize how foolish he appears in the process. Does he think we are morons?
The bottom line is that he represents a clear and present danger to our way of life where freedom and justice reign supreme. He seems to lack an appreciation for what it means to be an "American".
And as far as "voter fraud" is concerned, the only voter fraud taking place is within the ranks of the Republican Party who have been working tirelessly to deprive millions of Americans of their right to vote through various voter suppression efforts.
America, wake up and smell the coffee. To use a computer analogy, the Republican Party is in serious need of a "re-boot". Use your vote wisely.
The man has no conscience, no moral compass with which to guide his thoughts and actions. His decision tree seems to be rooted in some toxic soil. He's also very careless about the potential consequences of his words and deeds. He, quite literally, is a man without principle who will stoop to whatever he deems necessary to get what he wants.
He lives in his own "alternate universe" with, if necessary, his "alternate facts". As you stated, Mr. Blow, he lies with reckless abandon and doesn't seem to realize how foolish he appears in the process. Does he think we are morons?
The bottom line is that he represents a clear and present danger to our way of life where freedom and justice reign supreme. He seems to lack an appreciation for what it means to be an "American".
And as far as "voter fraud" is concerned, the only voter fraud taking place is within the ranks of the Republican Party who have been working tirelessly to deprive millions of Americans of their right to vote through various voter suppression efforts.
America, wake up and smell the coffee. To use a computer analogy, the Republican Party is in serious need of a "re-boot". Use your vote wisely.
22
Are you sure you don't have Trump confused with Obama... or even Hillary Clinton?
You know, if you like your plan you can keep your plan, and most recently" The U.S. is “the only country among advanced democracies that makes it harder to vote,”.
And Hillary's "there were no classifies emails on my server" and I got permission to have my own private server, and Benghazi was caused by a video". Really???
You and the rest of the left never raised concern about the last 8 years of lies.
You know, if you like your plan you can keep your plan, and most recently" The U.S. is “the only country among advanced democracies that makes it harder to vote,”.
And Hillary's "there were no classifies emails on my server" and I got permission to have my own private server, and Benghazi was caused by a video". Really???
You and the rest of the left never raised concern about the last 8 years of lies.
7
The government did not make you change your provider or your plan, insurance companies did. Even those of us not using the ACA, found that to be true both before and after the ACA. That is why the plan was not as successful as a single payer plan would have been.
5
Get out of your bubble. You're mostly wrong in your examples but there's no point in rehashing it now.
The point is that every conservative cites the sames 3 or 4 examples, while this guy comes out with 3 or 4 whoppers per day. Learn about false equivalence.
The point is that every conservative cites the sames 3 or 4 examples, while this guy comes out with 3 or 4 whoppers per day. Learn about false equivalence.
You beat me to it with the latest Obama lie about voter IDs.
You can easily tell the political biases of a writer or publication, not just by what they cover, but even more so by what they don't, and the NYT has been very absent when it came to calling out anyone on the left, and especially Obama, for their lies.
You can easily tell the political biases of a writer or publication, not just by what they cover, but even more so by what they don't, and the NYT has been very absent when it came to calling out anyone on the left, and especially Obama, for their lies.
Chuck let me translate it for you: Alternative Facts means that there is more to REALITY than your liberal propaganda disguised is so called FACTS.
7
Greg....so when the Birther-Liar-In-Chief suggested that President Obama was not a citizen for five years, we should consider Trump's fake reality as reality ?
Thank you for your fake service.
Thank you for your fake service.
13
Name one GOP alternative fact that isn't a lie.
Let me translate it for you: Alternative facts are lies.
Let me translate it for you: Alternative facts are lies.
2
Blow is so removed from reality he has no idea what facts are or mean.
1
Dear Charles,
Keep saying it. Keep writing it. Every single day. We must call out the lies. It takes 21 days of doing something to make it a habit. Fox News knows this which is why they repeat disinformation regularly. We must do the same. Lie. Lies. It's all lies.
Keep saying it. Keep writing it. Every single day. We must call out the lies. It takes 21 days of doing something to make it a habit. Fox News knows this which is why they repeat disinformation regularly. We must do the same. Lie. Lies. It's all lies.
16
Where were you, Charles, and most of the media during the 8 years of Obamas lies?
All true. That said, all of us on the left, especially the media should be committed to the "whole truth." Errors of omission because they serve your conclusions are fodder for the right wing to rally to Trump as "authentic." Og course, he is not. Whether it is vaccines ( no they are not completely safe) and the media lifting conventional wisdom as their excuse for not providing all the data or telling the whole story, or the defense of "sanctuary cities" ( yes, illegal immigrants have committed horrendous crime) that should have done their duty, half the story supported by your own view ( even if facts) is not enough. The moral high ground must be captured. Otherwise, "your" truth rings hollow.
9
"Morality" has a bad connotation to me. It is usually rationalized by reference to some deity who (a person) has an ostensible reason for creating humankind. I am not a moral person, I try to be an ethical one.
Get over it Blow. Conservatives have won all bodies of government. Sorry you are going through obama-withdrawals. Time to write a real column, not a whinefest.
3
What about Trump lies? You haven't addressed those. Even if your statements about Charles are correct, we still have a lying president. Aren't you concerned?
“He hates members of the press because, when properly performing, they are truth seekers rather than ego-strokers.”
"When properly performing" is a convenient phrase for Mr. Blow to bypass the ideological nature of today's press. There's good reason the vast majority of Americans distrusts the media. Two examples: the ACA lies about keeping your doctor and plan, and the omission of coverage of the media's cooperation with the Clinton campaign (CNN's Donna Brazile feeding debate questions to Hillary, and numerous instances of reporters shaping stories to please the campaign). I suggest that anyone interested in what Mr. Blow’s columns ignored should google “media collusion with Hillary campaign”. These important stories go to the heart of why the Trump Administration rightly distrusts the media. Put another way, perhaps the media should clean its own house before demanding the same of Trump.
"When properly performing" is a convenient phrase for Mr. Blow to bypass the ideological nature of today's press. There's good reason the vast majority of Americans distrusts the media. Two examples: the ACA lies about keeping your doctor and plan, and the omission of coverage of the media's cooperation with the Clinton campaign (CNN's Donna Brazile feeding debate questions to Hillary, and numerous instances of reporters shaping stories to please the campaign). I suggest that anyone interested in what Mr. Blow’s columns ignored should google “media collusion with Hillary campaign”. These important stories go to the heart of why the Trump Administration rightly distrusts the media. Put another way, perhaps the media should clean its own house before demanding the same of Trump.
2
Excellent and beautifully written column. This topic is extraordinarily important. I think I'm not the only person who choked when I heard Conway claim they presented "alternative facts." I never thought I would hear an administration say something so Orwellian.
The fact that team Trump is lying is absolutely important and necessary to report on. Lying IS one of their policies. We need to know about it.
Trump constantly lies and has started to censor our government organizations. That is scary. We have an incompetent leader who desperately wants to be seen as great, cannot take any criticism whatsoever, and lies blatantly and constantly when reality intrudes on his fantasy. This is the perfect brew for tragedies. As we saw over the weekend his main priority after taking office was not working as a president but saving his own image. The press needs to be all over his lies and if we are lucky Trump will be ashamed enough to temper it. That seems unlikely, however, so team Trump may start censoring and controlling what information we get access to. I don't want to be alarmist, but we need to be vigilant. Most of the terrifying episodes in human history started in small and seemingly undramatic ways.
The fact that team Trump is lying is absolutely important and necessary to report on. Lying IS one of their policies. We need to know about it.
Trump constantly lies and has started to censor our government organizations. That is scary. We have an incompetent leader who desperately wants to be seen as great, cannot take any criticism whatsoever, and lies blatantly and constantly when reality intrudes on his fantasy. This is the perfect brew for tragedies. As we saw over the weekend his main priority after taking office was not working as a president but saving his own image. The press needs to be all over his lies and if we are lucky Trump will be ashamed enough to temper it. That seems unlikely, however, so team Trump may start censoring and controlling what information we get access to. I don't want to be alarmist, but we need to be vigilant. Most of the terrifying episodes in human history started in small and seemingly undramatic ways.
9
You speak the truth. And the truth is also that Trumps not cut out for this job. He is grotesquely thin skinned and stupid and 1000% intolerable. He is psychologically impaired and suffers from a very serious personality disorder -- narcissistic sociopathy. Nobody should bow down to this man, not the press, not the legislators, not the clergy -- it only feeds his ego and makes him more dangerous. Since he cannot tell the difference between people being courteous vs loving him every time anyone show him simple courtesy they are reinforcing his insane ego.
5
Trump is not just telling a lie. He is telling another "Big Lie" as Hitler defined it in Mein Kampf:
"All this was inspired by the principle—which is quite true within itself—that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.
It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying."
"All this was inspired by the principle—which is quite true within itself—that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.
It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying."
3
Again, " double ignorance ". It was a medieval mystic who brilliantly identified and defined this. It is when a person doesn't know the truth but thinks he/she knows the truth. Such a person doesn't know the truth but does not know that he/she does not know. Trump is guilt of double ignorance every day, it seems. This idea gives him the benefit of not being called a liar, perhaps. But when he speaks many illustrations of this every day, it would appear that he really is a liar or else we definitely have an idiot in the White House. And this goes for the blonde beauty and the press secretary who represent him and never correct him. Please, Congress must awake and protect us from such folk !!
3
Once again, thank you Mr. Blow. You took the words out of my mouth and my mind with this piece after reading Dan Barry's ridiculous article this morning. A LIE is a LIE is a LIE, unless it is repeated out of ignorance. If it is meant to falsly persuade, meant to injure, meant to create false conclusions IT IS A LIE.
The words coming out of Conway's mouth when being interviewed by Chuck Todd the other night made me burst out laughing. "Alternative facts" indeed. As well as the stunned look on her face when Mr. Todd bluntly countered her claim. They are the LIES the Trump liars are constantly telling themselves as they come out of the Liar in Chief's mouth or from his infantile lying tweets. This is a case of Political Correctness going out of control. If the news media loses it's backbone by referring to these LIES as untruths or unstubstantiated, they're sliding down the slippery slope of colluding with a corrupt regime. We already have FOX "new" doing that for us. There should be NO LEAVING DOUBT that a LIE is a LIE, meant to deceive or to make reality what one wishes it were. This is the role absolutely required of the press in a free society.
What saddens me is that such a large segment of our populace which should be able to objectively identify the truth, will question it because their Liar in Chief tells them otherwise.
The words coming out of Conway's mouth when being interviewed by Chuck Todd the other night made me burst out laughing. "Alternative facts" indeed. As well as the stunned look on her face when Mr. Todd bluntly countered her claim. They are the LIES the Trump liars are constantly telling themselves as they come out of the Liar in Chief's mouth or from his infantile lying tweets. This is a case of Political Correctness going out of control. If the news media loses it's backbone by referring to these LIES as untruths or unstubstantiated, they're sliding down the slippery slope of colluding with a corrupt regime. We already have FOX "new" doing that for us. There should be NO LEAVING DOUBT that a LIE is a LIE, meant to deceive or to make reality what one wishes it were. This is the role absolutely required of the press in a free society.
What saddens me is that such a large segment of our populace which should be able to objectively identify the truth, will question it because their Liar in Chief tells them otherwise.
9
Interesting, since many of us saw Obama as a liar non parallel while his deranged sycophants swooned. Want examples...
For 17 years, Obama's authors bio declared he was born in Kenya, through multiple revisions. LIE. Why did he lie about such a fundamental fact.
Obama, or at least his supporters touted him as a Professor of Constitutional Law, a brilliant Constitutional scholar. LUDICROUS LIES. He was nothing but a part time Adjunct who taught a course on (surprise surprise) racial and gender issues. And Scholar? Beyond laughable. Obama has never written a single article on any matter of law, just narcissistic tomes about himself.
The list of Obama's lies is legion. If Blow denies such, he's either a liar or willfully uninformed.
For 17 years, Obama's authors bio declared he was born in Kenya, through multiple revisions. LIE. Why did he lie about such a fundamental fact.
Obama, or at least his supporters touted him as a Professor of Constitutional Law, a brilliant Constitutional scholar. LUDICROUS LIES. He was nothing but a part time Adjunct who taught a course on (surprise surprise) racial and gender issues. And Scholar? Beyond laughable. Obama has never written a single article on any matter of law, just narcissistic tomes about himself.
The list of Obama's lies is legion. If Blow denies such, he's either a liar or willfully uninformed.
2
Finally, a lie is a lie! Plain and simple.
12
Amen!! And he needs to be called on each and every one, repeatedly! As often as he repeats a lie, he should be called on it a hundredfold. Use his repetitiveness against him, play his game.
The voter fraud line of the Republican party is not new. After he lost the popular vote in 2000 George W. Bush ordered the Justice Department to investigate voter fraud. It did so for five years starting in 2000. It found that of the 139 million votes cast 86 were illegal. That was .00001 percent. One hundred thousandth of one percent. Some of the illegals were voters who simply made errors filling out forms. They were mostly minority voters and Democrats. As
Blow says what is really going on is anger from Trump who lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. His ego cannot tolerate that.
Blow says what is really going on is anger from Trump who lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. His ego cannot tolerate that.
12
The beauty of American elections is how they put us all in a position to claim that our vote has been discarded.
This man as Jane Fonda calls Predator in Chief, lies that nobody else could.
He is also very thin skinned just a few days into his Presidency the man could not let go that Hillary Clinton won popular votes almost by three millions.
A man 70 yeas old sleeps only a few hours tweets in the middle of nights, has a bloated appearance, no evidence of any exercise to stay fit , and fumes over his intense jealousy toward Hillary Clinton how long he is going to last ?
Mike Pence is waiting around the wings to take over.
He is also very thin skinned just a few days into his Presidency the man could not let go that Hillary Clinton won popular votes almost by three millions.
A man 70 yeas old sleeps only a few hours tweets in the middle of nights, has a bloated appearance, no evidence of any exercise to stay fit , and fumes over his intense jealousy toward Hillary Clinton how long he is going to last ?
Mike Pence is waiting around the wings to take over.
8
Maybe Trump the Bald Eagle will drop a dead fish on us.
1
tt is time for the media to calibrate President Trump's aberrant behavior in the context of mental illness. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a disease listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 6th Edition.
Psychologist Theodore Millon has identified several subtypes of this disease. One variant has these symptoms: "Sexually seductive, enticing, beguiling, tantalizing; glib and clever; disinclines real intimacy; indulges hedonistic desires; bewitches and inveigles others; pathological lying and swindling. tends to have many affairs, often with exotic partners."
Elitism is another subtype, with these symptoms:"Feels privileged and empowered by virtue of special childhood status and pseudo achievements; entitled facade bears little relation to reality; seeks favored and good life; is upwardly mobile; cultivates special status and advantages by association."
Unfortunately, treatment options for this condition are difficult and usually ineffective, because of narcissists' reluctance to accept the reality of their disease. The problem facing the American people is whether President Trump's mental illness should disqualify him for the position he now holds. This is the important public debate we should be having. Continuing to complain about his "lies," is beside the point. President Trump believes his lies are true, because they are consistent with the dangerous fantasy world he has created in his mind.
Psychologist Theodore Millon has identified several subtypes of this disease. One variant has these symptoms: "Sexually seductive, enticing, beguiling, tantalizing; glib and clever; disinclines real intimacy; indulges hedonistic desires; bewitches and inveigles others; pathological lying and swindling. tends to have many affairs, often with exotic partners."
Elitism is another subtype, with these symptoms:"Feels privileged and empowered by virtue of special childhood status and pseudo achievements; entitled facade bears little relation to reality; seeks favored and good life; is upwardly mobile; cultivates special status and advantages by association."
Unfortunately, treatment options for this condition are difficult and usually ineffective, because of narcissists' reluctance to accept the reality of their disease. The problem facing the American people is whether President Trump's mental illness should disqualify him for the position he now holds. This is the important public debate we should be having. Continuing to complain about his "lies," is beside the point. President Trump believes his lies are true, because they are consistent with the dangerous fantasy world he has created in his mind.
17
Anosognosia stalks all judgments of mental health. Perhaps this is why Freud begins with the assumption that everyone is crazy, including the therapist.
I'm wondering what this complete idiot will do after the first 100 days of wrecking this country. What will be left except to go after the press and probably try to shut them down. The thing that shocks me is that so many what I would consider intelligent people like this insane individual. We are really in deep trouble if this country doesn't wake up and fast.
10
Too many Americans don't understand that victory won unfairly is a poison pill.
2
I feel a lot of people, Mr. Blow included, are losing sight of the forest because they're counting the trees. Yes, Trump is a pathological liar (in several senses of the word "pathological"), but that misses the larger problem. He is steamrolling down the course that fascists have used historically. The declaring of opposition to be criminal is an alarming example, and not just Hillary Clinton. Louisiana and Minnesota are now making moves to either enact or reinterpret laws pertaining to civil disobedience so that these acts of protest carry heavy jail time (there may well be other examples I'm not aware of yet).
While I'm at this, Mr. Blow's colleague, Frank Bruni yesterday managed a rather shoddy piece of journalism with his attack on Madonna. People should read what she actually said...she did not call for anything resembling "blowing up..." anything. She actually said this would be wrong. Don't become the voice of moderation in the face of Trump, people. Study what happened in Nazi Germany. Those voices helped the Nazi grease the skids. "Judenrat" councils were not a good thing. Look it up.
While I'm at this, Mr. Blow's colleague, Frank Bruni yesterday managed a rather shoddy piece of journalism with his attack on Madonna. People should read what she actually said...she did not call for anything resembling "blowing up..." anything. She actually said this would be wrong. Don't become the voice of moderation in the face of Trump, people. Study what happened in Nazi Germany. Those voices helped the Nazi grease the skids. "Judenrat" councils were not a good thing. Look it up.
15
No, we can chew gum and walk.
1
Nobody uses the language of violence more casually than Trump and the people who take him as their role model.
1
While you're exposing the lies, please do add in (by shoehorn if necessary) the policy choices this administration is taking. The facts of this administration need to be seen and understood by as many people as possible. So please use Trump's lies as an opportunity for more eyeballs and clicks, whatever helps expose this serial liar in chief along with his enablers.
9
Donald Trump is a liar, but it is important to recognize that his mendacity stems from a serious, untreated mental illness. Donald Trump's grandiosity, his inability to admit error, his viciousness toward those who criticize him and his pathological deceptiveness all are the product of a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Unfortunately, Narcissists are notoriously resistant to treatment, and end up destroying their relationship with therapists. Even more unfortunately, when the stress of frustration or failure becomes too great, narcissists tend to decompensate. At that point, which may not be too far in the future, the country will need to have Trump hospitalized and invoke the 25th Amendment.
16
"the biggest popular vote loss by a winning candidate in American history. That stings.". Yes, he has tweeted the words "loser" and "moron" many times and now in his mind, he must join that large group that he has named including Rosie, John Mccain, George Will, Cher, Charles Krautamer, Chuck Todd plus 100 others and must admit to himself that he has met his own qualification for the loser award. Unless...he can convince the world that 3 to 5 million people not only voted illegally, but every last one voted against him robbing him of his rightful place as the world's most deserving Winner. If only, as he said last night, we would watch Fox News, we would see the great irony of our skepticism.
3
All throughout history, there have been people who fudge the truth to get along with the powers that be in order to get along. And all through history, there are people who simply can't compromise and say that lies are true. Those people can make other people uncomfortable. But you know they are right. We have to remember what is true and what is not true so we can breathe. Please keep calling lies lies, Mr. Blow.
6
Mr. Blow is absolutely correct when he states that Trump has declared war on the truth itself.
And since this is a "war," what we need is a "casualty count."
Could the NY Times, or any other major newspaper put a "lie counter" on the cover of their newspaper? Each lie by Trump should be counted. Starting with the lies in his ignauguration speech.
Americans understand the elegant and harsh simplicity of numbers. There is nothing more simple and important for the media than keeping a count of how often truth is slain in this "war."
And since this is a "war," what we need is a "casualty count."
Could the NY Times, or any other major newspaper put a "lie counter" on the cover of their newspaper? Each lie by Trump should be counted. Starting with the lies in his ignauguration speech.
Americans understand the elegant and harsh simplicity of numbers. There is nothing more simple and important for the media than keeping a count of how often truth is slain in this "war."
5
Does anyone remember the saying “Why close the barn door after the horse has run away”? The outrage of having a president who may actually believe the lies he tells is totally our fault. We saw this freight train coming down the track during the election and choose to ignore it. Before Trump even threw his hat in the ring he showed anybody willing to look that he had an aversion to the truth. Anyone not wearing diapers should have known the Birther Movement was one of the biggest lies ever told and Trump was king of the movement. Trump rise to prominence was due to his claim that Obama was a Manchurian Candidate by way of Africa who had hoodwinked a nation into believing he was a citizen. Can anyone forget Trump offered five million dollars to anyone who could prove his claim? Trump told us he had information that would prove Obama was actually born in Kenya. Our leaders and the media sat in the stands while Trump did everything to delegitimize of the president and said nothing. The right enjoyed the beating Trump was putting on Obama and the left sat on its hands. Now with Trump as president, we are upset with his sense of truthfulness give me a break! Trump showed us who he was and we refused to believe our lying eyes.
6
The NYT is right to use the word "lie." Trump's intention is to deceive. Actively. Although to him the "truth" is something malleable that can change at a moments notice to whatever suits his needs.
He believes his own lies because he must. It is his nature to seek adulation, and anything that interferes with that is "fake news."
Regrettably, the NYT must now keep identifying and repeatedly attach the word "lie" to both current and previous statements that this president makes that aren't supported by facts. Let's be clear that in our culture the word "lie" is extremely powerful.
But let's also understand the underlying propaganda rule of 9. If you tell a lie 9 times, those who hear it will begin to perceive it as truth.
The NYT has the platform to out this president, and out him it must. It will inflame him no end, and he will react with a vengeance that will undo his presidency.
That is the way this can, and must go.
He believes his own lies because he must. It is his nature to seek adulation, and anything that interferes with that is "fake news."
Regrettably, the NYT must now keep identifying and repeatedly attach the word "lie" to both current and previous statements that this president makes that aren't supported by facts. Let's be clear that in our culture the word "lie" is extremely powerful.
But let's also understand the underlying propaganda rule of 9. If you tell a lie 9 times, those who hear it will begin to perceive it as truth.
The NYT has the platform to out this president, and out him it must. It will inflame him no end, and he will react with a vengeance that will undo his presidency.
That is the way this can, and must go.
4
This column should be on the front page! And, how much is an investigation of nearly nonexistent "voter fraud" going to cost us?
3
Yes, that is another point, Lesley; the TAXPAYERS will have to pay for this investigation of nearly nonexistent voter fraud. trump and the republicans intend to use our money to conduct their corruption and financial/social/spiritual rape of the American people, and to line their corrupt pockets as well. It is going to be a free-for-all of thievery, disenfranchisement, and bedlam. It is going to cost us DEARLY, and not just in dollars, but in freedoms.
You are so good, Charles. I think he is a pathological liar. I think he is delusional, and I ultimately think Mike Pence and his buddies will try to unseat him pursuant to the Constitution, as unfit. Mike Pence is, in my opinion. also unfit, although maybe not quite as crazy as Trump. Paul Ryan, next in line, is severely unfit. He wants to undo the New Deal so he and his cronies can have more money. It would be nice to find a Republican with a scintilla of integrity, but I am at a loss to do so.
4
The press is agonizing over whether to use the word "lie" to describe Trump's departures from verifiable reality, but the even more agonizing dilemma is when to call his false statement delusions. Most of the debate over whether the word "lie" is appropriate turns on the question of intent -- does he really believe his false statements or is he genuinely intending to deceive people. Unfortunately, the case for delusional behavior is very strong. More recently we have seen this over assessments of crowd sizes and the popular vote, but there is in fact a long history of this, from the "birther" controversy to his simply greatly overestimating casino revenues when taking out loans (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/nyregion/donald-trump-atlantic-city.h... to his claims that he wrote "The Art of the Deal." (see the New Yorker piece on Tony Schwartz's ordeal with Trump). Trump, sadly, is an effective salesperson because he so firmly believes his own baloney.
The psychiatric/medical community faces the enduring dilemma of trying to define sanity in a way that entitles them to comment on who is not sane. You are only allowed to say that someone is delusional or psychotic when you clearly are not. The press is clearly struggling with the question of whether they speak from this established posture of sanity when dealing with Trump.
To call him a liar is a moral judgment; to call him delusional is a medical one.
This is the dilemma of covering Trump.
The psychiatric/medical community faces the enduring dilemma of trying to define sanity in a way that entitles them to comment on who is not sane. You are only allowed to say that someone is delusional or psychotic when you clearly are not. The press is clearly struggling with the question of whether they speak from this established posture of sanity when dealing with Trump.
To call him a liar is a moral judgment; to call him delusional is a medical one.
This is the dilemma of covering Trump.
5
Other than you Mr. Blow, I feel the media is still too easy on this psychopath-as-President. We teach our children not to "lie", yet when our Chief Executive does it, it's dressed up as baseless, or not founded on fact or all the other euphemisms.
Trump and his supporters say he is going back to basics, and so should we. Let's call it like we see it too. The President is a liar.
Trump and his supporters say he is going back to basics, and so should we. Let's call it like we see it too. The President is a liar.
5
I agree with you, but I think it is more complicated. I honestly think Trump believes what he is saying. He convinces himself. He is not as cynical as you make him out to be. Of course, my take on this makes Trump' s behavior even more disturbing. He is not a pathological liar. Instead, he is a delusional, unbalanced, mentally ill person who is unfit to hold office.
2
Charles, thank you for continuing to speak out and to encourage all of us to feel keenly the outrage of the Predator-in-Chief and his LIES.
Does Mr. Trump lie?
Can you prove it? The burden of proof is on the accuser!
There is an enormous difference between being wrong and being a liar. I can be wrong but I am not a liar!
Mr. Trump logically claims that imposing the tariffs on the foreign imports and returning the illegal immigrants back home would improve the living standard of the American working class.
That is absolutely correct assumption. By dramatically reducing the pool of available work force, the value of labor goes up. That’s one of the basic postulates of the market economy.
By returning to the economic conditions from the eighties, we should return to the level of the labor wages from the eighties. However, the profit margins of the global corporations would be dramatically slashed. That’s where all the harsh attacks on Mr. Trump by the free press are coming from.
Our free press is owned by the global corporations. All the employees work on behalf of the owner, don’t they?
Can you prove it? The burden of proof is on the accuser!
There is an enormous difference between being wrong and being a liar. I can be wrong but I am not a liar!
Mr. Trump logically claims that imposing the tariffs on the foreign imports and returning the illegal immigrants back home would improve the living standard of the American working class.
That is absolutely correct assumption. By dramatically reducing the pool of available work force, the value of labor goes up. That’s one of the basic postulates of the market economy.
By returning to the economic conditions from the eighties, we should return to the level of the labor wages from the eighties. However, the profit margins of the global corporations would be dramatically slashed. That’s where all the harsh attacks on Mr. Trump by the free press are coming from.
Our free press is owned by the global corporations. All the employees work on behalf of the owner, don’t they?
1
You're spinning. This sounds very much like alternative truths. Please. We do not need this mishmash.
Trump is a sick but cunning man. Hard to believe that the facts of the election he won (the system is indeed rigged in his favor) include the fact that he lost the popular vote by nearly three million votes - a fact that has enraged and unhinged him that he just can't let it go. So what to do? Explain it away. Blame it on fraud. Now, when he and his press secretary are willing to go in front of the press and lie and deny the facts about crowd sizes that can be immediately refuted by the visual evidence, that's one thing. But when they pick up the Republican lie about illegal immigrants and voter fraud, a lie that has been used to pass laws that serve to suppress minority voters, they can push it through because the evidence against it is vocal, but not visible (i.e., a large chorus of election supervisors who say it is not true). So, that's the way a really big lie takes hold. It helps that a very large number of people will believe anything he says, in the truth-free world created by the far right "news" organizations and social media echo chamber. It's going to be a long, ugly four (and very possibly more) years.
1
"The default narrative is always negative...demoralizing?" Oh, my lord..the irony is, if Mr. Trump had been straight with the public, and said something like, "look folks, I don't really want this job, I wanted to make a point about the system" that would have earned a chip of real respect. Aside from the obvious danger people feel (Doomsday Prep sales are going up) & the fact that we're still unwinding what's really going on backstage, there's just the sheer embarrassment..the photo op with some Senator sitting there like a fool.
Thank you for your work, Mr. Blow.
Thank you for your work, Mr. Blow.
3
Thank you Charles! Yes, the press needs to call them as they see them - LIES. The scary thing is that Trump believes his own lies. I think his kids & minions have protected him for so long too (kind of like the movie, "50 Dates".
At what point is he required to get an exam by a real White House doctor? Not a doctor who writes a letter saying he's the healthiest person he's ever met.
At what point is he required to get an exam by a real White House doctor? Not a doctor who writes a letter saying he's the healthiest person he's ever met.
3
We now have a Chief Executive under whose authority journalists are not only demeaned as human beings, they are also arrested and charged as felons simply for being in locations where news is unfolding and attempting to report on it. I don't envy a press that must surely find it a challenge to call-out lies from a figure who is 24/7 bald mendacity and who threatens punishment for any attempt at truth-telling.
As Chuck Todd declared so bluntly to Kallyanne Conway, there is no such thing as "alternative truth." Such exercises in official mendacity is outright lying; nothing more, nothing less. That we have a President who, with the full compliance of his spokespeople and a running-dog Congress, affirming otherwise is the wellspring of fascism; nothing more, nothing less.
And this is not a lie.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
As Chuck Todd declared so bluntly to Kallyanne Conway, there is no such thing as "alternative truth." Such exercises in official mendacity is outright lying; nothing more, nothing less. That we have a President who, with the full compliance of his spokespeople and a running-dog Congress, affirming otherwise is the wellspring of fascism; nothing more, nothing less.
And this is not a lie.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
8
Dear Mr. Blow,
Please write a column for Senate Democrats who are not paying attention to their base. We have had it with compromise, "good faith," and "working" with Republicans. We are angry and want our representatives to REPRESENT our anger. No one - NO ONE - will hesitate to support a more progressive candidate the next time around if our Democratic Senators, the last bastion against new Soviet-style American government, do not stand up and say "NO." They don't seem to be getting it ...
Please write a column for Senate Democrats who are not paying attention to their base. We have had it with compromise, "good faith," and "working" with Republicans. We are angry and want our representatives to REPRESENT our anger. No one - NO ONE - will hesitate to support a more progressive candidate the next time around if our Democratic Senators, the last bastion against new Soviet-style American government, do not stand up and say "NO." They don't seem to be getting it ...
11
Bravo, again! We're counting on you, Krugman, and others to speak for the people. Thank you!
6
It seems to me that Donald Trump, an inveterate liar, either lies with intent to deceive in which case he is morally unfit for office, or believes his lies to be truth in which case he is medically unfit for office. And really come to think of it, more than unfit for office, unfit for much of anything but acting.
I have to ask: without his wealth, and now power, would anyone condone his lying? What board would want a CEO who habitually lies, or can't tell fantasy from reality? What employer would want an employee who they can't trust to tell the truth or who constantly tells stories that have no basis in fact? Without his wealth who would want someone who lies like other people breath as a friend?
I have to ask: without his wealth, and now power, would anyone condone his lying? What board would want a CEO who habitually lies, or can't tell fantasy from reality? What employer would want an employee who they can't trust to tell the truth or who constantly tells stories that have no basis in fact? Without his wealth who would want someone who lies like other people breath as a friend?
9
Why it matters that Trump lies: with each lie that is accepted by his followers, even when they know it is a lie, he softens the ground for future lies. It might be said the birther lie laid the groundwork for this election. He will absolutely continue to lie, in hopes of convincing people that what he says is more true than what they see. He hopes, as the people become accustomed to believing the lie over the evidence, to use his propaganda as every good authoritarian leader would--to control the people with misinformation. The very effective birther lie was only the sharp end of the spear.
Read about the Trump voters' confusion over the inauguration lie here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/01/25/we-asked-p...
Even confronted with pictures, they believe the lie. Many of those who don't are befuddled by the cognitive dissonance. Mr. Blow is right. We are in grave danger as a nation.
Read about the Trump voters' confusion over the inauguration lie here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/01/25/we-asked-p...
Even confronted with pictures, they believe the lie. Many of those who don't are befuddled by the cognitive dissonance. Mr. Blow is right. We are in grave danger as a nation.
9
Thank you so much! Please keep this up! At this point it seems that the press are the only ones who can hold Trump's feet to the fire. We are counting on you.
8
The news people (slanted/socialistic) continue to distort the news or report on the most insignificant detail and run with it. As Trump told to David Muir last night. One person unhappy with his Obamacare would be distorted as the news would run by that story. Mr. Blow needs to put down his poison pen and realize the stock market is up 20,000 points and things are finally getting done in this country by a businessman and not a bureaucrat. What a relief.
Don the Con lied his way into office just as he has lied throughout his entire life. Bald faced, big fat lies, day after day. For those voters that thought he was going to deliver jobs and throw the robots out you are going to be sadly mistaken. He is only there to enrich himself, his family and his cronies.
The most laughable is the continued reduction of taxes on the wealthy. Really. Since Don the Con probably hasn't paid taxes in the last 20 years (you know, he is a very good businessman who lost nearly a billion dollars of other people's money but wrote it off his taxes) I don't know how his taxes could be reduced further. He is only one example of how the rich live very different lives than everyone else.
I am so disgusted with his antics. He is disrespectful to the office and everyone that disagrees with him. He is a national embarrassment, an ignorant toddler that we will have to live with for 4 very long years.
The most laughable is the continued reduction of taxes on the wealthy. Really. Since Don the Con probably hasn't paid taxes in the last 20 years (you know, he is a very good businessman who lost nearly a billion dollars of other people's money but wrote it off his taxes) I don't know how his taxes could be reduced further. He is only one example of how the rich live very different lives than everyone else.
I am so disgusted with his antics. He is disrespectful to the office and everyone that disagrees with him. He is a national embarrassment, an ignorant toddler that we will have to live with for 4 very long years.
5
Trump is not just a serial liar, he is delusional. He lives in a world that could be described as "alt-reality."
2
Thanks, Mr. Blow, for calling that man what he is: a liar. I am tired of the equivocating that I have seen in the media. Falsehoods and unsubstantiated statements: Are we talking about a naughty child? This is a grown man with enormous power. Keep calling him out and maybe more will do the same.
I heard yesterday on NPR that Signet is gearing up for a 75,000 reprint of Orwell's "1984." My 9-year-old son asked what the book was about. I sadly had to tell him that it might be the future of our country if this doublespeak prevails.
Read your history and get ready to protest in any way you can.
I heard yesterday on NPR that Signet is gearing up for a 75,000 reprint of Orwell's "1984." My 9-year-old son asked what the book was about. I sadly had to tell him that it might be the future of our country if this doublespeak prevails.
Read your history and get ready to protest in any way you can.
13
This just gets tedious -maybe write about something else for a change?
1
I beg to differ. We need to call this administration out each and every time it tries to manufacture "alternative facts". If you are bothered by this I am sure you can find more accommodating websites to read.
No! Write about it and write about it again until the administration is so entangled it will not be able to even know what is the truth anymore. When Trump is no longer coherent, that will be the time for his removal from office.
I don't think you're mandated to read what's written here. There are so many articles per day; besides, you can write your own. With a president as Trump, it is more than important that we be relentless in calling out his lies. Only a dictator has a need to lie at the magnitude at which Trump lies. We must be concerned lest we become ruled instead of governed.
Yesterday NPR did a piece on the reasons they don't refer to Trump's (or Conway's or Spicer's, etc) lies as lies is that the dictionary definition of a lie (rather than a falsehood) requires intent. The liar must intend to deceive, the liar lust intend to spit out a falsehood. They then spent 5 full minutes tossing falsehoods back and forth to justify their stance. They, as with the Trump propagandists and Trump himself, intended to deceive and deflect.
How can anyone listen to the daily, hourly, constant falsehoods from the Trump and it's handlers, and not see the intent to lie. Call what they say lies. They are.
How can anyone listen to the daily, hourly, constant falsehoods from the Trump and it's handlers, and not see the intent to lie. Call what they say lies. They are.
20
Following their logic Peter no one can be said to lie since we can't know what is anyone's mind - unless they confess to the lie. By their logic the only person who can use the word is the liar, as in "I lie".
But wait, if he says "I lie" is he telling the truth or is he lying....
I agree Peter, the context makes it clear that Trump and Co. are lying . Also remember, Trump says he smart. Very smart. Smarter them anyone else. Since he is so smart he has to understand what he says is a lie since he must know the truth. Being as smart as he says he is.
But wait, if he says "I lie" is he telling the truth or is he lying....
I agree Peter, the context makes it clear that Trump and Co. are lying . Also remember, Trump says he smart. Very smart. Smarter them anyone else. Since he is so smart he has to understand what he says is a lie since he must know the truth. Being as smart as he says he is.
Seriously! Could there be any doubt that Trunp intends to deceive. This is just nonsense. The ordinary man knows what a lie is. Anything other than what is known to be the truth.
Yes. This is a deeply disturbed man. I believe he has some form of OCD, which makes him ruminate incessantly about anyone he feels has wronged him. His mind is ruled by anxiety and and he cannot sit with it, so the only remedy is to tweet out his rage. He cannot deal with his feelings of deep shame and embarrassment. He has to act on them and get revenge. He has no core and is quite insecure. He brags about his money, his women, his sexual prowess. This need to lift himself up and put others down comes from an inability to acknowledge any failings. He has lied throughout his business and personal life. OK - let his family deal with him and let him go back to reality shows and tacky buildings emblazoned with his name in gold letters for all to see. This is a difficult personality who has to be managed, but the American public must not have to deal with him for four years. He has to go - and fast. His pathology must not be foisted on us. Ryan and the rest of the Republicans KNOW he's bad news. Yet, they stand there and smile and say they're not AWARE of any wide-spread voter fraud, but if Trump wants an investigation then that's what he shall have. They have allowed themselves to become mired in Trump's dysfunction and lies. NO! This cannot become our normal. We must continue to say what is real, what is true and call out each and every lie. Otherwise, we enable this man who, has lied his way into incredible power. Keep on keeping on, Charles.
8
I have children who learned early the difference between telling the truth and telling an untruth, a fib, a lie. One daughter at three slipped a piece of candy into her sister's pocket at a store, and later retrieved and ate it. When I questioned her, she insisted her sister had stolen the candy. She said it repeatedly, insisting she wasn't at fault. Under intense questioning, she finally admitted what she did. An ego maniac like Trump will never admit he or she told a lie because he or she is infallible, invincible. Everything out of his mouth, to quote Dorothy Parker, is a lie, including and and the. He lied on the campaign, during his inauguration and now, in office. Reporters and editors have to call him out, without hoping he will ever admit he is wrong. Because a presidency based on lies is....what? illegitimate?
6
Thank you, Mr. Blow. Your eloquence is greatly appreciated and quite necessary.
7
the L I C or liar in chief spews vile hatred and nonsense. referred to as a master manipulator. considered a genius with tee vee. WOW lofty goals i suppose. so he has reached his apogee with the truth. well our civilization appears to headed towards it's nadir. he seems to not give a whit. this L I C has got to go and soon. sure just remember that his second in command is truly as evil but seems to have a slightly temperate countenance. but he is one of the KOCH brats. never forget. never let up on this group of miscreants led by the LI C or Gropenfurhrer if one prefers.
6
When will everyone reading and writing for the times learn.... he continues to play to the base that got him elected. You're right, he lies, but he has enough people who don't care to make it worth staying the path.
We're the majority! We're united and larger in numbers than ever before! His ranting about Nazi Germany isn't a complaint, its a way to speak to a base that ignores context but will rally around the guy mentioning the Nazis.
As long as he keeps his base united in the flyover States, he controls the next election. The more the media offends the base, the less likely they are to hear or even care about facts in three years.
Winners win because they hate losing more. He's already running for re-election..... winners never lose sight of the prize!
We're the majority! We're united and larger in numbers than ever before! His ranting about Nazi Germany isn't a complaint, its a way to speak to a base that ignores context but will rally around the guy mentioning the Nazis.
As long as he keeps his base united in the flyover States, he controls the next election. The more the media offends the base, the less likely they are to hear or even care about facts in three years.
Winners win because they hate losing more. He's already running for re-election..... winners never lose sight of the prize!
5
In this editorial I counted 20 references to lying, or lie, or liar. Others may count different. If I am wrong on the number, and others calculate 19 or 21, Trump would call me a liar, but as Mr. Blow alluded to, the press does make mistakes occasionally, but they for the greater part are close to the truth, and are not outright lying. Good and honest journalists admit their mistakes and correct them in public. The arc of honest journalism bends towards truth. If Trump said that there were no, zero, references to lying in this opinion piece, KellyAnne Conway might say that he is presenting "alternative facts". That "fact" would be a LIE!
4
President Trump is really Emperor Trump. Trump's early mentor in
Manhattan real estate was Roy Cohn, legal brain for
Joe McCarthy. Truth was a uncomfortable problem for Cohn, and
now the Emperor continues this legacy. Attack. lie, counterattack.
Trump's key advisers are Stephen Bannon, former head of Breitbart News,
and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. They provide Trump with his
Twitter rantings. The press seems to be three steps behind the Emperor.
Manhattan real estate was Roy Cohn, legal brain for
Joe McCarthy. Truth was a uncomfortable problem for Cohn, and
now the Emperor continues this legacy. Attack. lie, counterattack.
Trump's key advisers are Stephen Bannon, former head of Breitbart News,
and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. They provide Trump with his
Twitter rantings. The press seems to be three steps behind the Emperor.
6
Thank you for the frank and honest article. But I think you had one statement slightly wrong: "Trump is in a battle to bend the truth to his benefit". 'Bend' doesn't begin to describe how far from the truth Prezident Rump goes in his self-glorifying propaganda efforts. Mangles, kills, breaks, tramples - that is what Rump (and Conway, Spicer, etc. etc. ) does with the truth.
2
The man is mentally unstable. He is a pathological liar, but one has to ask why? What causes him to lie with such abandon about things big and small? At this point it appears he does it to protect his ego, and that he is incapable of believing anything that contradicts his self made, and conspiracy filled, reality - sor his vision of his own greatness. He is delusional. And just as someone would take the car keys away from an elderly parent with dementia, someone needs to do something about him - he is crazy. We simply can't have someone delusional or otherwise incapable of acknowledging facts in the WH.
3
What fascinates me is how far the religious right and conservatives have drifted away from their "family values" platform as they accept a serial liar and sexual predator as their commander in chief.
4
Wow! so true and so brilliantly written!
We adore reading the op ed writers for the
Times and hope we will for the next
Four years!
We adore reading the op ed writers for the
Times and hope we will for the next
Four years!
2
The basis for our President's lies is a mental health condition, most likely Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He cannot help himself. No amount of logic or fact checking will suffice.
During the campaign, the American Psychiatric Association cautioned against diagnosing anyone who wasn't a patient. I challenge this as our President has by every definition met all the classic characteristics of someone who views the world from an egoist, not based in fact or reality. Had this been accurately and responsibly called for what is it, his fitness to be president would have disqualified him. And it still should. My observation isn't a political or partisan one, but based on years of experience in teaching others to recognize and manage people like this.
Our bigger problem is the refusal of our elected officials, other than John Lewis, to call it as it is. Until we can face the danger that allowing someone who distorts and lies for his own
personal gain puts this country, we risk calamity.
During the campaign, the American Psychiatric Association cautioned against diagnosing anyone who wasn't a patient. I challenge this as our President has by every definition met all the classic characteristics of someone who views the world from an egoist, not based in fact or reality. Had this been accurately and responsibly called for what is it, his fitness to be president would have disqualified him. And it still should. My observation isn't a political or partisan one, but based on years of experience in teaching others to recognize and manage people like this.
Our bigger problem is the refusal of our elected officials, other than John Lewis, to call it as it is. Until we can face the danger that allowing someone who distorts and lies for his own
personal gain puts this country, we risk calamity.
3
Charles ...
Please add to your one characteristic of a SOCIOPATH the rest of Trump's profile and you have a walking, spewing SOCIOPATH for a president.
Please add to your one characteristic of a SOCIOPATH the rest of Trump's profile and you have a walking, spewing SOCIOPATH for a president.
9
Hilariously and sadly, National Public Radio had a discussion yesterday morning regarding their decision to not use the word "lie" regarding Trump's statements/pronouncements. They cited the definition of a lie where a lie is a conscious intent to tell an untruth. Because they couldn't read Trump's mind (and therefore, his intent), they weren't going to use the word "lie" in describing Trump's statements.
In other words, NPR is taking a stance that Trump is simply an imbecile or idiot (not pejoratively) who lacks a sufficient amount of intelligence to separate fact from fiction.
I would think Trump would prefer to be called a liar than a person so stupid that he cannot discern fact from fiction.
In other words, NPR is taking a stance that Trump is simply an imbecile or idiot (not pejoratively) who lacks a sufficient amount of intelligence to separate fact from fiction.
I would think Trump would prefer to be called a liar than a person so stupid that he cannot discern fact from fiction.
8
A lie is a lie is a lie. I think Shakespeare said that. If he didn't, well, I believe he did, so there.
Will some journalist worth their salt please ask Alternative Fact 'Splainer and Trump Stooge, Sean Spicer, if Trump has ever been examined by a psychiatrist?
A man who walks around looking as ridiculous as Trump, if he were not a celebrity, would have been picked up on the streets of Manhattan long ago and transported to Bellevue for some psychological testing. We here in NYC see many a loon talking to himself in Times Square and other tourist traps, mumbling, shouting, Bible preaching, putting forth crazed-filled conspiracy theories. This is nothing new to we New Yorkers. The only difference between them and Trump is being a brand name, and having money. When you've established yourself as a harmless kook you can get away with almost anything here.
It's when poorly politically educated gullible goobers out there think this guy makes sense, and would make a good president one must set off the alarm bells. It is then time to get the men in the white suits and corral this guy.
Unfortunately that job has been differed to Republicans, who are almost as nuts as their Fearless Leader. A real problem is mushrooming in DC. Who will come to the rescue?
DD
Manhattan
Will some journalist worth their salt please ask Alternative Fact 'Splainer and Trump Stooge, Sean Spicer, if Trump has ever been examined by a psychiatrist?
A man who walks around looking as ridiculous as Trump, if he were not a celebrity, would have been picked up on the streets of Manhattan long ago and transported to Bellevue for some psychological testing. We here in NYC see many a loon talking to himself in Times Square and other tourist traps, mumbling, shouting, Bible preaching, putting forth crazed-filled conspiracy theories. This is nothing new to we New Yorkers. The only difference between them and Trump is being a brand name, and having money. When you've established yourself as a harmless kook you can get away with almost anything here.
It's when poorly politically educated gullible goobers out there think this guy makes sense, and would make a good president one must set off the alarm bells. It is then time to get the men in the white suits and corral this guy.
Unfortunately that job has been differed to Republicans, who are almost as nuts as their Fearless Leader. A real problem is mushrooming in DC. Who will come to the rescue?
DD
Manhattan
10
I am encouraged that the NYT has quite quickly come to the conclusion that it has to be willing to put the words "the President lied about (fill in the blank)" in a headline. It is not about disprespecting the man or the office, it is about being mindful of one's mooring to objective reality.
That said, Trumplethinskin is only enacting the playbook of the fundamentally narcissistic personality. He is the poster child for an "axis II" psychiatric disorder. What you see is who he is, and it won't change or "grow" because it can't. This is a full-grown man-child who never had a mooring to objective reality.
So now it's about damage control. Democrats/liberals/progressives will work with this disordered personality at their own peril, because he has no honor.
That said, Trumplethinskin is only enacting the playbook of the fundamentally narcissistic personality. He is the poster child for an "axis II" psychiatric disorder. What you see is who he is, and it won't change or "grow" because it can't. This is a full-grown man-child who never had a mooring to objective reality.
So now it's about damage control. Democrats/liberals/progressives will work with this disordered personality at their own peril, because he has no honor.
12
As accurate as Mr. Blow is in his assessment of "our president," I continue to be disappointed in his unwillingness to take aim at a press that long ago abrogated their responsibility as truth seekers and truth tellers. The rabid pursuit of sensational headlines at the expense useful facts has given us one helluva mess.
3
Why has it been so hard to call this man a pathological liar? Why did the press give him a pass for so long? Because as ordinary non pathological people we just can't believe that a person would really lie this much. We keep thinking a liar and psychopath will certainly change when they learn the facts or see the opposition. Not so with Trump. He never pivoted because he lacks a conscience. . . and he is a psychopath.
12
Emperor Donnie is looking to be a dictator.
In order to do so, he needs to control the media. He is trying to use media to put his lying statements out. He needs to be opposed and have the record corrected at every turn.
When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they censored the press.
When the Communists came to power in Russia in 1917, they censored the press.
It is what dictators do. Emperor Donnie is playing that game. He needs to be defeated at that game if we intend to maintain a democracy.
In order to do so, he needs to control the media. He is trying to use media to put his lying statements out. He needs to be opposed and have the record corrected at every turn.
When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they censored the press.
When the Communists came to power in Russia in 1917, they censored the press.
It is what dictators do. Emperor Donnie is playing that game. He needs to be defeated at that game if we intend to maintain a democracy.
13
Instead of President Trump can we call him Pathological Trump?
8
"We all have to adjust to this unprecedented assault on the truth and stand ready to vigilantly defend against it, because without truth, what’s left? Our president is a pathological liar."
My views exactly. I've long argued (e.g. birtherism) that a lie by any other name...but everyone knows the rest. Of course, lying is but one of Trump's many conspicuous and noxious traits. And he's in the White House with, of all things, the nuclear button, apparently surrounded only by the queasy faithful (e.g. Priebus), manipulators (e.g. Bannon), and close family.
It's not accidental that Orwell's "1984" has apparently shot to the top of Amazon's book sales.
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a problem.
My views exactly. I've long argued (e.g. birtherism) that a lie by any other name...but everyone knows the rest. Of course, lying is but one of Trump's many conspicuous and noxious traits. And he's in the White House with, of all things, the nuclear button, apparently surrounded only by the queasy faithful (e.g. Priebus), manipulators (e.g. Bannon), and close family.
It's not accidental that Orwell's "1984" has apparently shot to the top of Amazon's book sales.
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a problem.
8
I'm glad that we are using the word "lie" -- not falsehood -- but lie.
And, we also need to say that Trump is mentally ill. I lived through Nixon, and boy, Trump takes the cake.
And, we also need to say that Trump is mentally ill. I lived through Nixon, and boy, Trump takes the cake.
8
I'm an old time computer nerd. Built a Radio Shac computer in the '70s, went to computer swaps in the 80's, fiddled with expanded and extended memory, learned to write batch files to load the instructions for my PCs add-ons and lost my hair over god knows how many versions of Windows, especially the so called "Plug and Play' which should have been titled, Plug and Not Play! Today, PC, tablet or smart phone users can avoid this type of grief and log onto any website they so desire in order to research virtually any topice. So, could somone tell me how Trump got elected? Why would a country with a resonably educated workforce vote for such a poor example of a human being? Are we so frustrated with life? But even being frustrated doesn't explain voting for such an inane man like Trump. A man that will stop whatever important activity he's working on to Tweet a response to any headline or news that tarnishes his ego. I'm fairly certain that his definition of a lie is anything that belittles him. I guess many people or just too busy to realize how much damage he will do to our stature as a country in order to polish his Statue of Liberty sized ego.
9
I remember when LBJ was caught lying about the Vietnam War. There was even a term for it then - the "credibility gap". People were astounded that a President would actually tell a lie. It was as if we discovered Santa Claus was a liar. Then we had Watergate and Richard Nixon was caught lying on many things, including the secret war in Laos and Cambodia. Turn to today, and we have an administration that perpetually lies. I am picturing a headline that may appear someday that "President Trump Told a Truth". These are not just lies, they are a propaganda conspiracy reminiscent of Nazi Germany. And the President is the chief conspirator. Now he is keeping his personal phone and his communications will not be available as public records - the very thing he castigated Hillary over. He's not only a pathological liar, but also a hypocrite. The media needs to be vigilant, as does the public.
13
Finally it is said. And you have said it Mr. Blow. Well done.
10
If Mr. T wants to proceed with this senseless activity, let him pay with his private funds. Otherwise, could we please take care of real problems?
7
Captain Queeg ("strawberries) -- from Caine Mutiny
"What we have here is a failure to communicate!" -- from Cool Hand Luke
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Lincoln
"Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." Stalin
"What we have here is a failure to communicate!" -- from Cool Hand Luke
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Lincoln
"Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." Stalin
7
Th the conversion of the VOA into a domestic propaganda tool with an $800 million budget should be THE headline today.
183
Trump is a sick man. He is a sad and very angry man. He does, in fact, live in an alternate universe where what he says, what he thinks is, in fact, his reality. I think he got there by being successful in bullying everyone he interacts with—particularly business associates—and getting away with it for so long that he simply went through some kind of wall and into his own version of what the world is.
Roy Cohn and his father taught him to bring guns to a knife fight. Hit back harder and with everything at hand in order to "win." Most people, being decent and averse to confrontation simply caved in to Trump, whether it was the IRS, bankers, or vendors. Trump has "won" even in the worst of circumstances, so often that he really thinks he can bend reality to his needs and (I think) truly think he is telling truths.
It remains to be seen if the Congress of the United States will finally deal him his just deserts or, like all the others, cave into him. If the latter, I fear for the nation.
Roy Cohn and his father taught him to bring guns to a knife fight. Hit back harder and with everything at hand in order to "win." Most people, being decent and averse to confrontation simply caved in to Trump, whether it was the IRS, bankers, or vendors. Trump has "won" even in the worst of circumstances, so often that he really thinks he can bend reality to his needs and (I think) truly think he is telling truths.
It remains to be seen if the Congress of the United States will finally deal him his just deserts or, like all the others, cave into him. If the latter, I fear for the nation.
5
You say Don the Con Fraudster is a liar - I say "no he isn't". (wink wink) Ya think maybe - what was your first clue. Even he is aware - but he so bigly hugely always gets away with it, so he's pretty sure it will keep working for him. As evidence, Yikes - he is in the White House with some few crazy followers saying you did it - but most of the sane people recognize he is butt naked and ugly. He realizes that also, But is still clinging to the glimmer in the eyes of those who believe. Those glimmers will be dimming dimming dimming and the lights are going out on the Don's visions in his head. He looks in the mirror and sees he is butt naked ugly - he realizes yep I an illegitimate - but the perks are good - so i'll keep on keeping on - and who knows maybe I can rule the world. I have great friends all over the world that say great things about me - and we can do it together. We are just more butt ugly - but it's the power and money and greed that feed me and yep that's the kind of guy I am. mmmm SATAN maybe (watch out world it's the end and not so grand) booooommmmbb what was that sound!
2
Thank you Mr. Blow. You are the only op-ed writer really telling it like it is without fear! Thank you! Thank you. One day the nation will recognize how important your editorials will have been for hopefully ending this presidency.
15
Mr. Blow,
Inflammatory columns like this one are not helping our divided nation. Martin Luther King would not have approved of such spiteful and hateful rhetoric.
Perhaps, if you forced yourself to read books written by people with whom you disagree you could broaden your perspective. If your corner on the "truth" withstands that consideration to understand Trump and your other enemies, than perhaps you actually do somehow have the corner on the truth.
Charles, I'm trying to say that I fear you are turning into that which you despise the most: a bigot.
Look the definition of that word up and ask yourself if you are indeed becoming a bigot, and if so, how can you stop yourself.
Introspection can be painful, but that painful self reflection can and does lead to greatness. Right now you are mired in the thorny trap of hate, and you don't have to approach life in chains but as a free man.
Freedom isn't free. You need to challenge your own views in order to free yourself from the snare you're in. Read books by people you hate. Visit Trump country and let us cook for you. Come visit me in Louisiana and I'll take you to eat yummy and fattening meat pies (no diet drinks).
It's an invitation. I'm extending a hand of peace to you. A dove.
Inflammatory columns like this one are not helping our divided nation. Martin Luther King would not have approved of such spiteful and hateful rhetoric.
Perhaps, if you forced yourself to read books written by people with whom you disagree you could broaden your perspective. If your corner on the "truth" withstands that consideration to understand Trump and your other enemies, than perhaps you actually do somehow have the corner on the truth.
Charles, I'm trying to say that I fear you are turning into that which you despise the most: a bigot.
Look the definition of that word up and ask yourself if you are indeed becoming a bigot, and if so, how can you stop yourself.
Introspection can be painful, but that painful self reflection can and does lead to greatness. Right now you are mired in the thorny trap of hate, and you don't have to approach life in chains but as a free man.
Freedom isn't free. You need to challenge your own views in order to free yourself from the snare you're in. Read books by people you hate. Visit Trump country and let us cook for you. Come visit me in Louisiana and I'll take you to eat yummy and fattening meat pies (no diet drinks).
It's an invitation. I'm extending a hand of peace to you. A dove.
2
But the president lied, and this must be reported to the people.
1
How deeply arrogant and stupid is this post? Do you think for a moment that someone as brilliant and informed on all levels will be ignorant of the beliefs of people such as yourself? Do you believe that he has never read anything expressing ideas contrary to his own? I'm sure he understands completely the claims of our opponents on the right---so many of them running counter to scientific and historical evidence. The fact that is so deeply aware of these
lends credence to his claims about Trump. They hardly make him a bigot, nor is the unity you crave, in which the left capitulates in order to make peace in the country
anything but laughable in the face of this would be dictator. Speaking truth to power is not a bigots response.
lends credence to his claims about Trump. They hardly make him a bigot, nor is the unity you crave, in which the left capitulates in order to make peace in the country
anything but laughable in the face of this would be dictator. Speaking truth to power is not a bigots response.
1
Bigot? Try patriot. It is the role of the press to report what they see, and on the opinion page to comment on it.
1
Remarkable. Obama is as mendacious and corrupt as America gets and you spent eight years extolling his virtues. Trump, however, is Satan personified for far lesser offenses. Would racism have anything to do with your rants? At any rate, tough cookies for you and those like you now.
2
Give it up. No one believes this who is a sane person.
stealing an election through the help of a foreign nation only makes the current ruling party less than legitimate. No mandate in sight. Four million people marching plus all who could not be there say see you in court.
stealing an election through the help of a foreign nation only makes the current ruling party less than legitimate. No mandate in sight. Four million people marching plus all who could not be there say see you in court.
While Mr. Blow is entirely correct that trump, and his minions, lie like a rug, we need to ask if the lies are a well orchestrated strategy of distraction from far more sinister actions. Those who are trump supporters will never believe the truth about him losing the popular vote. Those who are not his supporters already know the truth. The issue is no longer sufficiently pertinent to follow.
The media needs to first focus on actions by the current administration which threaten our democracy and the safety of the world. Don't be reporting on the fox following the rabbit down the hole while another fox is tearing apart the hen house.
The media needs to first focus on actions by the current administration which threaten our democracy and the safety of the world. Don't be reporting on the fox following the rabbit down the hole while another fox is tearing apart the hen house.
3
Thank you so much for this column. There is an alarming discussion among the media about whether it's proper to use the word "lie." I understand NPR has decided not to use the word "lie," and MSNBC was parsing the words "falsehood" and "lie." Donald Trump is a liar through and through. He has sold his voters a pack of lies based on magical thinking - oh "he promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, oh the wall will keep out all the rapists and criminals Mexico is sending us." "Oh I'm a great deal maker, I can bring China to its knees." "Oh I'll bring coal mining jobs back." He is nothing more than a conniving con man, lying to the people he calls stupid and "morons." And make no mistake, the Republicans are eager to ride the coat tails of those lies in their efforts to turn the country back into a white supremacist nation. Despicable, all of the. Resist at every point, and call it what it is - all lies all the time.
2
Pathological liar? Yes. Shrewd manipulator of the concept of repeating a lie over and over and before long people (the uneducated, the indoctrinated, his true believers) will believe it with the fervor of any cult member. Oh, yes. I think he's used this technique his whole career, but Kellyann Conway has been his muse reinforcing this behavior. However, there are still so many out there that are not yet inoculated and must hear him called out on each and every lie. The checks and balances that are supposed to protect our democracy are gone, so the Press is really all we've go left to save our country.
5
Right on! President Nixon said "I am not a crook" intending of course that Americans should believe him because he was the president, that is until a couple of reporters named Woodward & Bernstein took him on. Where are today's deep story reporters? Trump is a menace to our society, our humanity and to our country.
1
This morning we have Kellyanne Conway, Joseph Goebels to Trump's young Hitler (a fraught comparison no longer seeming so hysterical), IN A SINGLE SENTENCE twice confirming that studies and the court have found no evidence of voter fraud while defending the urgent need for Trump's multi-million dollar study of voter fraud.
All in an effort to make his statements about the size of his, um, electoral victory retroactively true. A pattern followed relentlessly through the campaign season and Trump's whole career.
Like the media in sum, Matt Lauer let the statement pass unremarked.
This, even at it is confirmed that Trump's own daughter and super patriot Steve Bannon were registered in two states during the election.
"No she isn't", said Conway, in the face of irrefutable evidence.
She followed up with, "Yes. Bannon was registered in two states but, trust me he didn't vote twice. (Coy giggle and smiles all around)".
I really don't care who was registered where, but I am scared to death of the Ministry of Truth attitude that has become so quickly normalized and easily accepted.
How many days of this "major investigation" do you think it will take before an angry majority of Americans believe their election system is under siege, that we must tightly restrict voting to save ourselves, and that any candidate with whom they disagree is not only illegitimate but an avatar of evil here to destroy their country.
The war, in many ways, is already lost.
All in an effort to make his statements about the size of his, um, electoral victory retroactively true. A pattern followed relentlessly through the campaign season and Trump's whole career.
Like the media in sum, Matt Lauer let the statement pass unremarked.
This, even at it is confirmed that Trump's own daughter and super patriot Steve Bannon were registered in two states during the election.
"No she isn't", said Conway, in the face of irrefutable evidence.
She followed up with, "Yes. Bannon was registered in two states but, trust me he didn't vote twice. (Coy giggle and smiles all around)".
I really don't care who was registered where, but I am scared to death of the Ministry of Truth attitude that has become so quickly normalized and easily accepted.
How many days of this "major investigation" do you think it will take before an angry majority of Americans believe their election system is under siege, that we must tightly restrict voting to save ourselves, and that any candidate with whom they disagree is not only illegitimate but an avatar of evil here to destroy their country.
The war, in many ways, is already lost.
4
Blow you are in a rut, you have nothing really new to say: Trump this Trump that .....get over it, at one time you wrote some general newsworthy columns now it is boring and the headline is all you have to read.
4
"No, sir, the default is to call a lie a lie"
On August 1. 2016 the NYT didn't publish anything about the rare Clinton interview with Fox News and said this small stuff is not worthy of covering.
On August 1. 2016 the NYT didn't publish anything about the rare Clinton interview with Fox News and said this small stuff is not worthy of covering.
1
Apparently the Oompa Loompa's supporters tired of the media reporting the falling unemployment rate, the gains in alternative fuel uses, burgeoning technology and the leaps and bounds accomplished in human interactions and understanding that came with eight years of a progressive and forward-thinking Obama administration.
Can't have any more of that.
Can't have any more of that.
4
Wait! Stop! You are becoming Trump-like and being distracted by shiny baubles!
Look past the fact that POTUS lies freely, without consequence, and see the why of the lie.
It's just the ends justifying the means. He's going to "strengthen up voting procedures". He's creating the groundwork which will allow the Republican party to put voter ID laws in place at a federal level. Coast to coast. Plus he'll have enough Republican state houses to amend them to the US Constitution.
Such laws have been thrown out of several Republican states that have tried to put them in place by the SCOTUS, who found them to exist for the sole purpose of suppressing minority (statistically Democrat) voters.
You can bet Ryan and McConnell will be on board and are already working on some whoppers of their own.
So when the Trump circus is lying from all three rings who are the peasants to believe? Afterall Trump is also simultaneously lying about a dishonest media.
So the big picture is clear, at least to this peasant. Unlevel the playing field for the opposition. Marginalize the press. Reap handsome rewards.
Very Putin-like, isn't it?
Look past the fact that POTUS lies freely, without consequence, and see the why of the lie.
It's just the ends justifying the means. He's going to "strengthen up voting procedures". He's creating the groundwork which will allow the Republican party to put voter ID laws in place at a federal level. Coast to coast. Plus he'll have enough Republican state houses to amend them to the US Constitution.
Such laws have been thrown out of several Republican states that have tried to put them in place by the SCOTUS, who found them to exist for the sole purpose of suppressing minority (statistically Democrat) voters.
You can bet Ryan and McConnell will be on board and are already working on some whoppers of their own.
So when the Trump circus is lying from all three rings who are the peasants to believe? Afterall Trump is also simultaneously lying about a dishonest media.
So the big picture is clear, at least to this peasant. Unlevel the playing field for the opposition. Marginalize the press. Reap handsome rewards.
Very Putin-like, isn't it?
4
"The way President Trump tells it, the meandering, falsehood-filled, self-involved speech that he gave at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters was one of the greatest addresses ever given.
“That speech was a home run,” Trump told ABC News just a few minutes into his first major television interview since moving into the White House. “See what Fox said. They said it was one of the great speeches. They showed the people applauding and screaming. … I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl, and they said it was equal. I got a standing ovation. It lasted for a long period of time.”"
Wild stuff since he failed to tell them to SIT DOWN (protocol), so they had to remain standing.
“That speech was a home run,” Trump told ABC News just a few minutes into his first major television interview since moving into the White House. “See what Fox said. They said it was one of the great speeches. They showed the people applauding and screaming. … I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl, and they said it was equal. I got a standing ovation. It lasted for a long period of time.”"
Wild stuff since he failed to tell them to SIT DOWN (protocol), so they had to remain standing.
Voice of America just removed its independent board of directors and now is run by 2 Trump appointees. It has an $800 million budget. The propagandist in chief is going to have a state run and sponsored network to further his evil agenda.
Thank you and please keep it up media. A LIE is LIE!!!!
Thank you and please keep it up media. A LIE is LIE!!!!
8
Look, more than half of us figured out that Trump only recognizes as truth ideas that make him look like a god. We got it. The man cannot open his mouth without uttering an absurd lie, a scientific falsehood, a conspiracy theory offered as fact.
Those who cared voted against him, and look where it got us. Those who didn't care will double down and back up his words. We know that when presented with factual contrary evidence, people double down and defend their unsupported position.
By all means keep a running log of "Today's Lies." But don't expect it to make a difference.
And don't waste our scant attention span convincing people that the Emperor is naked. We all know it, and too many are simply OK with it.
But they may not be OK knowing that they are going to lose their health insurance, or that privatized Medicare will be more expensive, and if made a block grant is likely to be funded through property taxes as well as state taxes. They might not be OK with knowing that the fence will add billions to the debt, and won't work (the GOP voters do know that we have beaches on both sides to the Mexican border, yes? I mean no one comes in by sea, right?) They might not like sending their kids to school unprotected because this President never met a conspiracy he didn't like and cut funding for vaccines.
We have to report *consequences.* Everyone knows about the lies.
Those who cared voted against him, and look where it got us. Those who didn't care will double down and back up his words. We know that when presented with factual contrary evidence, people double down and defend their unsupported position.
By all means keep a running log of "Today's Lies." But don't expect it to make a difference.
And don't waste our scant attention span convincing people that the Emperor is naked. We all know it, and too many are simply OK with it.
But they may not be OK knowing that they are going to lose their health insurance, or that privatized Medicare will be more expensive, and if made a block grant is likely to be funded through property taxes as well as state taxes. They might not be OK with knowing that the fence will add billions to the debt, and won't work (the GOP voters do know that we have beaches on both sides to the Mexican border, yes? I mean no one comes in by sea, right?) They might not like sending their kids to school unprotected because this President never met a conspiracy he didn't like and cut funding for vaccines.
We have to report *consequences.* Everyone knows about the lies.
4
Thank you- the language must be very clear, use the word lie every time he tells one or any member of his administration spins one. The truth has no version- and responsible members of the press are very good at printing retractions. However- a very large segment of our tv media helped get him elected by giving him so much more airtime. Both fox and msnbc treated him like a cash cow. that has eroded my confidence in tv news to the point that I haven't watched any since election night and I hope my fellow citizens do the same. Trump is surely a tv president-if enough citizens turn off tv news and read responsible print news it may send a wakup call to those tv news executives like Jeff Zucker. They pimped out the election and turned it into a world wide wrestling contest. Thanks a lot guys- did it ever occur to them that they are citizens too and have to live with the mess they were complicit in creating? Edward Murrow, Walter Cronkite- look how far we have fallen. Citizens are very very motivated- we all need to stand up and call a lie a lie and speak truth to power.
6
I am so pleased that people are, finally, calling a lie, a lie. Let's hope it continues. Thank you, Mr. Blow.
10
This is the most truthful statement written in this paper in a long time!
Thank you Mr. Blow.
Thank you Mr. Blow.
7
Trump is a liar Period! Some here want to deflect and justify Trumps leis by saying that others in politics lie so its ok for Trump to do it. No it is not OK , it is never OK. Lies cause grief just ask the mothers, fathers and relatives who lost their loved ones in the 15 year war started by those who spread the lies of Iraq's WMD's.
The logic around saying others lie so its ok is as intellectually empty as Trump's narcissistic personality.
The logic around saying others lie so its ok is as intellectually empty as Trump's narcissistic personality.
6
Thank you, Mr. Blow. It is essential that the press respond vigorously to repeated lies. I note with relief that the Times has begun to use the word "lie" when referring to one of Mr. Trump's whoppers. In an attempt to appear unbiased, the press has been soft on this lier. Mr. Trump knows how much it stings the press to be called biased, and he has used that to intimidate the press into self-censorship. The result has been to enable bigger and bigger lies. An example is the Washington Post's cute "Pinocchio" scale that the fact checker uses. Cute scales weaken the impact of the reporting. When he lies, and every time he lies, use the word.
8
I welcome the use of the words lie and liar to describe any one who so blissfully lies as does Trump. Call a spade a spade.
1
Thank you, Mr. Blow, for calling it as it is. Trump is a pathological liar. Everyone knows it. The emperor has no clothes.
3
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" Shakespeare.
"A lie by any other name would look like an alternate fact." Kellyanne Conway.
"A lie by any other name would look like an alternate fact." Kellyanne Conway.
3
Bravo, Mr. Blow. I only hope your colleagues and the editorial staff at the NY Times are going to be as willing as you are to call out Trump and his administration every time they lie.
6
With his Birther lie, Trump seemed to be the author and chief promoter.
With the Illegal Voter lie, he is ratifying and expanding a myth that has been carefully constructed by Republicans over the years. Jane Mayer reported at length about that a few years ago, here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/10/29/the-voter-fraud-myth
So we have a pathological liar inheriting the party of systematic, cynical liars.
And they're not just telling tales about economic theories or cycles of the sun. In a democracy, politicians actively suppressing voter turnout show unvarnished moral corruption.
RESIST
With the Illegal Voter lie, he is ratifying and expanding a myth that has been carefully constructed by Republicans over the years. Jane Mayer reported at length about that a few years ago, here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/10/29/the-voter-fraud-myth
So we have a pathological liar inheriting the party of systematic, cynical liars.
And they're not just telling tales about economic theories or cycles of the sun. In a democracy, politicians actively suppressing voter turnout show unvarnished moral corruption.
RESIST
454
The use of the term "lie" raises philosophical questions.
A lie is a deliberate attempt to deceive.
Was Ronald Reagan lying when he really believed what he was saying?
Was George W. Bush lying when he believed that God had told him what he was saying?
Is Donald Trump lying when he doesn't know the difference between truth and falsity?
A lie is a deliberate attempt to deceive.
Was Ronald Reagan lying when he really believed what he was saying?
Was George W. Bush lying when he believed that God had told him what he was saying?
Is Donald Trump lying when he doesn't know the difference between truth and falsity?
61
I believe he's delusional some of the time and lying the rest of the time.
Either way, he's unfit.
Either way, he's unfit.
3
Is a psychotic lying when he doesn't know the difference between truth and falsity? So Trump's either a liar or psychotic? Hmmm. I'd go with liar, because a true psychotic would be too disabled to do what Trump does, and Trump's false statements seem to be too calculated for a true psychotic to make.
Yes, Trumpet is lying, and his accomplices are, also. In the Trumpet's mind, there is no such phenomenon as "true" or "false." Everything is relative to his self-aggrandizement. A falsehood is true when it advances his stature in the eyes of his deplorables. Whatever works for him is "true."
Focusing on the outrageous Trump lies and Conway "alternative facts" may be fine and fun, but it is better to focus on what has been done and what is being planned by Trump and the GOP.
Times has a story, "Tracking Trump’s Agenda, Step by Step" https://nyti.ms/2k6IUCQ. Most of the agenda items ar not fine nor fun.
Other than perhaps the investment in American infrastructure, the rest of the agenda is sure to harm one group or another.
The focus should on changing the composition of the Congress during the midterm elections. In the meantime, protests marches that have already started and putting pressure on the Congress are better ways to resist Trump and the GOP.
Phone calls are apparently the most effective means to put pressure on Congress, says a former Congressional staffter: https://storify.com/editoremilye/i-worked-for-congress-for-six-years
Times has a story, "Tracking Trump’s Agenda, Step by Step" https://nyti.ms/2k6IUCQ. Most of the agenda items ar not fine nor fun.
Other than perhaps the investment in American infrastructure, the rest of the agenda is sure to harm one group or another.
The focus should on changing the composition of the Congress during the midterm elections. In the meantime, protests marches that have already started and putting pressure on the Congress are better ways to resist Trump and the GOP.
Phone calls are apparently the most effective means to put pressure on Congress, says a former Congressional staffter: https://storify.com/editoremilye/i-worked-for-congress-for-six-years
15
Focusing on agenda is what the NYT and WP do, and do very well. But if the President lies, the American public has a right to know, and the press has a responsibility to accurately fact check it, and the Presidently needs to be called out on it repeatedly until, faced with facts, he backs down. The boy who cried wolf comes to mind.
The assault on truth is only one trait of all demagogues, as are attacking the media, scapegoating, fear mongering, the use of emotional oratory and personal charisma, accusing opponents of weakness and disloyalty, promising the impossible, violence and physical intimidation, personal insults and ridicule, folksy posturing, gross oversimplification, and vulgarity and outrageous behavior. Please read the wiki article and references to the source references shown.
The disdain for truth shown by this President will, unfortunately, slowly infect all of our institutions if he is successful in inserting people who similarly are ambivalent about "alternative facts" and refuse to stand up to him. My expectations for this presidency and the US' future have never been lower. Freedom depends on truth (John 8:32). A few thousand jobs is a big price to pay for tyranny. No wonder 1984 is being reported due to increased demand.
The assault on truth is only one trait of all demagogues, as are attacking the media, scapegoating, fear mongering, the use of emotional oratory and personal charisma, accusing opponents of weakness and disloyalty, promising the impossible, violence and physical intimidation, personal insults and ridicule, folksy posturing, gross oversimplification, and vulgarity and outrageous behavior. Please read the wiki article and references to the source references shown.
The disdain for truth shown by this President will, unfortunately, slowly infect all of our institutions if he is successful in inserting people who similarly are ambivalent about "alternative facts" and refuse to stand up to him. My expectations for this presidency and the US' future have never been lower. Freedom depends on truth (John 8:32). A few thousand jobs is a big price to pay for tyranny. No wonder 1984 is being reported due to increased demand.
Respectfully, the focus must be on both. I say this because a great many leadership decisions can be interpreted in different ways. Deciding whether to look upon an action with trust or suspicion requires an evaluation of the leader taking that action. Highlighting the many lies and exaggerations Trump makes continues to build the case that Trump should not be "given the benefit of the doubt" on important matters. When he begins talking about the state of the economy or U.S. casualties overseas, it will remind us that this is a man who makes demonstrably false assertions of fact all the time (not controversial OPINIONS, mind you... lies).
Despite Trump's assertions, "tens of thousands" of Muslims were not celebrating in New Jersey on 9/11. 3-5 MILLION illegal votes were not cast in favor of Clinton. A serious estimation of the current employment rate does not have an upper limit of "42%." Most Mexican immigrants (documented or undocumented) are not thieves, murderers or rapists. And while, it is trivial by comparison to the other assertions, Trump's inauguration was not attended by more people than Obama's. The average citizen has more than enough casual access (i.e., no security clearance or press passes needed) to information to recognize that Trump's assertions are often as inaccurate as they are self-serving. That alone should justify unusually intense suspicion of whatever policy objectives he brings forth. We cannot presume he is reasonable.
Despite Trump's assertions, "tens of thousands" of Muslims were not celebrating in New Jersey on 9/11. 3-5 MILLION illegal votes were not cast in favor of Clinton. A serious estimation of the current employment rate does not have an upper limit of "42%." Most Mexican immigrants (documented or undocumented) are not thieves, murderers or rapists. And while, it is trivial by comparison to the other assertions, Trump's inauguration was not attended by more people than Obama's. The average citizen has more than enough casual access (i.e., no security clearance or press passes needed) to information to recognize that Trump's assertions are often as inaccurate as they are self-serving. That alone should justify unusually intense suspicion of whatever policy objectives he brings forth. We cannot presume he is reasonable.
The term 'lie' is mentioned 12 times in this piece.
Why not write about the truths that Trump tells and analyze them?
Illegal immigrants
Shipping our jobs to other nations
High taxes
Collapse of Obamacare
Mass shootings in Chicago
Etc., etc.
Why not write about the truths that Trump tells and analyze them?
Illegal immigrants
Shipping our jobs to other nations
High taxes
Collapse of Obamacare
Mass shootings in Chicago
Etc., etc.
6
He doesn't tell any truths, that's why.
1
Because underneath every one of those issues you listed is a Trump lie propelling it.
1
to The Man With No Name I say go for it.
Let's have neutral third party experts present well founded, thoroughly researched facts about undocumented immigrants and their impact in/on our country, well founded, thoroughly researched facts about the Affordable Care Act, well founded and thoroughly researched facts about taxation levels on various sectors of the populace and businesses and well founded, thoroughly researched facts about the gun violence in Chicago and what that city is doing to address it.
Like it or not, facts come a whole lot closer to the truth than hyperbolic rhetoric. Give me the facts any day and let me use my critical thinking skills to inform my opinions and discussions with those that might draw different conclusions from those facts. In my experience, facts and truth are aligned. Any reasonable discussion about solution must start from that basis.
Here is an uncomfortable fact for you: trump cannot present any third party, neutral, well founded research to back up his full throated opinions and claims about the above topics. Bluster and bullying do not create a verifiable reality.
Wake up, seek out factual information and then talk to me about the 'truths' that trump tells.
Let's have neutral third party experts present well founded, thoroughly researched facts about undocumented immigrants and their impact in/on our country, well founded, thoroughly researched facts about the Affordable Care Act, well founded and thoroughly researched facts about taxation levels on various sectors of the populace and businesses and well founded, thoroughly researched facts about the gun violence in Chicago and what that city is doing to address it.
Like it or not, facts come a whole lot closer to the truth than hyperbolic rhetoric. Give me the facts any day and let me use my critical thinking skills to inform my opinions and discussions with those that might draw different conclusions from those facts. In my experience, facts and truth are aligned. Any reasonable discussion about solution must start from that basis.
Here is an uncomfortable fact for you: trump cannot present any third party, neutral, well founded research to back up his full throated opinions and claims about the above topics. Bluster and bullying do not create a verifiable reality.
Wake up, seek out factual information and then talk to me about the 'truths' that trump tells.
1
Please keep the truth flowing. Thank you Charles. Thank you NYT.
18
Do you call it a lie when the liar believes what he is saying ? Listening to Trump (which is hard for me), one gets the sense that he is not very well educated and latches onto information that has no basis in fact. It just appealed to his thinking, he heard it somewhere, therefore its true.
His "torture
His "torture
4
John Brooks: "Do you call it a lie when the liar believes what he is saying ?"
This is such a good (and scary) point. I thought of this right away when Dirty Donald said that "last night" he had heard from the highest experts that torture works. I figured he was watching "24" reruns and Jack Bauer was his expert!
This is such a good (and scary) point. I thought of this right away when Dirty Donald said that "last night" he had heard from the highest experts that torture works. I figured he was watching "24" reruns and Jack Bauer was his expert!
Enough with semantics. Trump is a pathological LIAR, not a dispenser of oxymoronic alternative facts, misstatements, or falsehoods. Leave those terms to linguists and lexicographers to fuss over.
20
Trump is a liar and must be called out every time he lies. It is obvious that his lies are directed at his supporters who believe whatever he says because they consume information from sources that are alternative to facts. When you don't call Trump out on his lies, then you inadvertently spread his lies.
18
Has anyone noticed that Trump attacks are invariably self-descriptive? Think of "nasty", "all words and no action", "liar", attacks on B. Clinton for his treatment of women, "fake news", "worst deal ever", "the media is out to get me", etc.
There are a few charges that have yet to be borne out as self-descriptions. Call me paranoid, but I suspect the allegations of a "rigged election" and "voter fraud" may be self-descriptive as well.
If this theory is true, then his modus operandi could prove to be his saving grace, his brand of honesty.
There are a few charges that have yet to be borne out as self-descriptions. Call me paranoid, but I suspect the allegations of a "rigged election" and "voter fraud" may be self-descriptive as well.
If this theory is true, then his modus operandi could prove to be his saving grace, his brand of honesty.
7
Gotta love Charles Blow. He's the best.
Trump is wholly, utterly, consummately devoid of grace. (If he is even familiar with this word, he probably thinks it refers to one of the women he wanted to grope along the way.)
As such, our Buffoon president has not the first understanding of concepts like humility and self-deprecation. Especially self-deprecation. This guy won't ever mix well with the media, because to do so would be to lower himself, to compromise his slick ruffian temperament. Trump doesn't just need to manage and lead, he needs to dominate.
Will Trump ever change?
Do pigs fall from the sky?
As such, our Buffoon president has not the first understanding of concepts like humility and self-deprecation. Especially self-deprecation. This guy won't ever mix well with the media, because to do so would be to lower himself, to compromise his slick ruffian temperament. Trump doesn't just need to manage and lead, he needs to dominate.
Will Trump ever change?
Do pigs fall from the sky?
14
they will be when America won't bend to his facts and he decides that those of us who don't agree are his enemies.
He is not only a pathological liar and sociopath, he cherry picks incoming information. Believes only "facts" he likes. The rest are called lies.
What a nightmare, but it is our reality.
What a nightmare, but it is our reality.
13
Thank you Mr. Blow. Just back from the Women's March in DC and witness to the bald-faced lies of Trump and his supporters. Your words untangle the communication mess coming out of the White House. The Women's March revealed that diversity united to express outrage of this administration's tramping of basic human rights is powerful. What we all need is to become "truth warriors" like you. Please continue to share your insights. We will need as much help as we can get...
15
It's refreshing to hear the truth - and be able to call a lie - a lie.
Trump is disrespecting all of us with each of his lies.
Be diligent, and keep up the good work, Mr. Blow!!!
Trump is disrespecting all of us with each of his lies.
Be diligent, and keep up the good work, Mr. Blow!!!
19
Hooray for Charles Blow! Tell it, brother! We MUST refuse to cower! We MUST refuse to live in a world where "truth" and "facts" no linger exist!
17
It is beginning to feel like 1984. This assault on the truth must be called out at every opportunity. Congratulations Mr. Blow. The sadness is that along with the truth, the 'forgotten man and woman' will also be victim to Mr. Trump's agenda. He has no regard for anyone but himself and clearly he has no regard for the truth. In the end, only he and the 'billionaire class' will benefit from his presidency. The rest of us, will be left the pick the broken pieces of whatever, peace, prosperity and goodness exists in the world.
Geez, Charles, you have been saying this for months now. (pause) So could you please keep at it for four more years? Thanks.
18
Pray that this debacle won't last four years. Let us hope for four months; even better, four weeks!
Why not call one out in your column each week. That ought to keep you busy until we can vote him out.
8
I go between "there is something really wrong with this man's psyche" and "what an evil genius. Acting crazy to create a diversion to what he is really doing" . One way or another. the most dangerous aspect of the whole thing is that this alternate reality creation by lying is working beautifully with ill-educated people and this has me extremely worried. You, Mr. Blow and I know better. The people who joined marches Las Sat know better but what do we need to do with the easily duped and manipulated people still supporting him. In the meantime the equally evil and crazy horde of angry white men AKA the GOP Congress continues advancing their agenda of enriching their donors while seeking the complete crush of the 99% who do not write the big checks for them.
5
I am reminded of the columnists who railed against "that man in the White House" in 1933. I can't remember their names offhand, which just goes to show.
The only thing is that "that man in the White House" in 1933, did SO MUCH for the people. He was not seeking glory for his own sake. He was not a pathological liar. He was not mentally ill. He was not a bombastic braggart. He was not seeking to make business deals and use the government as his own piggy bank in violation of the Constitution. He was a man of dignity and compassion. Enormous compassion. A man who made mistakes, (as every President does) yes, but nothing even vaguely comparable to this insanity we are living now.
The voter fraud charge will blow up on Dems and the flunkies in the media. Trump is no brain surgeon but he knows how to drive zealot journalists crazy. Delicious.
2
Agreed. However, we need to say only once that what he is saying is a lie loud and clear and move on to policy. The Trump administration wants to distract us with ridiculous so we focus on that and not the horrific policies they are trying to implement. Once you call it a lie, that is enough. Don't let Trump choose the narrative, let's focus on what he proposes to DO and focus our efforts on stopping the policies with which we disagree.
5
Who lies all the time?
A person who doesn't want you to know the truth!
The whole world is watching you Trump! You will be exposed for who you really are!
A person who doesn't want you to know the truth!
The whole world is watching you Trump! You will be exposed for who you really are!
9
Mr. Blow states as follows:
"A truly independent press is not stocked with political acolytes but political adversaries."
Hopefully, in a follow-up column he will examine this proposition in view of the manner in which the press acted as kneeling, fawning acolytes during the previous 8 years - and the damage to the credibility of the media that this triggered. Damage that continued during the campaign of Hillary Clinton, when the media held its thumbs on the scale, first during the primary against Bernie Sanders and then during the presidential campaign.
I look forward to that follow-up column.
"A truly independent press is not stocked with political acolytes but political adversaries."
Hopefully, in a follow-up column he will examine this proposition in view of the manner in which the press acted as kneeling, fawning acolytes during the previous 8 years - and the damage to the credibility of the media that this triggered. Damage that continued during the campaign of Hillary Clinton, when the media held its thumbs on the scale, first during the primary against Bernie Sanders and then during the presidential campaign.
I look forward to that follow-up column.
2
I agree with you Charles. In my community, I am surrounded by many people of all ages, cultures and political persuasions. For the most part, they don't lie... at least they don't lie wantonly, relentlessly. Trump, Conway and Bannon do. The discussion WE the People needs to center on WHAT DO WE DO? What are the active, constructive steps we take to avoid being paralyzed by the intense anger one feels when you realize that the leaders of our government are consciously plotting and planning the lies they dish out. They consciously are working to manipulate Americans both Democrats and Republicans to comply to their selfish greed and need for POWER over others? THIS is the discussion we need to have.
3