Mr Trump is not only ignorant, his is a slash and burn mentality......he, with apparently little to no thought or regards to impact , is blithely dismantling programs that were set up to protect the many less fortunate, the environment, and the economy.......to call Mr Trump arrogantly dangerous is apparently to him a compliment.....if the Rs don't wake up soon and rein in this hopelessly irresponsible and delusional President he is going to do irreparable to not only our country but our system of government......and at some point The Donald will be gone, leaving his presidency's train wreck behind, to live his continuously pretentious life at Trump Tower or Mar-a-Lago.....we, America deserves much better than this administration
21
Trump wouldn't read this article. If he did he would not understand it. If he did understand it, he would declare it all lies.
Somewhere in this administration or in the Congress or Senate, there is someone who does read and understand this article. That person will stand up because he or she must stand up. That person will say the emperor has no clothes. Make a stand. Publicly display outrage against the President. Perhaps resign if associated with the administration.
That person will risk everything and tell truth to power. It can't be a Democratic leader. It must be a Republican -- and there's the rub.
Somewhere in this administration or in the Congress or Senate, there is someone who does read and understand this article. That person will stand up because he or she must stand up. That person will say the emperor has no clothes. Make a stand. Publicly display outrage against the President. Perhaps resign if associated with the administration.
That person will risk everything and tell truth to power. It can't be a Democratic leader. It must be a Republican -- and there's the rub.
55
We in the language world call that, lack of metacognitive skills. And as a language specialist, we see a lot of that in learning disabled kids, especially when the disability is language-centric.That absence of metacognitive skills in a learner makes learning difficult because, 1. that type of person actually thinks they know everything, because they can't reflect on or discriminate learned from unlearned, known from unknown, mastery from emerging knowledge, so they guess alot or make things up.
2. Because of above: have not, can not or will not develop or use strategies to gain information.
Usually not a great learning outcome in a student who can't develop strategies or compensatory skills.
Devestating to recognize in a world leader.
2. Because of above: have not, can not or will not develop or use strategies to gain information.
Usually not a great learning outcome in a student who can't develop strategies or compensatory skills.
Devestating to recognize in a world leader.
43
If the populace is too dumb and elects an ignoramus with lies from a major political party and a propaganda press like Fox, this is what we get.
26
The problem is not just Trump; it is Bannon. We as a nation are going to suffer because Marty Bannon made unwise investment decisions and lost his money. Perhaps I am excessively sentimental, but I long for the days when we had a president like Kennedy, and an advisor and speechwriter like Theodore Sorensen.
25
Mr. Edsall,
It's called the Dunning-Kruger effect:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
...and has been well-studied and understood for decades. What DJT's supporters (and I purposely leave DJT out of this category as he has no ideology to speak of besides self-aggrandizement) add to the mix is ideological fervor that in most cases acts as a reliable substitute for cognitive deficiency in the classical Dunning-Kruger model.
It's called the Dunning-Kruger effect:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
...and has been well-studied and understood for decades. What DJT's supporters (and I purposely leave DJT out of this category as he has no ideology to speak of besides self-aggrandizement) add to the mix is ideological fervor that in most cases acts as a reliable substitute for cognitive deficiency in the classical Dunning-Kruger model.
17
President Trump does not care about what the facts are in almost any situation--his purpose in speaking is to persuade other people, through his own conclusions, of what he wants them to believe. That has been his method of operating his entire business career. When he gets caught, as by the reality of not being able to pay his bills in building his atlantic city casinos or by his "bait and switch" tactics with respect to Trump University, he eventually pays people off. Trump is now in a very serious world, unlike running for office. World class institutions are digging into his campaign and whether it was in cahoots with the Russians to sabotage the election, and what he may have known about it. He will not be able to dodge the disinfectant of sunlight. He can only hope that he and his campaign were not infected by close contact with the Russians during the campaign.
22
Just as Gorbachev went down in history for dismantling the Soviet Union, Trump will be remembered for dismantling the Western alliance.
25
The name for what we are experiencing is the "Dunning-Kruger Effect" and we have a textbook case President.
19
No No N0
Presidents must rule with their hearts not intellect.
Hopefully Trump will find his heart
Presidents must rule with their hearts not intellect.
Hopefully Trump will find his heart
2
Presidents need *both* smarts and compassion. Trump has neither!
They also need background knowledge and the ability to seek out and listen to diverse opinions. Trump lacks those things, too!
They also need background knowledge and the ability to seek out and listen to diverse opinions. Trump lacks those things, too!
13
What you see in Trump's exclamations and orders and decisions are evidence of his heart, such as it is: he himself is the sole focus of that diseased organ. In a true and worthy leader, an informed intellect and an empathetic heart will support each other. This essential requirement is provenly impossible to expect from the obscene and disgraceful Donald Trump.
13
Pondering the devastating consequences for our country resulting from the ignorant actions of this president and his less than bush league "advisers", is gut wrenching.
What is equally as sickening and angering is the continuing, major role mainstream television "news" and political shows have played in normalizing his aberrant behavior. No matter how vengeful his tweets, how blatant his lies, it is reported as business as usual for a president. Reporters have run out of gentler synonyms for "lying".
It is ghastly to hear news reporters and anchors recount the latest mindless, destructive action by Trump delivered in a soothing, sing-song voice. It is like watching a scene from a Steven King horror movie.
Not one of these networks has produced an in-depth analysis such as this one. Nor have they produced a comprehensive profile of Trump.
Surely he was worthy of a deeper look as a candidate who had viciously denigrated a tortured war veteran, degraded women, demonstrated his racism and bigotry, insulted our intelligence community, while praising Putin just for starters.
One longs for a true television journalist like Edward R. Murrow, and a network head who would see it as a duty to inform he public as this column has, of the dangers our country now faces.
Further complicity is not an option.
What is equally as sickening and angering is the continuing, major role mainstream television "news" and political shows have played in normalizing his aberrant behavior. No matter how vengeful his tweets, how blatant his lies, it is reported as business as usual for a president. Reporters have run out of gentler synonyms for "lying".
It is ghastly to hear news reporters and anchors recount the latest mindless, destructive action by Trump delivered in a soothing, sing-song voice. It is like watching a scene from a Steven King horror movie.
Not one of these networks has produced an in-depth analysis such as this one. Nor have they produced a comprehensive profile of Trump.
Surely he was worthy of a deeper look as a candidate who had viciously denigrated a tortured war veteran, degraded women, demonstrated his racism and bigotry, insulted our intelligence community, while praising Putin just for starters.
One longs for a true television journalist like Edward R. Murrow, and a network head who would see it as a duty to inform he public as this column has, of the dangers our country now faces.
Further complicity is not an option.
27
Basically, the POTUS is dangerously stupid and doesn't know it.
40
Very timely article just not only about the implications of drunken monkey stewardship of Trump but for entire world.
Let's be frank, we cannot run away from the fundamental truth that the multilateralism is much easier to advocate than to design and implement. Right now there is only one candidate for this role: the US. No other country has the necessary combination of capability and outlook.
I must acknowledge with gratitude Thomas B. Edsall's excellent reference to https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/repairing-the-roots-of-amer... by Richard N. Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations.
It's not often we come across logically so well articulated argument about the American leadership vis-a vis rest of the world..
"US must put its house in order – economically, physically, socially, and politically – if it is to have the resources needed to promote order in the world. Everyone should hope that it does: The alternative to a world led by the US is not a world led by China, Europe, Russia, Japan, India, or any other country, but rather a world that is not led at all. Such a world would almost certainly be characterized by chronic crisis and conflict. That would be bad not just for Americans, but for the vast majority of the planet’s inhabitants".
Let's be frank, we cannot run away from the fundamental truth that the multilateralism is much easier to advocate than to design and implement. Right now there is only one candidate for this role: the US. No other country has the necessary combination of capability and outlook.
I must acknowledge with gratitude Thomas B. Edsall's excellent reference to https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/repairing-the-roots-of-amer... by Richard N. Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations.
It's not often we come across logically so well articulated argument about the American leadership vis-a vis rest of the world..
"US must put its house in order – economically, physically, socially, and politically – if it is to have the resources needed to promote order in the world. Everyone should hope that it does: The alternative to a world led by the US is not a world led by China, Europe, Russia, Japan, India, or any other country, but rather a world that is not led at all. Such a world would almost certainly be characterized by chronic crisis and conflict. That would be bad not just for Americans, but for the vast majority of the planet’s inhabitants".
26
I dunno—ignorance of his own ignorance didn't seem to bother Obama much.
2
Right. Give us one single example that supports this assertion?
5
Only the profoundly ignorant would lack the ability to recognize that President Obama is intelligent, informed, and was not an empty suit as the guy pretending to be President now.
31
Well, let's see, Obama was a Harvard graduate, and Trump is an anti-intellectual that doesn't read for pleasure. You are way off with that comment.
66
As a law student and a director of academic support at a law school, I observed the problem of "ignorance of one's own ignorance" at exam time.
Often, the students who left an exam early, thinking they had aced it, would end up with the lowest grades, and the students with the highest grades would work until the last minute and then worry that they found the exam so difficult -- until they got their A or B+.
Why? Law exams are often very complex fact patterns involving a myriad of issues, so that when students are confronted with a prompt that asks them to discuss all the issues brought up by the facts, the students who could not see the complexity of the issues and how they interplay would often see only the most obvious issues and write their essays quickly, thinking that the answers were simple.
In contrast, the students who could discern all the issues -- sometimes even ones that could be hidden to all except those with the ability to engage in high-level critical analysis -- would spot dozens of issues that could affect the outcome of a case. They would often feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the details, but their answers would be much more complex, sophisticated, and in the end, accurate.
In my experience, high-level performers and critical thinkers are often aware of their intelligence but nevertheless are modest and aware of how complex the world is and how difficult are the challenges they face.
Often, the students who left an exam early, thinking they had aced it, would end up with the lowest grades, and the students with the highest grades would work until the last minute and then worry that they found the exam so difficult -- until they got their A or B+.
Why? Law exams are often very complex fact patterns involving a myriad of issues, so that when students are confronted with a prompt that asks them to discuss all the issues brought up by the facts, the students who could not see the complexity of the issues and how they interplay would often see only the most obvious issues and write their essays quickly, thinking that the answers were simple.
In contrast, the students who could discern all the issues -- sometimes even ones that could be hidden to all except those with the ability to engage in high-level critical analysis -- would spot dozens of issues that could affect the outcome of a case. They would often feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the details, but their answers would be much more complex, sophisticated, and in the end, accurate.
In my experience, high-level performers and critical thinkers are often aware of their intelligence but nevertheless are modest and aware of how complex the world is and how difficult are the challenges they face.
51
And he has only been president for just over 60 days--an ignorant fool voted in by an ignorant voting public.
29
"And he has only been president for just over 60 days--an ignorant fool voted in by an ignorant voting public."
Voted in by *some* ignorant and foolish members of the public in 3 states-- not an ignorant voting public in general.
After all, 75 million people voted for someone other than Trump (Hillary, 3rd party, and write-ins). That was over than 10 million more votes than Trump received!
Most of the public was not ignorant at all!
If the election were re-held today, Clinton would win in a landslide.
Voted in by *some* ignorant and foolish members of the public in 3 states-- not an ignorant voting public in general.
After all, 75 million people voted for someone other than Trump (Hillary, 3rd party, and write-ins). That was over than 10 million more votes than Trump received!
Most of the public was not ignorant at all!
If the election were re-held today, Clinton would win in a landslide.
12
Edsall refers to the Washington Post report that Trump has lied 317 times in his first 63 days. But we can be sure Trump has not committed any "extremely careless" errors like Hillary Clinton. When she was Secretary of State, about once a month, out of over 30,000+ emails received she would forward one "secret" email to an individual okayed only to receive "classified" email. Her error rate of less than 1/100th of 1% handling her email won't possibly be repeated by any member of the Trump administration -- every single one of them make many, many more errors than that every hour of the day.
What James Comey said back in July of 2016 was "extremely bogus". No one in mass media called him on it. Reporters and analysts for ALL our media seemed to take have taken pride in NOT having a facility with simple statistics that would have proved out how bogus Comey's attack against Hillary was. They ill served our country then. Now, let's hope Edsall's op ed about President Trump's ignorance encourages reporters NOT to take pride in their own ignorance.
What James Comey said back in July of 2016 was "extremely bogus". No one in mass media called him on it. Reporters and analysts for ALL our media seemed to take have taken pride in NOT having a facility with simple statistics that would have proved out how bogus Comey's attack against Hillary was. They ill served our country then. Now, let's hope Edsall's op ed about President Trump's ignorance encourages reporters NOT to take pride in their own ignorance.
13
I feel such a profound sadness about our country. We appear to have lost all
standards of good governance - will we ever recover from this damage?
We've allowed the election of a man who is not just ignorant but lacks all
morality and purpose to lead our country. It's like a death has occured for us -
This great country that has always lead with moral purpose as best it could -
despite mistakes, but mostly with the best intentions. Years ago when visiting
France a French woman asked me what I thought of America. I answered, "we are a good people ". Today, I wonder if that is still true. We've just lost a lot of
what we were.
standards of good governance - will we ever recover from this damage?
We've allowed the election of a man who is not just ignorant but lacks all
morality and purpose to lead our country. It's like a death has occured for us -
This great country that has always lead with moral purpose as best it could -
despite mistakes, but mostly with the best intentions. Years ago when visiting
France a French woman asked me what I thought of America. I answered, "we are a good people ". Today, I wonder if that is still true. We've just lost a lot of
what we were.
18
To the Obama camp’s claim that the president didn’t “order” surveillance of Trump, McCarthy writes:
First, as Obama officials well know, under the FISA process, it is technically the FISA court that ‘orders’ surveillance. And by statute, it is the Justice department, not the White House, that represents the government in proceedings before the FISA court. So, the issue is not whether Obama or some member of his White House staff “ordered” surveillance of Trump and his associates. The issues are (a) whether the Obama Justice Department sought such surveillance authorization from the FISA court, and (b) whether, if the Justice Department did that, the White House was aware of or complicit in the decision to do so.
First, as Obama officials well know, under the FISA process, it is technically the FISA court that ‘orders’ surveillance. And by statute, it is the Justice department, not the White House, that represents the government in proceedings before the FISA court. So, the issue is not whether Obama or some member of his White House staff “ordered” surveillance of Trump and his associates. The issues are (a) whether the Obama Justice Department sought such surveillance authorization from the FISA court, and (b) whether, if the Justice Department did that, the White House was aware of or complicit in the decision to do so.
2
You are assuming facts not in evidence. It appears that the government was legitimately monitoring communications with foreign agents and found that they were in communications with members of the Trump campaign.
No FISA court is required for this and this is certainly not the same as "wiretapping" Trump Tower.
Before the inauguration, I contend that Trump's people had no business conducting foreign affairs or deal making with foreign agents.
No FISA court is required for this and this is certainly not the same as "wiretapping" Trump Tower.
Before the inauguration, I contend that Trump's people had no business conducting foreign affairs or deal making with foreign agents.
17
This is a great column!
6
All Americans are trying to pretend that Trump comes from an other planet and does even know what he is doing.
He is very American and he perfectly knows what he is doing.
He is very American and he perfectly knows what he is doing.
4
There is zero evidence of his competence.
12
please.....i am eating breakfast........no, no, no. not the dangers we face but that picture of trump before coffee forcing me to have to acknowledge him as our so-called president.
but there is a silver lining. in a nuclear war, it will be quick and painless in Manhattan.
but there is a silver lining. in a nuclear war, it will be quick and painless in Manhattan.
5
Trump is a cerebral dwarf and con-artist who stole the presidency. Anyone who has to say "I'm a really smart person" on numerous occasions not only lacks confidence, but also, is likely trying to convince himself just to validate the impossible.
Nothing is more true than that Trump only operates in his own self-interest as was pointed out in the op-ed. When he's booted out of office, he'll have ruined his brand for future generations and become an asterisk in presidential history. The sooner he leaves office the better.
Nothing is more true than that Trump only operates in his own self-interest as was pointed out in the op-ed. When he's booted out of office, he'll have ruined his brand for future generations and become an asterisk in presidential history. The sooner he leaves office the better.
40
Trump has turned the ship of state into one of those barges hauling fetid and rancorous garbage that drifts aimlessly at sea. Even the rats are beginning to jump ship.
27
We "all" new this man before he became President. Comments in this paper serve no purpose but to blow-off-steam. You folks need to be speaking to the President's fans and they do not read the NYtimes. And yes they are fans.
22
His ignorance is a problem, yes; but what is truly horrifying is that he arrogantly, openly, willingly embraces, champions, applauds, and seeks to foment ignorance. Ignorance, after all, got him elected.
35
Nice of you Mr Edsall to go to the trouble of getting learned advice for this column, which most here appreciate, but our dear leader will say tl;dr and isn't interested anyway. I do hope some GOP in Congress read it, and not make blithe ignorance into a plus for their career under dt.
Next column could you likewise please address what we can do about any of it, or are we belted into the runaway train?
Next column could you likewise please address what we can do about any of it, or are we belted into the runaway train?
10
I would like to recommend www.indivisibleguide.com to you. They are a group of former congressional staffers who have shared a 26p guide with tools for we the people, to make congress listen! They now have well over several hundred grassroots groups registered under their umbrella to resist the Trump agenda. It's not only awesome, it's working! We're in this for the long haul. Join the resistance!
7
Articles like this are past old! It's becoming downright monotonous to hear intelligent people and intelligent news outlets like the NYT tell us over and over, in so many ways, how stunningly ignorant, immoral, arrogant, and illegal Trump and his behavior is. Anyone with a handful of properly functioning braincells has figured this out by now.
The billion dollar question is: What Are We Going To Do About It - and When?
We need answers, now! The nation, and the world, need to be protected now! Waiting until Trump and company blow the place to h**l and back before we (or Congress) do something, is too late. There will be no comfort in the world's biggest "I told you so!"
Please shift focus to Solutions, not more endless restating of the Problem...
The billion dollar question is: What Are We Going To Do About It - and When?
We need answers, now! The nation, and the world, need to be protected now! Waiting until Trump and company blow the place to h**l and back before we (or Congress) do something, is too late. There will be no comfort in the world's biggest "I told you so!"
Please shift focus to Solutions, not more endless restating of the Problem...
34
I'm afraid the NYT and other news outlets can't help us with what to do. They just report. It's up to us--the citizens--to figure it out and put pressure in the right places to make it happen. I'm surprised there aren't more protests going on, right at the doors of each representative and senator. But us average people are also trying to juggle caring for our kids & our parents, while working and running a household. No excuse, but it is hard to squeeze the proper protests in. I couldn't agree more they something needs to be done though!!
8
"Ignorant of his own ignorance" Great line - thank you Prof. Nadler. Trump is numb as well as dumb. His election came about by the 'dumbing down of the public school education system'. We have now reaped the results of those years. We are not any longer capable of being the leader of world democracy when our own country is falling into the hellhole of dictatorship by a numb-nut. Most dictators are quite intelligent, evil but intelligent. Ours? definition not printable.
9
Isn't the proper word for this phenomenon "denial"?
And are his supporters also ignorant of their own ignorance--in denial? Perhaps it really does require some wisdom to accept that other people know better than you, that you need their help in understanding situations instead of just acting on your hunches.
Is the whole Trump phenomenon about a bunch of people who don't want wisdom and facts to get in the way of their basic instincts and hunches about what is good and bad? What calamity will have to come and knock these people back into reality? You know, that place where you have to listen to people who make realistic observations and accept that they know more than you do if you want to survive?
And are his supporters also ignorant of their own ignorance--in denial? Perhaps it really does require some wisdom to accept that other people know better than you, that you need their help in understanding situations instead of just acting on your hunches.
Is the whole Trump phenomenon about a bunch of people who don't want wisdom and facts to get in the way of their basic instincts and hunches about what is good and bad? What calamity will have to come and knock these people back into reality? You know, that place where you have to listen to people who make realistic observations and accept that they know more than you do if you want to survive?
7
If only he had the vast wealth of experience Barack Obama had... Trump only became a billionaire by building businesses, hiring tens of thousands of people, negotiating with unions in the toughest union city in America..
But.. that pales in comparison to the not-even-one-term Senator from Illinois' natural brilliance. The left balances their slavish devotion to their politicians with smarmy contempt for any politician on the other side no matter how skilled, educated or experienced. Same old boring meme.
But.. that pales in comparison to the not-even-one-term Senator from Illinois' natural brilliance. The left balances their slavish devotion to their politicians with smarmy contempt for any politician on the other side no matter how skilled, educated or experienced. Same old boring meme.
2
Trump's lack of knowledge and interest, and his insatiable drive to win every time, is especially frightening when it is apparent he depends on advisers like Bannon, Miller, et al to guide him, compose his executive orders, and encourage or lead him in his destructive madness.
8
Trump like his followers suffer from ODS [Obama Derangement Syndrome].
Basically, if President Obama supported a program or position, then Mr. Trump and his supporters must be against it. Never mind if a program helps a majority of Trump supporters. Facts and truth don't matter to Mr. Trump or his supporters.
Mr. Trump's ignorance like his ego have no bounds.
Basically, if President Obama supported a program or position, then Mr. Trump and his supporters must be against it. Never mind if a program helps a majority of Trump supporters. Facts and truth don't matter to Mr. Trump or his supporters.
Mr. Trump's ignorance like his ego have no bounds.
15
Donald Trump is as ignorant as they come. Although he somehow managed to become President, he still demonstrates a lack of maturity. He continuously commits impulsive actions. Trump has demonstrated throughout his time in office that he lacks competence and character. He is most concerned with his personal status and image, as well as money. Trump clearly shows he is dangerous. His personality is illustrated through his arrogance, inability to be responsible, cowardice, lack of social justice, and poor judgment. This is extremely dangerous considering the fact that he is the one with access to the American nuclear launch codes. He might just start a war, as it is something that is now a possibility with North Korea. Is he really who we want running this country? A man who is THIS ignorant and impetuous?
9
It's scary that president Trump is what he's!
5
It takes intelligence, humility, and some imagination to know that you don't know everything. Tiny Hands lacks all.
6
Yup. Make America great again .... for the twentieth century.
5
Edsall verbalizes perfectly what I have thought about Trump for a long time: He lacks curiosity.
Most of us, when we get a new job, read everything we can about it: Procedures, regulations, laws, so we have an understanding of where our position fits in with the greater scheme of things.
Trump doesn't know and he doesn't know that he doesn't know. Not only doesn't he know, he doesn't even suspect.
The guy to be analyzing, really, is Bannon. It appears that he, like Bush's Cheney, is steering the ship. And he knows, above all, that he isn't accountable.
Most of us, when we get a new job, read everything we can about it: Procedures, regulations, laws, so we have an understanding of where our position fits in with the greater scheme of things.
Trump doesn't know and he doesn't know that he doesn't know. Not only doesn't he know, he doesn't even suspect.
The guy to be analyzing, really, is Bannon. It appears that he, like Bush's Cheney, is steering the ship. And he knows, above all, that he isn't accountable.
12
You are only really ignorant, when you don't realize you are ignorant and don't care if you are. At the risk of over-simplification, we are now dependent on a spoiled brat (they're nearly all good at being charming in the short term too, when it leads to some gain for themselves -- think Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. from "Dobie Gillis") who has not had to deal with the world from a position of first among equals, or had to lead by example. He has been able to dictate, or if that didn't work, imperiously abandon the effort to succeed. Feeling nice and comfy with his ignorance, his behavior indicates he believes he can function as President of the United States and leader of the free world in the same manner, though such behavior is diametrically opposed to that required to deal with the other seven billion human beings in the world and their leaders effectively. We are in peril.
12
By stating that Trump is “Ignorant of his own ignorance,” Edsall highlights the idea that Trump may not know what he is doing when it comes to these large-scale issues. I do not know enough about politics to give a real opinion, and frankly I disliked both candidates in this election equally but it is quite frightening to see the numbers and logistics of what Trump plans to do as well as how he plans to do things. The fact that he plans to take away immense amounts of money toward education alone is appalling and should stand out when reading over his plans. Despite what side of the political war you land on, the author highlights the main issues regarding trumps presidency simply in the title.
5
Why isn't anyone seriously talking about breaking up the United States? Trump is a disaster and danger to our future. Sadly, he will probably be dead by the time all of the negative effects of his domestic policies play out.
Again, why aren't we talking about the divided states of America? The red and blue states of America? It seems painfully clear that there are millions of Americans who support Trump and his policies. Even when he isn't President, they will probably still believe in his policies. We need to think long term. Our country is much bigger than Donald Trump. And yet, the red state voters are determined to build a wall and bring back coal mining jobs.
It is time to divide the U.S. I know. Heartbreaking and unbelievable. But all of us who are familiar with history know that great countries rise and fall, and borders change. It is time for the Blue states to rise. We can't do that if we are shackled to the Red states. Let's let the Red states do what they want.
Think what you will of Brexit. It is time for each state to decide if it is red or blue, and to move forward accordingly. Think of how great it would be if both the Blue states and Red states could each control their future?
Who can lead us into a great, Blue States future?
(And cynically, I say, let's build a wall to keep out the red state "illegal immigrants." Because when they see how much better life is in the Blue States of America, they will want to join us.)
Again, why aren't we talking about the divided states of America? The red and blue states of America? It seems painfully clear that there are millions of Americans who support Trump and his policies. Even when he isn't President, they will probably still believe in his policies. We need to think long term. Our country is much bigger than Donald Trump. And yet, the red state voters are determined to build a wall and bring back coal mining jobs.
It is time to divide the U.S. I know. Heartbreaking and unbelievable. But all of us who are familiar with history know that great countries rise and fall, and borders change. It is time for the Blue states to rise. We can't do that if we are shackled to the Red states. Let's let the Red states do what they want.
Think what you will of Brexit. It is time for each state to decide if it is red or blue, and to move forward accordingly. Think of how great it would be if both the Blue states and Red states could each control their future?
Who can lead us into a great, Blue States future?
(And cynically, I say, let's build a wall to keep out the red state "illegal immigrants." Because when they see how much better life is in the Blue States of America, they will want to join us.)
6
Methinks the red states would fight tooth & nail to prevent that, since blue states are the only engines left driving the economy.
4
Probably not a good idea. ..Remember the South Carolina pol prior to the Civil War? "South Carolina : too small to be a country, too big to be an insane asylum "...some red states could identify with that!
5
We already know that Trump is a charlatan with links to organized crime. Putin is the head of the West's biggest criminal syndicate, a k a the Kremlin. The dark money in American politics has stoked gullible voters with the same fake news and bloviated rhetoric that the Trump-Putin axis employs, and it has been allowed to persist for decades. Now we are experiencing the consequences, and it is not at all clear how we are going to get back on course. The stupidity of Trump's team, including his congressional confederates, is some consolation, but the larger issues will not disappear even if this illegitimate presidency is upended.
6
Blame Mr Trump for any and everything that goes wrong, but keep in mind those who back him are professional politicians who know exactly what they and he are doing. He is their stealth President and come 2018, 2020 and 2022 we should all remember who among any of "our Representatives" stood up and who slinked into the shadow world which his election provided.
Perhaps his inability to spell made his choice of "great" a mistake, for what he is doing is to make America like the bottom of a coal burning stove, again and again and again.
Perhaps his inability to spell made his choice of "great" a mistake, for what he is doing is to make America like the bottom of a coal burning stove, again and again and again.
7
President Trump is morally and ethically bankrupt in his new job. There is nothing we can teach this old dog. The best to hope for is a backbone in Congress and the continued strength of our Federal court system.
12
The elephant in the room that most people choose to ignore is the corrupt political environment that allowed such an ignoramus to triumph. I am talking about the big money in politics and the hyper profit-driven news media. Let us hope that the current investigations and the endeavors of the mainstream media that has now realized the unbelievablr danger we are facing, would be able to shed light on the degree of Russian interference in our election and the roles their domestic enablers actually played. We need to find out the detailed financial entanglements of Trump with Russian money.
11
What seems to be forgotten in all this complaining and analysis of what the president's problems are - is the real possibility that he has a serious personality disorder that would at least partially explain many of these behavious and actions. A person with a personality disorder like narcissism or borderline issues is unable or unwilling to accept blame, does whatever pleases his supporters, feeds his ego constantly with spurious claims of grandeur and conspiracy, demeans his adversaries, is unpredictable and, as a result sows chaos in the system constantly. Just look at what his Tweet about Obama wiretapping his campaign has wrought - weeks of anxious conflict, investigations, name calling, suspicion, multiple committees and upheaval in the FBI, CIA and assorted other federal and congressional circles. Nothing has inspired his curiosity or willingness to understand the government he inherited. Will we have to encounter a huge terrorist or other national or international calamity to wake up to the fact that he is not up to the job and is destroying, piece by piece our democracy. And. in addition, those miners are not going back to the mines that have been closed for ver 10 years.
14
A Persian Proverb says: He who does not know that he does not know, shall for ever live in compouded Ignorance. And so shall President Donald J. Trump, Let us hope that the 62 million people who believed that he is the Leader to lead them to the Promissed Land of Greater America shall know that they did not know.
5
The opinions of these respected scholars are not surprising to anyone who actually uses their brain. Now tell us what to do so this idiot doesn't start World War III!
9
Oh for a parliamentary form of government at this time.
6
Mr. Edsell understated our problem. It’s deeper than having a president who doesn’t know important stuff and doesn’t know that he doesn’t know. He also doesn’t care. He sees himself as a salesman, not a policymaker. Crunching numbers and ideas is something one delegates to lesser beings, wonks, not manly alpha men such as himself. So, he was happy to tout Ryan’s plan to throw 24,000,000 Americans off the healthcare train as “wonderful” until it crashed and burned. At that point, rather than hunkering down and trying to negotiate something better, he chose to move on to other things, to find something else to sell – like sacrificing the environment on the (fake) promise of restored jobs, something surely appealing to his adoring fans and to his spiritual advisor and head policy wonk, Steve Bannon.
We’re off to a rocky start, and there’s no reason to expect things to get better. Unless. Michael Flynn’s lawyer says he has quite a story to tell in return for immunity. If the story would put Flynn’s boss in jail, make the deal, please. We could use a little light at the end of our long national tunnel of shame.
We’re off to a rocky start, and there’s no reason to expect things to get better. Unless. Michael Flynn’s lawyer says he has quite a story to tell in return for immunity. If the story would put Flynn’s boss in jail, make the deal, please. We could use a little light at the end of our long national tunnel of shame.
13
America is so ignorant that it may never understand the pain it inflicts on the rest of the world as it obsesses over it's own reflection.
6
I have considerable confidence that the leader of the free world will guide us through these difficult times. Chancellor Merkel has always seemed to be both cautious and principled. Let's hope her job has become a bit simpler now that it is abundantly clear to everyone (except himself) what a dummkopf Trump is.
9
Trump's border wall is a good example of Trump's ignorance. The estimated cost to build the US/Mexico border wall is fifteen billion dollars ($15,000,000,000,000). The estimated total number of illegal immigrants entering the US from Mexico each year is 750,000. $15 billion divided by 750,000 is $20,000,000 to keep out one illegal Mexican immigrant each year. How many $20 million a year low information, poorly educated Trump supporter's jobs are being taken by Mexican illegal immigrants?
10
There is only one way to describe the current ruling cabal: kakistocracy. Soon, we will tranform into an idiocracy. The fact that 60 million Americans (25.9%) even voted for this morally vacuous moron speaks volumes about our culture (or lack thereof). Of course 90 million persons (40%) failed to vote, thereby sealing the deal whereby one-quarter of the eligible voters chose the least qualified person in American history for the most important job in the world.
10
" ...he is nearly always guided by a single principle: his {short run] self-interest."
He lives for the next photo-op, the next self-celebration--obvious even when supposedly celebrating others--such as “My cabinet is full of [four] really incredible women leaders,”
Ms Collins called it the "irony" speech. But that is too charitable. Others will see the dramatic irony--saying one thing and displaying the opposite.
But Trump lies so regularly he must not know the difference between true and false. That might work in [short run] marketing. But you can't fool all the people all the time--we hope.
And if he succeeds in licensing lying with impunity in all arenas and walks of life, that will be a long run disaster even for him.
He lives for the next photo-op, the next self-celebration--obvious even when supposedly celebrating others--such as “My cabinet is full of [four] really incredible women leaders,”
Ms Collins called it the "irony" speech. But that is too charitable. Others will see the dramatic irony--saying one thing and displaying the opposite.
But Trump lies so regularly he must not know the difference between true and false. That might work in [short run] marketing. But you can't fool all the people all the time--we hope.
And if he succeeds in licensing lying with impunity in all arenas and walks of life, that will be a long run disaster even for him.
7
There is a term for Trump: delusional. It is important to realize that "labeling" Trump as delusional is not the same as merely observing his obvious arrogance. After all, throw a dart into any government anywhere in the world and you're likely to hit an arrogant politician. On a lower level, even common citizens (myself included) can be arrogant. Being truly delusional, however, is something else.
Trump believes he has skills, knowledge and expertise in a host of subjects in which he is, in fact, a lay person at best (and woefully deficient in many cases). For instance, Trump's reference to the mythical 12th Article of the U.S. Constitution does not bode well for his knowledge of the document, which has only 7 Articles of course, much less his ability to fulfill his Presidential oath to protect it. Trump's flippant opinions on the use of nuclear weapons and his terrible lack of knowledge regarding those weapons (remember his nonsensical ad lib of an opinion question on the nuclear triad?) is not good for a person with the power, even in the abstract, to actually deploy them. Trump's campaign promise that Putin would not be going into Ukraine (and the fact that he had to learn ON THE AIR that Putin had done that years ago) does not inspire confidence. Let's not even discuss his ethical reasoning.
Even if I liked Trump's style (I don't), the man simply isn't up to the job. Worse, for some reason he seems to believe that his inferior skills are actually SUPERIOR.
Trump believes he has skills, knowledge and expertise in a host of subjects in which he is, in fact, a lay person at best (and woefully deficient in many cases). For instance, Trump's reference to the mythical 12th Article of the U.S. Constitution does not bode well for his knowledge of the document, which has only 7 Articles of course, much less his ability to fulfill his Presidential oath to protect it. Trump's flippant opinions on the use of nuclear weapons and his terrible lack of knowledge regarding those weapons (remember his nonsensical ad lib of an opinion question on the nuclear triad?) is not good for a person with the power, even in the abstract, to actually deploy them. Trump's campaign promise that Putin would not be going into Ukraine (and the fact that he had to learn ON THE AIR that Putin had done that years ago) does not inspire confidence. Let's not even discuss his ethical reasoning.
Even if I liked Trump's style (I don't), the man simply isn't up to the job. Worse, for some reason he seems to believe that his inferior skills are actually SUPERIOR.
6
The dirty fuel industry is in charge. Coal mines, pipelines, cut spending for renewables. It worked out perfectly for the Kochs. Gut the EPA, put anti-environment stooges in charge of all the agencies. Populist indeed.
8
What I want to know, as Trump fills his staff with generals and funnels new billions toward the Pentagon, is:
Whose back does the military have?
Ours or Trump's?
How about the Republican Congress?
When it comes time for him to be deposed, who will ensure he goes?
Whose back does the military have?
Ours or Trump's?
How about the Republican Congress?
When it comes time for him to be deposed, who will ensure he goes?
3
People vote without knowing, learning, contemplating, or even caring. I can't forget an older lady in Ohio saying during the campaign that she was voting for whoever was driving the conservative buggy (I'm paraphrasing). So the devil 's good with her too, he just needs to be in the GOP. Democracy is only healthy when voters are informed and respect dialogue ; country should come before party or ideology. But Paul Ryan's freaking out supposedly that Trump may work with Dems! This is the guy who believes in "competition of ideas." Mr. Speaker look at a history text and stop reading Aynd Rand. When younger, it really rubbed me the wrong way how many Europeans-- Germans, others--- had an "Americans are stupid" stereotype. Now I am very sad to say, they had/ have a point. A lot has to change--- the democracy is being tested. Why do Republicans fear revelations? They stopped at nothing when Benghazi, but Russiagage is a "witch hunt." Sometimes I lose all hope ...
5
"“He is ignorant of his own ignorance.”
= Bliss. He doesn't care.
= Bliss. He doesn't care.
5
The democratic process is in the hands of a mindless madman who is only interested in getting good ratings from his adorable populace. But this disaster occurred because of the vast number of uninformed,ignorant,simpleton followers who are unprepared to seek justice and truth and are unable to form" a more perfect union"in which "one is thy brothers' keeper"and in which hard work can provide a descent living for all. Any democracy fails if the people do not become knowledgeable and do not develop love for a united nation with freedom from prejudice and bigotry.
3
Ironically, had Mr. Edsall pegged as a straight shooter when I began to follow his column, who viewed events and our politics with an objective eye, who would inform us. He's informative alright, but only of his prejudices, presumptuousness about what he thinks Trump will do and how "ignorant" he believes he is.Mr. Edsall, "D'ou vous sortez?"Review last several admins. Obama ran economy into the ground,was wishy washy on illegal immigration, disgraced America when he threatened the red line ultimatum re Assad,then reneged, making us look weak. Arab proverb, quoted to me by Edmond Jouhaud, one of the putchist generals who sought to overthrow De Gaulle in 1961 over his Algerian policy:"Crachez sur la main qui te caresse; embrasses celui qui te frappe!"US's foreign policy under O was hopeless. Then there was Bush "fils"responsible for over a million deaths and the carving up of Iraq, preceded by Slick Willie and rumors of multiple rapes of women. Worse under Trump? How could it be worse?Mentioned Jouhaud , native of Bou Sfer in Algeria, and who always said about me:"Harrison est plus pied noir que nous. Il sait boire le pastis mieux que nous!" But I digress.Given the "rigolos" who preceded him, how could The Donald be worse?Despite all the negative reporting by the liberal media, including your paper, Trump has not lost 1 iota of support from his base."Nous sommes les inconditionnels du Trumpisme!"He remains our vox populi!
Who is more ignorant our fool President, or all of us fools who follow him? He is a blathering, off his rocker--and soon to be in a rocking chair, nutso, President. The longer he is in office, the more damage he will do to the country. Has already killed a Navy SEAL, hundreds of civilians, and more U.S. soldiers will die because of his Alpha ineptitude. Dementia is setting in...
4
If President Obama had made even one of the "false or misleading" statements that President Trump has made, conservative media would be demanding that he be impeached. Obama had to be the Jackie Robinson of Presidents, and he succeeded. I miss him.
8
"He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, he is a fool. Ignore him"
4
"The pathological narcissist, though self-absorbed, does not have high self esteem.The pathological narcissist is the epitome of the ego maniac with the inferiority complex. ... They secretly feel inadequate and bolster themselves up with excessive self-admiration. They talk a good game without actually feeling any of it."- from Psychology Today.... This is our president. What does he have to do for our elected representatives stand unified and admit this man is unfit to represent our nation at home and abroad?
5
Not only is he ignorant of his own ignorance, he is proud of it. As the smartest person in the room, he doesn't need to be briefed on anything- from foreign affairs to his healthcare plan. He can bully his way through anything, which is his art of the deal. His arrogance is mind boggling
15
President Trump will have President Xi JinPing visit him at Mar-A-Lago on April 6 and 7.
President Trump's leadership since he has taken office here in the USA has done more for the Chinese Communist Party and the one party system of the Chinese government than anything done by the Party or by the government in this millennium. The 2008 Olympics made all Chinese PROUD. The 2016 USA elections and the leadership of Donald Trump made all Chinese AFRAID of what could result from Democracy. The Chinese Communist party claims that with all the hurdles people need to surmount to rise up to the top, only excellent people will be leaders, but in multi party systems, sometimes the worst of the lot will be elected, not the best. Trump's election proves that out.
President Trump's leadership since he has taken office here in the USA has done more for the Chinese Communist Party and the one party system of the Chinese government than anything done by the Party or by the government in this millennium. The 2008 Olympics made all Chinese PROUD. The 2016 USA elections and the leadership of Donald Trump made all Chinese AFRAID of what could result from Democracy. The Chinese Communist party claims that with all the hurdles people need to surmount to rise up to the top, only excellent people will be leaders, but in multi party systems, sometimes the worst of the lot will be elected, not the best. Trump's election proves that out.
2
Things in Washington were gone from complicated, to too complicated, to way too complicated. It's hard to keep up with the players.
It's no longer just about Trump making outrageous statements about creating jobs, about stopping immigration, about repealing and replacing health care, or about revising the tax code--none of which he appears to be capable of doing.
No. Things have escalated to the point where major components of the United State government--Congress, the judiciary, and the White House itself are in a state of flux.
Everything seems to be spinning out of control, and nothing constructive seems to be getting done--in particular during a time when things need to get done. It's all about creating the next distraction. If you don't believe me, just wait for the next Tweet from POTUS. I can't begin to predict what that might be, or where it might lead.
A better way to deflect some of the chaos that is swirling around might be to break the ice, introduce yourself to the other party--that would be the Democrats--and with their help design and actually pass an infrastructure spending bill. That's the one thing that even Republicans, Democrats, and the rest of the entire free world seem to agree on. And it would be a step forward, not two steps backward.
What a concept.
It's no longer just about Trump making outrageous statements about creating jobs, about stopping immigration, about repealing and replacing health care, or about revising the tax code--none of which he appears to be capable of doing.
No. Things have escalated to the point where major components of the United State government--Congress, the judiciary, and the White House itself are in a state of flux.
Everything seems to be spinning out of control, and nothing constructive seems to be getting done--in particular during a time when things need to get done. It's all about creating the next distraction. If you don't believe me, just wait for the next Tweet from POTUS. I can't begin to predict what that might be, or where it might lead.
A better way to deflect some of the chaos that is swirling around might be to break the ice, introduce yourself to the other party--that would be the Democrats--and with their help design and actually pass an infrastructure spending bill. That's the one thing that even Republicans, Democrats, and the rest of the entire free world seem to agree on. And it would be a step forward, not two steps backward.
What a concept.
2
Many, years ago George Carlin did a comedy routine about the progression of the human intellect from youth on through old age. It went something like this:
"When you're really young, you don’t know, and you don’t know that you don’t know. When your a little older, you don’t know, and you know that you don’t know. But then, when you are old, you know, but you don’t know that you know. And when you are really old, you know, and you know that you know!!"
President Trump is in a state of arrested development according to George's scale!!
"When you're really young, you don’t know, and you don’t know that you don’t know. When your a little older, you don’t know, and you know that you don’t know. But then, when you are old, you know, but you don’t know that you know. And when you are really old, you know, and you know that you know!!"
President Trump is in a state of arrested development according to George's scale!!
2
Rumsfeld: ' ... there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know. ....'
Trump is in the third category: he does not know what he does not know.
Trump is in the third category: he does not know what he does not know.
2
Winston Churchill once quipped, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." Donald Trump was elected by low-information voters who swallowed the Trump Kool-Aid in an act of cultural and political vengeance and retribution. So many times I found myself screaming at the TV after hearing some working-class person (mostly white, but sometimes not) proclaim, "Donald Trump - he's just like me." No, Trump is not just like you. But ignorance is bliss. Ignorant voters begat an ignorant president and now the United States is in the grip of a national emergency. The Trumpsters have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. .
3
The scariest thing about the trump era is not his ignorance, nor is it the ignorance of his staff an cabinet. It's the evident inability of our political and constitutional institutions to cope with the accumulating fallout from their ignorance.
26
The Republicans are more interested in tax cuts for the wealthy than our country. Because of all the points made in this article, Trump is unfit to be President. He's got a personality disorder and multiple character flaws besides being lazy and ignorant. That's obvious to anyone with half a brain, but seemingly not to the Congressional Republicans. In my opinion, they're gutless traitors for not impeaching Trump.
22
Trump is a product of the American culture. He thinks he represents the greatest America like all the people who voted for him which are close to half of the US population.
Trump and his supporters are the products of American education,or its absence...
Only 20 % of Americans attend university education elevel and the education in US colleges is very superficial compared to Europe.
Specially in general education,philosophy,and human sciences.
US College education is also very individualistic in its organization and its pedagogy.
Trump and his supporters are the products of American education,or its absence...
Only 20 % of Americans attend university education elevel and the education in US colleges is very superficial compared to Europe.
Specially in general education,philosophy,and human sciences.
US College education is also very individualistic in its organization and its pedagogy.
12
Fact is that "close to half the US population" did not vote for Trump. Reason for this is that only 55% of eligible US voters actually decided to take part in the election and vote. This means that Trump was elected with only 26% of eligible voters.
3
Half of the population did NOT vote for him! It's more like a quarter of eligible voters.
https://mises.org/blog/26-percent-eligible-voters-voted-trump?sa=X&v...
https://mises.org/blog/26-percent-eligible-voters-voted-trump?sa=X&v...
4
I perfectly know ...but can you explain why Americans don't vote ?
Does it contradict my analysis about education and culture ?
To not vote is also a political statement ...as we see the effect now.
If you let something happen it is because you are complicite ..
Again the individualistic ideology which allows to escape from responsability as well as from causality,even by pretending to argue
Does it contradict my analysis about education and culture ?
To not vote is also a political statement ...as we see the effect now.
If you let something happen it is because you are complicite ..
Again the individualistic ideology which allows to escape from responsability as well as from causality,even by pretending to argue
1
Oh Mr Trump is ignorant of so much!
6
The Donald is far from ignorant in the effects of celebrity, extreme wealth and the illusion of power on some women. He's insanely aware of the dangers of making hand to hand contact with other humans. Additionally, no one surpasses the 45th POTUS in the art of aquiring the types of extreme debt that can flushed away in US bankruptcy courts, and translated in to jaw dropping tax breaks applicable to future income one year after another. Thus, making Trump's bid for president akin to the 2nd Coming in the world of politics. An honest liar, who wouldn't hide his true feelings behind diplomacy and political correctness. Yes Trump is far from ignorant, he was able to persuade millions of Americans to believe that he and if not only he, no one could make America great again.
3
We the people have reaped what we have sown. For more than a
generation, we have not been dutiful citizens, not caring enough to
learn about important domestic issues, let alone seeking to address
them. Low voter turnout points out how little we care about any
picture bigger than the display screen of our TV. Indifference to the
suffering of others worldwide, nationally, and next-door, has left us
effectively ignorant, and ignorant of our ignorance. There are those
who have been alert and active(not me), and now we are reluctantly beginning to be responsible citizens.
generation, we have not been dutiful citizens, not caring enough to
learn about important domestic issues, let alone seeking to address
them. Low voter turnout points out how little we care about any
picture bigger than the display screen of our TV. Indifference to the
suffering of others worldwide, nationally, and next-door, has left us
effectively ignorant, and ignorant of our ignorance. There are those
who have been alert and active(not me), and now we are reluctantly beginning to be responsible citizens.
29
Putin is so far the most nefariously brilliant player on the stage of this drama. Through his astute long term goal of weakening the fabric of American democracy and society he is right on target. He revels while we flounder with no governance and and a devisive electorate with little power to remove an ignorant despot.
34
It's not just Trump. The whole Republican electorate is complacent. Take the 84% approval rating among Republicans as a sign this country will continue to be regress. All these policies were crafted from sound bites, and yet we still call Paul Ryan as a policy wonk. Seriously?! What was the most meaningful legislation in the last decade crafted by a Republican? Crickets...
Is there anything that Donald Trump does that the Times and its readership approve of? Anything? What's the point of reading your articles? The message is always the same: Trump stinks.
Speaking of ignorance, the preceding POTUS did not know the number of states in the US, the language spoken in Austria, the pronunciation of the word "corps," the location of Savannah and Charleston (he thought they were on the Gulf Coast), the difference between the Maldives and the Malvinas, the name of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo (he thought it was Cinco de Cuatro), and the nature of the death camps in Poland (he referred to them as Polish death camps instead of German death camps).
Speaking of ignorance, the preceding POTUS did not know the number of states in the US, the language spoken in Austria, the pronunciation of the word "corps," the location of Savannah and Charleston (he thought they were on the Gulf Coast), the difference between the Maldives and the Malvinas, the name of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo (he thought it was Cinco de Cuatro), and the nature of the death camps in Poland (he referred to them as Polish death camps instead of German death camps).
11
The fact that you think that is some kind of comparison -- regardless of how fact-challenged your claims are -- is just as disconcerting as trump's own shortcomings.
trump's disinterest in the details of the policies he advocates -- e.g. the Republican health care alternative -- is widely known and openly admitted. With Obama there is no comparison.
Wake up.
trump's disinterest in the details of the policies he advocates -- e.g. the Republican health care alternative -- is widely known and openly admitted. With Obama there is no comparison.
Wake up.
35
What is possibly the most powerful political office in the world (though President of Russia might now have surpassed it) is occupied by a rank amateur, a professional confidence-man, an empty-headed narcissist, with no political experience whatsoever except buying congresspersons to do his bidding (which he bragged about, by the way).
What's the point of believing he has the least bit of competence when he has consistently proven only incompetence on a grand scale?
Mr. Trump believes that there's no such thing as bad publicity, that the most important thing is to be known (i.e. to be a celebrity, regardless of the reason). Well, he's playing with the fate of the nation and the money of the taxpayer (not his own money... he's leveraged to the hilt with the Chinese, and possibly the Russians as well).
This is an opinion piece, not a news piece. If you disagree with the facts of the argument, then posit your own version of the facts in your rebuttal. See which facts stand the test of time (that could be a costly wait; the clock is ticking and the damage to the country's institutions and the Constitution is taking place in real time).
Mr. Trump's predecessor made factual mistakes in his speeches, just as every other President has done. But you'll note that none of those mistakes are about the process of governing. Mr. Trump's predecessor was a politician and knew how government functions; Mr. Trump is not a politician, and is showing he has no idea how government functions.
What's the point of believing he has the least bit of competence when he has consistently proven only incompetence on a grand scale?
Mr. Trump believes that there's no such thing as bad publicity, that the most important thing is to be known (i.e. to be a celebrity, regardless of the reason). Well, he's playing with the fate of the nation and the money of the taxpayer (not his own money... he's leveraged to the hilt with the Chinese, and possibly the Russians as well).
This is an opinion piece, not a news piece. If you disagree with the facts of the argument, then posit your own version of the facts in your rebuttal. See which facts stand the test of time (that could be a costly wait; the clock is ticking and the damage to the country's institutions and the Constitution is taking place in real time).
Mr. Trump's predecessor made factual mistakes in his speeches, just as every other President has done. But you'll note that none of those mistakes are about the process of governing. Mr. Trump's predecessor was a politician and knew how government functions; Mr. Trump is not a politician, and is showing he has no idea how government functions.
29
Mr. Kantor,
President Obama was the president of the Harvard Law Review. Do you really believe he was unaware of the number of states in the U.S.? Your statements are laughable.
President Obama was the president of the Harvard Law Review. Do you really believe he was unaware of the number of states in the U.S.? Your statements are laughable.
9
A stunningly dangerous example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
7
Trump may have lied 317 times in his first 63 days, but we can be sure he has not committed any "extremely careless" errors like Hillary Clinton did with her emails four years ago when, once a month, out of over 30,000+ emails received she would forward one "secret" email to an individual okayed only to receive "classified" email. Her error rate of less than 1/100th of 1% handling her email won't possibly be repeated by any member of the Trump administration -- every single one of the them make many, many more errors than that every hour of the day.
What James Comey said back in July of 2016 was "extremely bogus". No one in mass media called him on it. Reporters and analysts for ALL our media seemed to take have taken pride in NOT having a facility with simple statistics that would have proved out how bogus Comey's attack against Hillary was. They ill served our country then. Now, let's hope Edsall's op ed about President Trump's ignorance encourages reporters NOT to take pride in their ignorance in the future.
What James Comey said back in July of 2016 was "extremely bogus". No one in mass media called him on it. Reporters and analysts for ALL our media seemed to take have taken pride in NOT having a facility with simple statistics that would have proved out how bogus Comey's attack against Hillary was. They ill served our country then. Now, let's hope Edsall's op ed about President Trump's ignorance encourages reporters NOT to take pride in their ignorance in the future.
Interesting and worthwhile. Trump is destroying America's brand. Next time, could you please ask some women what they think? I know women also teach history; I do.
24
It's sad, tragic, that we have a president who is not concerned about the American people. I ask myself everyday why is he president? I don't think it has anything to do with "making America great again". It's more like "I'm the president and you're not".
16
Near the end of his six years as British prime minister, Harold Macmillan was asked by a reporter what was the most difficult thing he encountered in his time in office. With wry hint of contempt, he replied: "Events, my boy, events."
Donald Trump inevitably will have to deal with unexpected crises. For example:
-- A racial conflagration in multiple American cities, as in 1968.
-- A major act of terrorism, in America or abroad, as on Sept. 11, 2001.
-- An international crisis directly challenging America, as in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
-- An economic shock inflicting severe pain on all Americans, as in 2008.
It's not out of the question that several or all could occur simultaneously.
Only then will we learn whether we made a catastrophic mistake in electing a man of Donald Trump's volcanic temperament.
Donald Trump inevitably will have to deal with unexpected crises. For example:
-- A racial conflagration in multiple American cities, as in 1968.
-- A major act of terrorism, in America or abroad, as on Sept. 11, 2001.
-- An international crisis directly challenging America, as in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
-- An economic shock inflicting severe pain on all Americans, as in 2008.
It's not out of the question that several or all could occur simultaneously.
Only then will we learn whether we made a catastrophic mistake in electing a man of Donald Trump's volcanic temperament.
9
If?
1
As for North Korea, maybe Mr. Trump should invite Kim Jong-il, the greatest basketball fan in Korea, North or South, to join him when the NBA champions make their annual White House visit - assuming, of course, that they will actually accept an invitation this year.
5
International "problems from hell" - and that does not include the threats of global warming. We had a highly respected ( at least globally, not in this banana republic ) former SOS running against this deluded man-child.
Dare I say that not one single objective observer is pleased with the outcome.
Dare I say that not one single objective observer is pleased with the outcome.
19
it's good, mr. edsall, that you no longer pretend to be an 'analyst' of voter activity -- but the left-wing zombie that you are.
3
Any keenness this sham president may possess is entirely directed to own interests. Certainly not to the presidency.
8
Don´t they say that " countries have the leaders that they deserve ?"
Trump doesn´t have a monopoly in ignorance. ( Remember J.Helms wanting to send an aircraft carrier to Bolivia ?) You read most of these comments and see that to most of them the US is essential to world order. It is not. Europe can take care of itself if need arises and most other countries want just to trade and be left in peace.´The problem is that ignorance comes in hand with arrogance .And to them Might is always Right.
Trump doesn´t have a monopoly in ignorance. ( Remember J.Helms wanting to send an aircraft carrier to Bolivia ?) You read most of these comments and see that to most of them the US is essential to world order. It is not. Europe can take care of itself if need arises and most other countries want just to trade and be left in peace.´The problem is that ignorance comes in hand with arrogance .And to them Might is always Right.
5
Ignorance is very daring and if it is linked to a schizoid and anetica personality is extremely dangerous and toxic.
6
As I write this comment, there are 1107 comments already posted, plus Edsall's column makes 1108. Compare this to the millions of Trump supporters who don't read the NYT. Who are we communicating to?
6
"The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is."
-Wikipedia
This is what Trump suffers from and this is what George W. Bush suffered from. Both habitually state things that are already well-understood by others, as if they're making an ingenious observation (e.g., "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated"). In both cases inflated perceptions of their own intelligence rob them of the ability to countenance their own ignorance. It takes an appropriate level of humility to drive a person to take great care when making big decisions (e.g., the invasion of Iraq). At least Bush spent some time in government before becoming president. Trump, however, brings the worst of many worlds to the oval office - surpassing ignorance, a massively inflated ego and a short attention span.
-Wikipedia
This is what Trump suffers from and this is what George W. Bush suffered from. Both habitually state things that are already well-understood by others, as if they're making an ingenious observation (e.g., "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated"). In both cases inflated perceptions of their own intelligence rob them of the ability to countenance their own ignorance. It takes an appropriate level of humility to drive a person to take great care when making big decisions (e.g., the invasion of Iraq). At least Bush spent some time in government before becoming president. Trump, however, brings the worst of many worlds to the oval office - surpassing ignorance, a massively inflated ego and a short attention span.
12
The question is not whether the Donald is ignorant in all its variations but what will be the tipping point when the people vested with the power of impeachment will stop willfully ignoring the violations of law continuously committed by this President. Is this the same party that set such a low standard for ""high crimes and misdemeanors" with President Clinton impeachment over a sexual escapade? Come election time "Do you think President Trump be impeached?" should be a litmus test to measure the ignorance, if not the sanity, of our candidates.
14
SAD!
No person can know everything, That is why the most successful leaders surround themselves with (and carefully listen to) highly qualified experts who give objective advice.
Persons in leadership positions who don't know what they don't know are a threat to any organization as they invariably make catastrophic mistakes that harm their organizations. They need to be fired and replaced. Period.
Persons in leadership positions who don't know what they don't know are a threat to any organization as they invariably make catastrophic mistakes that harm their organizations. They need to be fired and replaced. Period.
6
Spot on!
1
In some circles, the levels of ability are, from top to bottom, unconscious competence, conscious competence, conscious incompetence, unconscious incompetence, and lowest of all, "I'm a very smart person ... I know more than the generals."
Thank God Jered and Ivanka have offices now. I was getting worried.
Thank God Jered and Ivanka have offices now. I was getting worried.
He who knows and knows that he knows - learn from him
He who konows and doesn't know that he knows - help him
He who doesn't know but knows that doesn't know - teach him
He who doesn't know and doesn't know that doesn't know ..... oh dear me.
He who konows and doesn't know that he knows - help him
He who doesn't know but knows that doesn't know - teach him
He who doesn't know and doesn't know that doesn't know ..... oh dear me.
5
Moses: "I got scruples too, you know. You know what that is? Scruples?"
Addie: No, I don't know what it is, but if you got 'em, it's a sure bet they belong to somebody else!
~Paper Moon
Addie: No, I don't know what it is, but if you got 'em, it's a sure bet they belong to somebody else!
~Paper Moon
Agita!!
Trump does not care for or about anyone not named "Trump." The presidency was just another little item on his bucket list. He thought he would hear "Hail to the Chief' every time he entered a room.
6
He was obviously designed by committee. FAIL.
3
I always thought I was a procrastinator, but I am now witnessing in technicolor the display of procrastination on steroids. Which catastrophe has to befall us to finally prompt action in congress to remove this nut job? An economic disaster when we become ostracized by other countries who can't trust us anymore and are conflicted about doing business with us? An escalation of senseless bombing in the Middle East so egregious and careless that we get overwhelmed with terrorist acts by homegrown radicalized Muslims who just can't take it anymore? A nuclear confrontation with North Korea?
All those possibilities are on the table. I have never been so scared in my life. But all the republicans care about is to keep using Trump to rubber stamp their nefarious schemes to get their tax breaks on the backs of the working class, the disabled, and the poor, and to make abortion illegal and contraception exempt from the AHA (while at the same time eliminating maternity health care.)
I have so far identified one person in congress who says what the silent majority in Washington is thinking: congress woman Maxine Waters. You go, Ms. Waters! Full steam ahead!
All those possibilities are on the table. I have never been so scared in my life. But all the republicans care about is to keep using Trump to rubber stamp their nefarious schemes to get their tax breaks on the backs of the working class, the disabled, and the poor, and to make abortion illegal and contraception exempt from the AHA (while at the same time eliminating maternity health care.)
I have so far identified one person in congress who says what the silent majority in Washington is thinking: congress woman Maxine Waters. You go, Ms. Waters! Full steam ahead!
11
He is the black hole of ignorance. Malignant, consuming all matter and growing. Seriously.
6
"Known unknowns" and "unknown unknowns" aside, one thing many of us did know was what Trump was like and that he wasn't going to change once sworn in. Nice to see some analysis around it, though certainly not very comforting.
4
"Mark Leonard...suggests that Trump is part of a much larger phenomenon encompassing Brexit and the rise of right wing populism."
My fellow Americans: Just this once, could we please resist the urge to be "trendy"? You know, sometimes the current fashions are extremely unflattering.
My fellow Americans: Just this once, could we please resist the urge to be "trendy"? You know, sometimes the current fashions are extremely unflattering.
5
We the people make up the government; it's not them (the government) or us as citizens. The rhetoric in todays political arena is frightening and has been growing rapidly. When an elected official believes that they have been elected to be the voice of only the people who put them in office, we all have a problem. When we continue to have elected officials who are ignorant of the law and it's consequences, we all have a problem. Having an opposition party and a ruling party is not what democracy is about -- making the tough compromises with all the parties at the table is democracy.
3
The electoral college winner was at the top of his game as "Celebrity Apprentice". As he still has a stake there, let him re-hire himself and keep us out of his troubles.
2
It is not the candidate's ignorance that matters; it is the voters'.
4
"He who knows not that he knows not, he is a fool; shun him"
I long for the day that this ignorant buffoon is no longer front and center of our nation, and we are all given the delightful option to shun him!
I long for the day that this ignorant buffoon is no longer front and center of our nation, and we are all given the delightful option to shun him!
I think we are all "ignorant of our own ignorance". But to be fair, he seems a little better at it than most of us.
Their record this century is not so good that they should speak with such self-assurance. Some of it, maybe a lot of it, has to do with the way the businessperson views the world. Many of the terms here have no place in his lexicon, though we may all mean the same thing when we talk about “transactional” versus “relational.”
2
Those who possess a capacity for deeper reflection, respect knowledge and practice critical reasoning, can resonate with the content of this article. What are we going to do to to protect our country from this ignorance and the pathology of this president?
4
Donald Trump knows everything, at least according to Donald Trump.
4
Trump is the man who knows more than the generals about how to beat ISIS.
3
Becoming aware of one's own ignoreance is the first step towards wisdom.
2
Enough to make an atheist consider prayer.
3
"What have you got to lose?", DJT famously asked during the election. The answer is, everything that was good about our country, including our reputation for good in the rest of the world. The Breitbart/Infowars/Limbaugh Right would have you believe that Obama was weak and untrustworthy, but it was his restraint, careful analysis and rational thinking that made him the perfect ambassador for our most important values and intentions. None of that is so with Trump.
8
What frightens me about Trump is the possibility that with the crazy cuts, if the economy picks up, his power will grow. In the short term, many people may support him, just because of some job growth. But in the long run, program cuts may lead to deterioration of the economy.
I hope that the NY Times will continue to focus on the insanity of Trump's approach, so that we can, hopefully. contain the insanity...
I hope that the NY Times will continue to focus on the insanity of Trump's approach, so that we can, hopefully. contain the insanity...
2
Apparently "great" means taking us back to the 1890s. Imagine how the rest of the 21st century world will respect us then.
That's just great.
1
With Trump as president, I feel like a kid who has just been told that there is no Santa Claus.
All the values that I was taught to hold dear from the preamble of the Constitution to the reverence of reason and knowledge all seem to be nothing but a fantasy told to keep me happy.
Trump's presidency, should it continue on its present course, will leave the US without a moral center. The social contract will be exchanged for a bill of sales.
The authority that the US once carried around the world has shriveled to nothing because of old mad King Trump who parties away the kingdom.
All the values that I was taught to hold dear from the preamble of the Constitution to the reverence of reason and knowledge all seem to be nothing but a fantasy told to keep me happy.
Trump's presidency, should it continue on its present course, will leave the US without a moral center. The social contract will be exchanged for a bill of sales.
The authority that the US once carried around the world has shriveled to nothing because of old mad King Trump who parties away the kingdom.
2
The more profound point would be about the profound ignorance of the republican voters first in nominating Trump to be the republican candidate and then in voting for him to be president. If you could not see from the beginning that the man could have cared less about being accurate about anybody or anything, about complying with the rules of society, or about simple human decency and cared only about conning you into disliking his opponent, you must have fallen off the turnip truck. And now see where we are. At the mercy of someone who cared more about making money from Russians than about the well being of anyone in the United States not named Trump.
5
To be fair Trump has increased newspaper subscriptions, viewers of cable news programs, material for comedians, russian self confidence, co2 levels and rise of hate attacks.
Give him some credit please.
Give him some credit please.
1
To borrow from you article- the "known" is that Trump is un prepared and unqualified to be president. The "unknown" is how to remove him from office. Let's focus on that and nothing else.
Trump is who he is, but this disastrous situation is totally on the Republicans.
1) They put party loyalty above country and so did not stop him through the Electoral College, in spite of the fact that Clinton was the choice of millions more Americans and Trump's failings were obvious
2) Now that he has turned out to be even worse than imagined, undermining our role in international stability, undermining important domestic programs, and ignorant of and uninterested in policy, unwilling to stop enriching himself and his family at taxpayer expense and tangled up in hidden (tax returns?) deals with Russians of questionable background, the Republicans continue to protect him.
We are waiting for some Republican profiles in courage to stand up to rescue America at this consequential moment in history.
Again, Trump cannot do this level of damage on his own. His grip on reality is weak. His grip on power is maintained through his Republicans enablers.
1) They put party loyalty above country and so did not stop him through the Electoral College, in spite of the fact that Clinton was the choice of millions more Americans and Trump's failings were obvious
2) Now that he has turned out to be even worse than imagined, undermining our role in international stability, undermining important domestic programs, and ignorant of and uninterested in policy, unwilling to stop enriching himself and his family at taxpayer expense and tangled up in hidden (tax returns?) deals with Russians of questionable background, the Republicans continue to protect him.
We are waiting for some Republican profiles in courage to stand up to rescue America at this consequential moment in history.
Again, Trump cannot do this level of damage on his own. His grip on reality is weak. His grip on power is maintained through his Republicans enablers.
6
Trump is stupid and self-centered. But the most dangerous thing about his stupidity is that it prevents him from understanding that people far wiser than he realize they are dealing with an environment filled with risk and uncertainty.
16
We are well on our way to "burning it all down," which is Steve Bannon's goal.
Q: What will be left after this administration is through with us?
A: Very little.
Q: What will be left after this administration is through with us?
A: Very little.
22
It seems to me that Russia achieved exactly what it hoped for. In electing Trump America has become divided, inept, and dysfunctional. Putin is a sophisticated, intelligent operator. It is unlikely that just having a sympathetic ear was his aim. The current US government has no discernible foreign policy, its ineptitude is causing chaos inside and out, which means that it no longer can be seen as a trustworthy ally in any coalition against Russian interests, weakening the entire fabric of world order in place since 1946. As I see it the only option for America is to very quickly divest itself of Trump and his minions, which means that petty internal political bickering must be resolved and the self interests of politicians ditched for the sake of their country.
32
Alas, since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, most of our politicians seem to have been bought up by murky plutocrats.
1
When you let "Deplorable" vote you get a "Deplorable" President.
30
When you give them triple the voting power of cosmopolitans, you find out just what suckers these rubes are for the worst of city slickers.
1
Even Dirty Harry once observed, "A man's got to know his limitations."
10
This is obvious to all of us who really think logically about these things. Nice to get a summary, but what we really need are some good ideas how to challenge all this.
15
Trump has the intellectual curiosity of George W. Bush.
Trump is willfully ignorant and unconcerned about what he doesn't know and/or doesn't want to know. His wealth has bought him ancillary knowledge, and the sycophancy that being bought brings.
Trump is willfully ignorant and unconcerned about what he doesn't know and/or doesn't want to know. His wealth has bought him ancillary knowledge, and the sycophancy that being bought brings.
19
But it turns out GWB is an artist at heart. A son who had to do as daddy wanted, had to please daddy...instead of following his own path....where his real curiosities were at odds with what he was told he had to know...
Maybe...?
Maybe...?
Trump supporters don't care about serious issues. They only care about beating Obama and that woman Clinton. Anybody who would support a cheating, criminal person like Trump has got to be inane.
33
It obviously gives them great consolation that even a blustering fool can become the most important individual alive.
3
As HL Mencken wrote in the early 1920s (before the advent of television and social media) "As democracy is perfected the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
24
We have Homer Simpson in the Oval Office. We have returned to the Dark Ages for the next 4 years. The GOP won't be happy until we have 50 fiefdoms ruled by Republican Plutocrats while the population lives an existence similar to that of Oliver Twist or that of 1984's "proles".
13
This article immediately brings to mind the Dunning-Kruger effect wherein people of low ability vastly overestimate their own abilities. Dunning and Kruger co-authored a paper on the subject in 1999 titled "Unskilled and unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing one's own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments." It's worth a read and is highly descriptive of the current situation.
10
People of high abilities can be immobilized by all the pitfalls they can anticipate in some course of action.
1
This is on point.
We're just 2 months in and I can't even stand to hear him speak anymore.
Hopefully Americans have learned a lesson in democracy by electing this incompetent, unqualified, classless, petulant bully.
Perhaps if most of us end up disliking him, that will bridge the current polarization in our country.
We're just 2 months in and I can't even stand to hear him speak anymore.
Hopefully Americans have learned a lesson in democracy by electing this incompetent, unqualified, classless, petulant bully.
Perhaps if most of us end up disliking him, that will bridge the current polarization in our country.
19
he's more popular than Jesus in places like OK, so don't hold your breath.
Birds of a feather flock together; the folks who voted for and supported/still support Trump are no more apt to acknowledge their mistakes and misjudgments than the man himself. This narcissism apparently is rampant among the citizenry so what's not to like? I don't think "most of us ending up disliking him" makes any difference as most of us already do dislike him--the majority of us actually who voted for HRC, but there he sits like a monarch in the Oval Office, surrounded by those who cannot or will not tell him the truth.
3
You can't be serious about democracy if you will tolerate even one more presidential election counted using the Electoral College illusory vote scam.
1
Great article. The scariest part of Trump that has most recently been exhibited-- aside from his compulsive lying habits, abyssal ignorance and, quite frankly, psychopathic tendencies, is the fact that this simpleton does not care. He has no sympathy for anyone nor does he hold any conviction- political, social, or even religious, etc. I was flabbergasted that after his do-nothing Republican Party failed to provide a substantive and workable health care substitute to the Obamacare they had decried for seven years and lost their repeal and replace move, Trump's next action was to jump his ugly fat self into the huge truck packed in front of the WH hooting and junking noisely like a little child -- to him, a solidarity to truck drivers. He didn't bother that he just lost his first policy agenda. Why? The healthcare policy of the people of this nation has no affect or effect on him. So long as Trump and his family can take care of themselves, the rest can go to hell. Trump came into this presidency not holding any conviction. Trump is all about Trump. Sad for America and the world.
23
don't despair, Fortuna: eventually Trump will be convicted and possily even become a convict.
1
The whole coterie around Trump values everything in $. Your value is strictly your swag.
trump's ignorance is only a symptom of a challenge for any democratic country in this age of ubiquitous access to what is presented as "information". This past election was a very good example of what a small number of people could do, people not necessarily related by cause or desired outcome, with technology and misinformation to prey upon people's inability to filter and separate the truths from the falsehoods. The result was the election of an unqualified, disinterested individual to an important position. Thus the challenge, how do we prevent this "activity" from becoming a norm?
10
1. private money out of politics
2. strict, short limit of time for campaigns
3. get rid of Electoral College
4. normalize districts following next census (no gerrymandering)
these "simple" steps will go a long way to ridding us of the plague of government based on moronic values and hatred, the most moronic of which is a government built by people who hate government
2. strict, short limit of time for campaigns
3. get rid of Electoral College
4. normalize districts following next census (no gerrymandering)
these "simple" steps will go a long way to ridding us of the plague of government based on moronic values and hatred, the most moronic of which is a government built by people who hate government
3
Trump however has an answer but he is not aware that it applies to him. It is: Repeal and Replace (Trump).
17
The most frightening to me is that Trump, as President, can do most damage in the areas that have a worldwide and long lasting impact: climate/environment and foreign policy including wars.
The other stuff like healthcare and schools is annoying but can be relatively easy reversed again.
The other stuff like healthcare and schools is annoying but can be relatively easy reversed again.
9
Twenty-six years ago in 1991, John O'Donnell, who had worked for Trump at one of his Atlantic City casinos for three years, wrote the book "Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump—His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall." It makes for rather terrifying reading because there is no sign that Trump has gained in knowledge, wisdom, or competence since the days when his shrewdness and an uncanny ability to mislead people into trusting him built a casino empire only to have his profound ignorance coupled with over-confidence destroy it. Trump came out of that experience having made millions of dollars while investors, small business people, workers, and Atlantic City lost big time. As we see and hear Trump today, it's clear that in the years since he has not changed in character or ability or knowledge, but now he is the most powerful man in the world and holds the future of all of his in his incapable hands. Can he be stopped before he does profound damage to the United States and possibly the world? Is there any hope that our institutions are stable enough and powerful enough to withstand this profoundly ignorant man?
13
it's really inconceivable we have a president who could go bankrupt running a gambling casino which is the next best thing to a license to print money.
An almost 30% cut to the State Department, a Secretary of State who doesn't care, who wasn't permitted to choose his own deputy, who never wanted the job in the first place and has no hesitation to say so.
Bring on the crises!
Bring on the crises!
9
The bullyboy brat is Commander in Chief now, and obviously nobody can stop him from doing whatever he wants to.
What's the point of this article? That Trump's unqualified to be President? By what measure? Some experts' opinions? That's pointless.
I voted for Clinton, but Trump won. And while Trump and his team and the Republicans played dirty, so did the Dems and every other political team in history. Politics is ugly and a nation doesn't always elect the best candidate. But nothing is gained by questioning the mental fitness of the winner.
Trump's president and should remain president until he does something disqualifying. Even then, he won't be the first. Obama was a pretty good president, but his decision to not get involved in Syria not only led to the horrors in Syria, but to the refugee crisis in Europe, which almost certainly led to both Brexit and Trump, and is therefore probably the most consequential decision by any president in the last 75 years.
And stop complaining about the popular vote because the popular vote is irrelevant. And stop complaining about a mandate because the president doesn't need a mandate; the president gets all the mandate he or she needs by winning.
I voted for Clinton, but Trump won. And while Trump and his team and the Republicans played dirty, so did the Dems and every other political team in history. Politics is ugly and a nation doesn't always elect the best candidate. But nothing is gained by questioning the mental fitness of the winner.
Trump's president and should remain president until he does something disqualifying. Even then, he won't be the first. Obama was a pretty good president, but his decision to not get involved in Syria not only led to the horrors in Syria, but to the refugee crisis in Europe, which almost certainly led to both Brexit and Trump, and is therefore probably the most consequential decision by any president in the last 75 years.
And stop complaining about the popular vote because the popular vote is irrelevant. And stop complaining about a mandate because the president doesn't need a mandate; the president gets all the mandate he or she needs by winning.
7
Whoa...you just blamed all the worlds problems on Obama, and his not having much support to go all-in with Syria. Syria was a ticking time bomb. You also fail to recognize other historical realities. Brexit didn't just pop up - it had been brewing for a long time. Recent events merely quicked events. Not the least of which were economics in Europe and the EU...like Greece.
A mandate - earned or presumed - doesnt put the Prez outside the rules or laws.
The popular vote is important. Especially when its less then half of the less than half that managed to come out to vote.
Your Cliff Notes version of history isnt helpful, nor appealing.
A mandate - earned or presumed - doesnt put the Prez outside the rules or laws.
The popular vote is important. Especially when its less then half of the less than half that managed to come out to vote.
Your Cliff Notes version of history isnt helpful, nor appealing.
You are blaming Pres. Obama for the stupid reactions of the current administration? I shall continue to complain about this incompetent man in the White House until he finally leaves. The popular vote IS VERY RELEVANT; why do we as Americans value the right to vote so highly and want to spread it globally? By the way, you sound like you espouse Charlie Sheen's philosophy...WINNING...another genius of a kind.
1
Your vote was simply superfluous because it was more than Hillary needed to win New York. That's how the Electoral College blows you off.
Woe is us. Less-educated voters let feelings and beliefs (anger, racism, fundamentalist religious beliefs) trump logic. They are the ones who brought us this one-man disaster and they will be the last to own up to what they have wrought.
14
What has been most stupefying to me is the Republican party's complete abnegation of historical commitment to America over partisan politics. Without any sense of betrayal to this great(?) country they have sold their souls to the devil like heroin addicts prostituting their integrity for one more high, ignoring the fact that this hit could be the one that kills.
30
We elected him, and will, unfortunately, reap the consequences.
4
We have a con artist as president because the whole way we elect presidents is a scam.
Not me! I didnt do it..
All of this was known prior to his election to any American who was paying attention, or even remotely inclined to do minimal due-diligence about the candidates.
Unfortunately a large enough minority of U.S. voters are more devoted to their beliefs, however baseless, and their emotional inclinations than they are to rationality and data.
Let's face it, Republicans have cultivated the cult of belief. The old adage that neurotics merely construct castles in the sky, but psychotics move into them, has a dangerous parallel in the very real behavior of U.S. voters who accepted a delusional presentation of the capability of this president and put him in office.
The larger question is how do we manage it given that Congress aided, enabled, and facilitated this behavior and show no inclination to change. Apparently our Senate Republican, since House Republicans exhibit an affinity for Trump, believe they can harness this incompetency.
That's a little like playing around with the control rods in a nuclear reactor gambling that a melt down is out of the question.
Unfortunately a large enough minority of U.S. voters are more devoted to their beliefs, however baseless, and their emotional inclinations than they are to rationality and data.
Let's face it, Republicans have cultivated the cult of belief. The old adage that neurotics merely construct castles in the sky, but psychotics move into them, has a dangerous parallel in the very real behavior of U.S. voters who accepted a delusional presentation of the capability of this president and put him in office.
The larger question is how do we manage it given that Congress aided, enabled, and facilitated this behavior and show no inclination to change. Apparently our Senate Republican, since House Republicans exhibit an affinity for Trump, believe they can harness this incompetency.
That's a little like playing around with the control rods in a nuclear reactor gambling that a melt down is out of the question.
15
Yes. We know. That's why most of us voted against him. Now what are we supposed to do? Any ideas?
23
Yes. Start working today. The midterms are our best chance for change, barring a legal miracle ( looking at YOU, FBI ). Or, HE could decide he's had enough non-adoration, and resign to spend more time with his money.
To prepare for the midterms:
MEDICARE for ALL 2020. THIS is the simple and winning issue. Even among his base. He will lose fans when they realize they're just one hospitalization away from bankruptcy. Or, when a family member, friend or neighbor can't afford ANY healthcare. Push this issue, all the way.
To prepare for the midterms:
MEDICARE for ALL 2020. THIS is the simple and winning issue. Even among his base. He will lose fans when they realize they're just one hospitalization away from bankruptcy. Or, when a family member, friend or neighbor can't afford ANY healthcare. Push this issue, all the way.
3
Yes. A couple were mentioned earlier in this conversation:
DbB, Sacramento: Evoke the 25th Amendment.
Pete, California: Rework the Constitution.
It is evident that the writers of the Constitution, while they accounted for checks and balances in the structure of the government, did not anticipate the problems that having only two dominant political parties would lead to, especially when one party holds all branches of government. There would be ways to amend the constitution (a living document!) to help prevent this. For example, require that the President and Vice-President be of different parties.
DbB, Sacramento: Evoke the 25th Amendment.
Pete, California: Rework the Constitution.
It is evident that the writers of the Constitution, while they accounted for checks and balances in the structure of the government, did not anticipate the problems that having only two dominant political parties would lead to, especially when one party holds all branches of government. There would be ways to amend the constitution (a living document!) to help prevent this. For example, require that the President and Vice-President be of different parties.
I would imagine he probably will not read this
4
And even if he did, he would just start a Twitter war with Edsall over it.
3
Dan88
RAS
Likely this editorial falls into a category that this administration has branded as "fake news." Characterization of stories, et al, is very simple:
1. NEWS -it says something we like, even if it's baseless, devoid of reason, manufactured by us, delusional and or otherwise untruthful.
2. FAKE NEWS - it says none of the preceding.
RAS
Likely this editorial falls into a category that this administration has branded as "fake news." Characterization of stories, et al, is very simple:
1. NEWS -it says something we like, even if it's baseless, devoid of reason, manufactured by us, delusional and or otherwise untruthful.
2. FAKE NEWS - it says none of the preceding.
3
He revels in his ignorance. And he exploited ignorance. Plus we're battling ignorance. An October Farleigh Dickinson survey found that only 34% of Americans can name the 3 branches of government, and 30% cannot even name one.
That specter still haunts this year's surprising presidential election.
But we will survive this.
He's a salesman. And nothing more. Lately he's having a hard time selling.
The courts will likely continue to curtail him in many areas. And the press is stronger than ever. Especially the New York Times.
That specter still haunts this year's surprising presidential election.
But we will survive this.
He's a salesman. And nothing more. Lately he's having a hard time selling.
The courts will likely continue to curtail him in many areas. And the press is stronger than ever. Especially the New York Times.
15
Ignorance benefit the Repugnican, helps keep the power in their hands. It's one of the reasons they've worked so hard to destroy education in this country. Learning is now derided as a "liberalism."
1
Well let us look at a little past history.
FDR placed an embargo on Japan, convinced Churchill to do likewise and
both of them cajoled the Dutch to do like wise in the Summer of 1941.
By May 1941, Japan was astride the Pacific and the US of A was at War,
a war she was largely un-prepared to fight and had it not been for the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans - we might well have lost the war.
Truman and the State Department could not decide if South Korea was in
the American Zone of Protection or not so North Korea took a gamble and
nearly drove the US of A out of Korea then a largely un-prepared Military was
ordered to mis-fight the war.
JFK and LBJ and the State Department got us into Vietnam and then
LBJ micro-managed the war.
George W. Bush let the State Department to convince him to end the first
Gulf War when they could have easily overthrown Sadaam...
What "progress" Obama made in Iraq and Afghanistan seems not to have done
much.
In the end you do have to wonder if Trump and his Advisors could do much
worse than the "Best and the Brightest"...
FDR placed an embargo on Japan, convinced Churchill to do likewise and
both of them cajoled the Dutch to do like wise in the Summer of 1941.
By May 1941, Japan was astride the Pacific and the US of A was at War,
a war she was largely un-prepared to fight and had it not been for the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans - we might well have lost the war.
Truman and the State Department could not decide if South Korea was in
the American Zone of Protection or not so North Korea took a gamble and
nearly drove the US of A out of Korea then a largely un-prepared Military was
ordered to mis-fight the war.
JFK and LBJ and the State Department got us into Vietnam and then
LBJ micro-managed the war.
George W. Bush let the State Department to convince him to end the first
Gulf War when they could have easily overthrown Sadaam...
What "progress" Obama made in Iraq and Afghanistan seems not to have done
much.
In the end you do have to wonder if Trump and his Advisors could do much
worse than the "Best and the Brightest"...
4
You had better read a little history. Japan had already invaded China, and the suggestoion that the embargo caused the war is beyond ridiculous. Had it not been for the oceans? Do you think they were overlooked in the planning?
13
Obama reduced the number of U.S. troops in war zones from 150,000 to 14,000. Americans stopped coming home in body bags. He didn't manage to bring peace to Mid East, and we're still heavily involved in warfare using drones and special ops, but their internal religious wars are not something easily fixed, as is evidenced by the last seventy years of strife and turmoil in that area of the world.
9
History fail, dude.
1
Yes. Trump is ignorant of his own ignorance. That's been obvious for decades and was clearly on display during the primaries and the general election. The real question is why so many Americans ignored that and voted for him anyway. They can't all be ignorant too.
7
Ignorance is no obstacle to success as a nihilist. Trump will show you.
2
Unconscious incompetence...the most dangerous kind.
7
There are generally 4 categories that any given person falls under..
1) One who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him
2) One who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student, teach him
3) One who knows but knows not that he knows is asleep, wake him up
4) One who knows and knows that he knows is a leader, follow him.
In Mr Trump's case there is another category
One who knows not but thinks he knows is dangerous, stop him.
1) One who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him
2) One who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student, teach him
3) One who knows but knows not that he knows is asleep, wake him up
4) One who knows and knows that he knows is a leader, follow him.
In Mr Trump's case there is another category
One who knows not but thinks he knows is dangerous, stop him.
14
There are very few people who would admit that they ARE ignorant and NOT ignorant of their own ignorance. Certainly one cannot expect this from Trump and/or his likes.
2
"He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him."
From a Persian proverb... unknown author.
From a Persian proverb... unknown author.
6
Step #1. Familiarize yourself with the history of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Step #2. Imagine in detail a crisis even approaching that level occurring now, with DJT, Bannon, Jeff Sessions et al, rather than JFK, RFK, and Adlai Stevenson, responsible for determining the outcome.
Step #3. Move to Canada. A really remote part of Canada.
Step #2. Imagine in detail a crisis even approaching that level occurring now, with DJT, Bannon, Jeff Sessions et al, rather than JFK, RFK, and Adlai Stevenson, responsible for determining the outcome.
Step #3. Move to Canada. A really remote part of Canada.
10
Is this really news? The name "Trump" has been synonymous with lying, cheating, stealing, blaming others and massive stupidity for decades. Bannon has made a fortune inventing and disseminating lies for nearly as long, fantastical claims that only an imbecile would believe--fortunately for hiim, America is full of imbeciles. I have a friend down South who has interviewed Jeff Sessions twice and claims he's the stupidest person he's ever met. Sean Spicer is clearly delusional and also disinterested in anything that even remotely hints at intelligence or truth. Betsy De Vos knows absolutely nothing of education, history, or again, truth. Let's not even mention Michael Flynn.
The simple fact is that this entire administration is devoid of morals, ethics, and values-, as well as dumb as a stump and fighting proud of it. If ever there were justification for a revolution in this country, this group is it. If we let them remain in their stolen positions of power to serve their master in Russia, we deserve what happens to us.
Time to stop paying taxes, and take to the streets.
The simple fact is that this entire administration is devoid of morals, ethics, and values-, as well as dumb as a stump and fighting proud of it. If ever there were justification for a revolution in this country, this group is it. If we let them remain in their stolen positions of power to serve their master in Russia, we deserve what happens to us.
Time to stop paying taxes, and take to the streets.
15
Who needs brains when he has nukes - and Steve Bannon to direct them?
1
Ignorance is bliss.
5
The engine under the hood is Bannon and Miller; In an interview with a Journalist who asked Bannon what he meant when he said he was a Leninist, Bannon replied, "Lenin tore the State down from within, and that's my objective---to tear it down piece by piece". Moreover, Bannon is a student of War, obsessed by it's power.----Miller on the other hand is a Marxist, and a brilliant orator who understands how to manipulate a crowd, therefore Sadistic, Narcissistic Trump in all his 'ignorance', cannot be controlled unless the danger within is eliminated. (Bannon and Miller)
3
In the Mar 27 New Yorker, an article about Chuck Schumer says he thinks Trump appoints people suggested by Pence & Priebus with no idea what these people think. Says Schumer: "on many of them, it was how they looked, how they felt ... [and] he goes along with it because that's not what he cares about." "And that's a really sad commentary on the President, not to care about the issues you're governing about."
5
We call it, "Bad Faith." (Thanks, Jean Paul Sartre)
The strikes against him should lead to action to save US and the WORLD. There is enough damaging info in so many areas...with him and his Administration...a conman shouldn't be President.
3
Can we concentrate on getting rid of this disgrace. How about crowd funding investigations into his criminal acts and aim for impeachment, and jail?
6
Trump is Ignorant but worse yet: arrogant.
4
May I suggest that Mr. Trump has shown time and again that he is not 'ignorant of his own ignorance', but instead indifferent to his ignorance, and ignorant of his indifference ... and I'm not certain which is more worrisome.
4
Q: Which is worse, ignorance or apathy?
A: I don't know and I don't care.
A: I don't know and I don't care.
4
ignorant AND unintelligent (by any measure) AND incompetent AND and delusional AND pathologically needy AND mean. Trump is an 9-year old spoiled rich brat playing with toy soldiers and being told by all the household staff how brilliant he is. There is nothing more to him than that. He has never recovered from his older brother getting all their father's attention and love. As almost all New Yorkers know, he has been been trying to prove his worth for 50 years by "winning" against anybody whom he can intimidate with his boasts and brags.
He has no political ideology beyond his being the best, greatest, bravest, most handsome, most loved, and most intelligent President ever. The dreams of a 9-year old.
His type is relatively rare - so to compare him to a "con man" or describe simply as out of touch with reality, misses his essential lack of emotional and intellectual development since he stopped learning anything in school at about the age of 9.
It seems like a very very poor idea to have a 9-year old play at being President of the country with a bigger military budget than the next TEN countries, and with his hand on the nuclear trigger. At some point, his 'advisors' and his 'friends' who will have to tell him that much of what he has been saying and doing is not helping him win anything. He is likely to have, like the average 9-year old, an emotional outburst and decide that they are not his 'real friends'.
He has no political ideology beyond his being the best, greatest, bravest, most handsome, most loved, and most intelligent President ever. The dreams of a 9-year old.
His type is relatively rare - so to compare him to a "con man" or describe simply as out of touch with reality, misses his essential lack of emotional and intellectual development since he stopped learning anything in school at about the age of 9.
It seems like a very very poor idea to have a 9-year old play at being President of the country with a bigger military budget than the next TEN countries, and with his hand on the nuclear trigger. At some point, his 'advisors' and his 'friends' who will have to tell him that much of what he has been saying and doing is not helping him win anything. He is likely to have, like the average 9-year old, an emotional outburst and decide that they are not his 'real friends'.
7
When did "progressives" learn how to read minds? A nice skill to have...
2
When there isn't much in a mind to read, it is not hard at all. Can you not know the mind of your child?
3
Trump's mind is out there for everybody to see - and it has been out there for almost 5 decades. You see a naked man screaming that he is Jesus Christ , stabbing people randomly in the street, you don't have to be a mind reader to know that he is dangerous and by any standard, delusional.
2
Most of the time what people say reflects what they think, and what Trump has said since he began his run for President has indicated that his grasp of foreign affairs, domestic issues, of law and of government was feeble and superficial.
2
You display a firm grasp upon the blatantly obvious!
He is illiterate, illogical, ill tempered, ill prepared. Completely and totally incompetent for the Office. PERIOD.
6
He also has an ill mind, an ill personality and an ill heart/soul.
3
Elsewhere in today's Times is the headline "Desperate, on a Road to Nowhere." The story turns out the be about Niger, but it might as well be about this president and the current republican leadership. Unprincipled, unprepared and unrepentant. What could go wrong?
2
I continue to be dumbfounded as to why people think Trump is going to suddenly have insight into his behaviors and change his ways. He is personality disordered. People with personality disorders lack insight because the mirror neurons in their brains either do not function, function poorly, or are absent. Mirror neurons are what allow us to learn from life lessons and emotionally mature, self-reflect, and have empathy. He is 70 years old. He has been successful at being who he is even if he did have the ability to self-reflect, so where's the motivation to change? There is none. He became president by being who he is. He will not change, people need to realize that. There is no switch to flip with him. This is who he is, this is who he's always been, and this is who he will always be. Once people finally wake up to the fact that we have a malignant narcissist running our country, who has surrounded himself with others like himself, will we finally have action to get him out. I pray this happens before we lose our country and possibly the world through war.
5
Trying to measure Trump up to the standards of Presidency in terms of an intellectual society, Trump will fail badly. But measuring up Trump to the standards sought by Bannon-the ability to create mass confusion and sow destruction of the "establishment", and what else I am afraid to even contemplate, Trump will score quite well.
4
Trump is no different than a pilot who is blinded by weather and trusts his instincts more than his instruments. FAA records show that 99% of the time, these pilots plunge their passengers straight into the ground.
2
Sir, what you have expressed regarding Demagogue 45, the Toddler "president," is what any moderately intelligent 8th grade civics student is keenly aware.
You are a wiz at pointing out the obvious.
You are a wiz at pointing out the obvious.
3
It's tiring, sometimes, to read columns and comments that groan about what a mess Trump is making of things. There is no sense whatsoever about how to get out of this situation, and the underlying structural reasons for the mess. Liberals and progressives need to start thinking large and strategically. We cannot go on with a flawed governmental operating system, that guarantees the perfect storm we have seen in the last election: a misinformed and relatively uneducated minority have been guided, through adroit exploitation by a wealthy politically-activist class, to put in place a government of profound destructiveness. These weaknesses would be less exploitable if we had: 1) direct popular election of the President (hello President Hillary Clinton); 2) popularly representative Senate (hello veto-proof Democratic majority in the Senate); 3) Gerrymandering outlawed in Congressional districts (hello a Democratic majority in the House, commensurate with their overall popular vote win); 4) campaign donations beyond a minimal amount Constitutionally outlawed, they should logically be classified as bribes (goodbye Citizen's United); 5) strong guarantees against allowing wealthy individuals and corporations from unduly influencing elections. None of these goals can be accomplished without changing our current Constitution, and given the cumbersome amendment process it proscribes, the only path forward is a new Constitutional Convention.
4
But the truth of the matter is that Bannon is succeeding.
3
What pray tell is he succeeding at? So far their administration is a giant mess, as expected--actually worse than expected, if that's possible.
3
As this essay amply demonstrates, Donald Trump in just two months as president has shown that he mentally incapable of dealing with the complex and sensitive issues confronting the nation. Under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, if the president "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office," as declared by the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members, he shall be removed from office. Trump is no more able to carry out the duties of his office than if he were in a coma. It is time for his top appointees to stage a constitutional coup and save the nation.
8
You never want someone like Trump to be president, but you particularly don't want someone like him to be president during such a turbulent time. However, it is the very turbulence of the times that made him possible in the first place. People are unable to pinpoint the causes of their distress and are vulnerable to demagogues who provide them with scapegoats. If the demagogue is elected and fails to remedy the problem, perhaps he or she, depending on the media and his/her ability to hold onto their initial backers' loyalty, can simply say the reason the problems have gotten worse is because of [another scapegoat(s)].
Can a feedback loop, a death spiral of representative democracy, be spawned in such a way? Roger Scruton made the point, speaking about immigration, that people's country is their home, and that inviting people into your home who don't assimilate; don't care about or know anything of its traditions, institutions, and values; and who create a kind of counter-society in its midst can be quite distressing. Pining for the '50s, as many older whites seem to do, is pining for security, for comfort, for belonging, for home -- or the feeling thereof. It's a symptom of homesickness.
It is impossible in today's liberal-dominant media to say anything unfavorable about immigration without being called a xenophobe or a racist, and that very fact likely makes the resentment some feel toward immigration worse. This is not to take a position; only to highlight this fact.
Can a feedback loop, a death spiral of representative democracy, be spawned in such a way? Roger Scruton made the point, speaking about immigration, that people's country is their home, and that inviting people into your home who don't assimilate; don't care about or know anything of its traditions, institutions, and values; and who create a kind of counter-society in its midst can be quite distressing. Pining for the '50s, as many older whites seem to do, is pining for security, for comfort, for belonging, for home -- or the feeling thereof. It's a symptom of homesickness.
It is impossible in today's liberal-dominant media to say anything unfavorable about immigration without being called a xenophobe or a racist, and that very fact likely makes the resentment some feel toward immigration worse. This is not to take a position; only to highlight this fact.
3
Yes, all of this is true. All has been progressively and glaringly obvious since Mr. Trump announced his candidacy for our Oval Office. Now in Office and as promised, the deceits continue, the absence of ethics shame, the sheer ignorance to all that we have assumed and should insist in our Presidents insults, and dangers loom both domestically, from cuts proposed in the first Trump budget, and globally with friend and foe. Yes, it's all a sham and a tragic shame. But the simple question is, when and who will stand up to this bully, filled with terrifying certainty and absent any sense of humility, caution, reflection or restraint? We are the USA; we are democracy; we are proud; we lead. We lead. Don't we, don't we?
5
"When the President Is Ignorant of His Own Ignorance"
Maybe another Donald - Rumsfeld - had trump in mind when he coined the phrase "unknown unknowns".
Maybe another Donald - Rumsfeld - had trump in mind when he coined the phrase "unknown unknowns".
1
One example where Trump is ignorant of his own ignorance is in his appointments. Chuck Schumer is quoted in the New Yorker as saying it is his belief that appointees are suggested to Trump by Pence and Priebus, and Trump just doesn't know what these nominees think. Why? Because he doesn't care. Just as with the AHCA, Trump doesn't care what's in it.
In his interviews with candidates Trump's concern is how he "feels" about them, not how (or if) they think.
In his interviews with candidates Trump's concern is how he "feels" about them, not how (or if) they think.
6
Well, Mr. Edsall, this sort of fine writing with great examples and interesting quotes will earn you another coveted "Failing New York Times Tweet Award" from the bungling, blundering, clumsy, inadequate, substandard, inferior, incompetent-in-chief! Keep up the good work! I think many new subscriptions are coming your way after reading this.
8
I think he is fairly aware that he does not have all the book learning necessary to be competent either in business or government, but the bigger issue is he simply does not care.
Throughout his life, he has been shielded against any negative consequence of any decision he has ever made, however absurd, impulsive, or poorly thought-out. Since his messes will always be cleaned up, the messes his decision-making causes simply do not matter, and therefore do not even exist as far as he is concerned. The only thing that matter is his huge, beautiful, big decision making, regardless of the outcome in the real world.
Throughout his life, he has been shielded against any negative consequence of any decision he has ever made, however absurd, impulsive, or poorly thought-out. Since his messes will always be cleaned up, the messes his decision-making causes simply do not matter, and therefore do not even exist as far as he is concerned. The only thing that matter is his huge, beautiful, big decision making, regardless of the outcome in the real world.
4
Ignorance is the root of arrogance, which in turn leads back to ignorance. It's a vicious cycle, and Trump is stuck in it. What's worse, he wouldn't care to take the door out of it and into the light if he was shown it, with the promise of absolute power beyond. Oh, wait ...
4
Asking for thoughtful analysis from Trump is wasted effort. Trump himself says he acts on instinct. And how can you possibly learn if you are already perfect? It is doubtful whether Trump has ever accepted blame for any wrong decision or action in his life--he expends his efforts on finding someone to blame.
What worries me is that it is a small step from falsely accusing a past President of committing a felony to divert attention from his own actions and ties to provoking a war for the same reason--and he clearly like uniforms, tanks and trucks. This man is a danger to every one of us, from alienating our allies, to marginalizing us in world discussion, to lying in our name, to irresponsibly upping military actions all over the world. Congress IS MORE AT FAULT, however. They are knowledgeable, experienced and willfully blind; choosing Party over Nation and refusing to fully investigate Trump's Russian ties by not seeing which foreign countries he is indebted to.
What worries me is that it is a small step from falsely accusing a past President of committing a felony to divert attention from his own actions and ties to provoking a war for the same reason--and he clearly like uniforms, tanks and trucks. This man is a danger to every one of us, from alienating our allies, to marginalizing us in world discussion, to lying in our name, to irresponsibly upping military actions all over the world. Congress IS MORE AT FAULT, however. They are knowledgeable, experienced and willfully blind; choosing Party over Nation and refusing to fully investigate Trump's Russian ties by not seeing which foreign countries he is indebted to.
10
Trump is an ignorant of the real world. Period.
2
I disagree that he is ignorant. He's a bottom line kind of guy. What's good for the Trump Family is good for the USA. Please , don't try to add depth. He takes his briefings at 10:30 in the morning so he can watch Fox and Friends first, to compare.
2
What a vacant joke of a man. I want to know the real, the actual reason we have this so called president...Russian intervention...could not have happened any other way.
3
Trump is ignorant because he is blinded by his own ego. He is an egomancac.
3
What is most disturbing to me about Orange 45's ignorance is his complete lack of interest in the subject matter of the office. He takes no briefings and relies instead on social media and the whispers of inexperienced and unqualified sycophants, conspiracy theorists, political hacks, and family members (note: there is some overlap in those groups). To describe him as lazy and ignorant would be charitable. BUT, to be fair he has done an excellent job increasing membership at Mar-a-Lago and his golf courses.
2
It is such a shame that DJT no longer subscribes to the Times. He would be so much better informed. I would be happy to offer him a digital subscription since I know that reading an actual piece of paper is beyond his ability. I might even offer a prescription for ADD.
4
He does not read; what good would a subscription to The Times do an ignoramus such as Trump? Would he have Ivanka force-read it to him?
1
As Yoda would say: The Dunning-Kruger effect is strong with this one.
2
Thank you for this Op Ed Mr. Edsall. Now I am truly worried, 2.9 years is a long time in which just one disaster could ruin our childrens future much less the many which seem to loom. The question is how can we slow stop and reverse the course and the damage this man will inflict?
3
I don't believe Trump thinks in any normal way, nor cares about anything other than being a "winner." He outsourced the details of his health plan to the GOP, and seemed unclear on what was in it. So, with his disconnect from details, and his general lack of authentic ideas or commitments, I wonder who is really in charge in the White House? Is it Bannon, with his strange agenda? Is it someone we don't even know about? Trump himself is just playing president, and the stress on him is definitely increasing. he would probably be relieved to abandon the job of president, if a way could be found for him not to feel like a loser. His family needs to think about the risks of just letting him melt down further.
1
Bernie Sanders on CNN right now talking about the Russians hacking our election.
"Russian oligarchs liked Trump and his associates money. These are issues that must be thoroughly investigated. The American people deserve to know if the Russian government or oligarchs influenced candidates in our election."
"Obamacare provided 20 million Americans with healthcare for the first time."
Hi Bernie.
Love ya Bernie.
What might have been....
"Russian oligarchs liked Trump and his associates money. These are issues that must be thoroughly investigated. The American people deserve to know if the Russian government or oligarchs influenced candidates in our election."
"Obamacare provided 20 million Americans with healthcare for the first time."
Hi Bernie.
Love ya Bernie.
What might have been....
2
All I can say is thank you NYT, Mr. Edsall, Mr. Kristof, Lawrence O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow, and others for examining relevant conscerns instead of parading out 6 Trump supporters who still give him an A like CNN did this morning. I want to hear more from the 60% of Americans who don't have chips on their shoulders and who are much more informed about the realities found in a democracy. I don't want our democratic republic to be overturned by Trump and the 40% of his followers.
1
We're witnessing something very unique here - a revolt of the ignorant against the informed. What else can we call it? DJT is the avatar of ignorance, obviously he revels in it, and his supporters reason it away as "horse sense".
I'm trying to find the sliver of hope in this administration. Thus far I got nothing. What I do see is what happens when you turn the keys of a bus over to a ten-year-old and say, "Here. You drive."
4
So the ghosts of Senator Sam Ervin and Mark Felt decide to pay a midnight visit to the White House bedchamber of Donald Trump, to rattle some chains and remind him where the folly of ignorance and arrogance might lead him. Donald looks at them through one bleary eye and asks "who are you?" And roles over and goes back to sleep. Enough said.
1
Actually, there's a postlude to this story - Sam and Mark float over to Steve Bannon's bedroom (Donald was having a White House sleepover that night) and Steve wakes up and says "I know you! You're Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin!" At that point ghost Sam and ghost Mark decide to call it a night and go have a drink with Richard Nixon down in hell.
A perfect example of how Trump's stupidity married to his ignorance was on display as he anointed Chris Christie to run a program to decrease our tragic opioid problem. Most people get hooked on opioids from prescriptions for OxyContin (oxycodone), or hydrocodone. If they run out of doctors willing to keep writing prescriptions, they will turn to other doctors or illegal heroin smugglers.
The massive prescription problem is symbolized by the example of the small town of Kermit, West Virginia. Kermit's pop. is 392& yet Big Pharma wholesalers have shipped over 9 million doses of hydrocodone to this pharmacy in just two years. The town has one drug store & one doctor willing to write scripts for anybody who comes in saying they have pain. Both the drug store & doctor's office often have long lines out the door. Addicts come from other counties & other states to get their drugs. The pharmacy must flag unusual opioid distribution by law, but has failed to do so. West Virginia is 4th in the nation in opioid overdose deaths. In the years 2007 to 2012, Big Pharma wholesalers have shipped 224,260.980 doses of Oxycodone and 555,908,292 doses of HydroCodone into WV pharmacies. The population of WV is just over 1.8 million.
Yet, when the DEA briefed Trump yesterday about all this, all Trump could talk about is how effective his wall is going to be in curing the opioid problem. Not a word about the pharma companies & wholesalers. STUPID!
The massive prescription problem is symbolized by the example of the small town of Kermit, West Virginia. Kermit's pop. is 392& yet Big Pharma wholesalers have shipped over 9 million doses of hydrocodone to this pharmacy in just two years. The town has one drug store & one doctor willing to write scripts for anybody who comes in saying they have pain. Both the drug store & doctor's office often have long lines out the door. Addicts come from other counties & other states to get their drugs. The pharmacy must flag unusual opioid distribution by law, but has failed to do so. West Virginia is 4th in the nation in opioid overdose deaths. In the years 2007 to 2012, Big Pharma wholesalers have shipped 224,260.980 doses of Oxycodone and 555,908,292 doses of HydroCodone into WV pharmacies. The population of WV is just over 1.8 million.
Yet, when the DEA briefed Trump yesterday about all this, all Trump could talk about is how effective his wall is going to be in curing the opioid problem. Not a word about the pharma companies & wholesalers. STUPID!
7
Severe narcissism is not tolerant of personal shortcomings. He can't possibly admit just how unprepared he is.
2
So what do we do now?
Yes, there are endless reiterations in the Times and elsewhere of the obvious fact that Trump is the worse type of person to hold this position. And worse, that many knew all of this before his election. Yet here we are!
So, why? and What do we do now? Is what many counter with.
Here's a hint. Roughly 61 Million people eligible to vote DID NOT VOTE. Why?? Why the apathy to something that will have so much impact on their life? Were you to ask them who the VP or Speaker is, how many would know? Why the ignorance of the people who control their life?
Just a single course in Civics during High School is not going to solve this problem. We teach math to children since very young and try to instill logic, shouldn't we start to teach how society is organized and governed early in life also? After all it does affect their lives greatly. There is a large difference between living in N. Korea and the U.S.
Would a more engaged and aware society have elected Trump? Would a more enlightened society that has been thinking of these problems create and come up with even better forms of Government?? By the time they reach HS they should already be talking and discussing Marx, Hobbes, Confucius, Mill, ET-al not just taking Civic 101.
For a quick what-to-do, start engaging this untapped population. Don't think that the powers who prefer a Trump figurehead are not thinking the same.
Yes, there are endless reiterations in the Times and elsewhere of the obvious fact that Trump is the worse type of person to hold this position. And worse, that many knew all of this before his election. Yet here we are!
So, why? and What do we do now? Is what many counter with.
Here's a hint. Roughly 61 Million people eligible to vote DID NOT VOTE. Why?? Why the apathy to something that will have so much impact on their life? Were you to ask them who the VP or Speaker is, how many would know? Why the ignorance of the people who control their life?
Just a single course in Civics during High School is not going to solve this problem. We teach math to children since very young and try to instill logic, shouldn't we start to teach how society is organized and governed early in life also? After all it does affect their lives greatly. There is a large difference between living in N. Korea and the U.S.
Would a more engaged and aware society have elected Trump? Would a more enlightened society that has been thinking of these problems create and come up with even better forms of Government?? By the time they reach HS they should already be talking and discussing Marx, Hobbes, Confucius, Mill, ET-al not just taking Civic 101.
For a quick what-to-do, start engaging this untapped population. Don't think that the powers who prefer a Trump figurehead are not thinking the same.
1
Ignorant and unaware. Mr Trump is a perfect candidate for those interested in the Dunning-Kruger effect.
3
How hard can it be for the evil white men and women who elected this ignorant monster to take him down, using his own methods of intimidation and harassment, and, if need be, the gun violence he and his wretched ilk adore? A coup to restore our liberal democracy and wrest it back from a moron would be preferable to watching a dispiriting crowd of casual GOP murderers of democracy sit idly by and twiddle their d*cks while the country and world are destroyed?
3
I commend Edsall for not giving in to temptation and remaining high minded. A few years ago we were introduced to a concept, the 'Dunning-Kruger' effect. It was somewhat amusing because everyone has encountered it in their lives.
We now have a Dunning-Kruger president and a Dunning-Kruger administration. Why is it no longer amusing?
We now have a Dunning-Kruger president and a Dunning-Kruger administration. Why is it no longer amusing?
>Without an obvious mandate (as the world knows, he lost the popular vote by 2.87 million),
He lost to Clinton by 2.87 million votes, yes, but lets not forgot that fully 10 million+ more people voted against him than for him as well.
He lost to Clinton by 2.87 million votes, yes, but lets not forgot that fully 10 million+ more people voted against him than for him as well.
In the name of Democracy, our Constitution and possibly of the planet's survival, we have to REMOVE Trump from office ASAP!
This should include all those who out of simple opportunistic greed or cowardice have kept supporting him, knowing all the facts about his delusional, malignantly narcissistic character. At this point their complacency or silence makes them complicit in high treason!
FDR said it and it is so true today: "The only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself"
This should include all those who out of simple opportunistic greed or cowardice have kept supporting him, knowing all the facts about his delusional, malignantly narcissistic character. At this point their complacency or silence makes them complicit in high treason!
FDR said it and it is so true today: "The only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself"
3
The last time we elected the son of a rich guy we got Bush 43. He got us Afghanistan, Iraq, and a financial meltdown.
43 did such a good job, we thought this son of a rich guy would be just the one for the job this time too.
Someone said of 43 that 'he was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple'. Trump seems to have a similar opinion of himself.
Maybe next time we might try a land grant college graduate with a student loan who wasn't born with mediocre talents and an exalted opinion of himself or herself.
43 did such a good job, we thought this son of a rich guy would be just the one for the job this time too.
Someone said of 43 that 'he was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple'. Trump seems to have a similar opinion of himself.
Maybe next time we might try a land grant college graduate with a student loan who wasn't born with mediocre talents and an exalted opinion of himself or herself.
6
It has been said many times in many places that Trump makes Bush 43 look like a genius...and it is obvious every time he twitters or utters one of his comments from his HUGE gut; no he is not a reader nor a thinker.
3
Mr. Trump is indeed ignorant of his own ignorance (much like George W. Bush, another aristocratic offspring) but if we could let him con us into letting him play with the buttons of power in the Oval Office, we ought to be able to come up with an impeachment process to get him safely out of harms way and back on prime time television. Its time for the procedural geniuses in the Senate to fashion a butterfly net of reality we can use to get this ticking bomb corralled and away from our vitals.
2
No. 45 is a simpleton, who wants to keep things simple and does not like people who confuse him, which is to say, smart people.
4
Trump clearly believes that what worked in the hotel business- deceit, threats of litigation, hyperbole and publicly humiliating your competitors - will work in international diplomacy. Someone should inform Trump that the global community is not Atlantic City and Merkel, Nieto, Putin and Xi Jinping are not Merv Griffin. As I recall, even Atlantic City did not end so well for Trump, despite what he claims. In international affairs, the consequences for declaring bankruptcy and walking away are likely to be catastrophic.
2
This is the sort of discussion that needs to dominate our national conversation, not Trump's midnight tweets and palace intrigues inside the beltway.
Trump projects weakness and incompetence. We have numerous enemies and sort-of friends who would like to take us down a notch or two. It is as if we are inviting someone to do it.
We've spent decades blowing stuff up all around the world while scoffing at "nation building". A sizable portion of the refugee wave streaming toward Western Europe is the result of our military misadventures, and another large portion is the result of global warming, which has Made In the U.S.A. stamped all over it. Payback is coming, not if, but when.
Trump projects weakness and incompetence. We have numerous enemies and sort-of friends who would like to take us down a notch or two. It is as if we are inviting someone to do it.
We've spent decades blowing stuff up all around the world while scoffing at "nation building". A sizable portion of the refugee wave streaming toward Western Europe is the result of our military misadventures, and another large portion is the result of global warming, which has Made In the U.S.A. stamped all over it. Payback is coming, not if, but when.
1
Yes, as ignorant as all those who put him power: the 24% who elected him, the 48% who sat on their hands on election day, and the 2+% whose brain went on vacation.
3
With the Electoral College election of Donald J Trump to the Presidency, I became aware of how ignorant I was of the various responsibilities and power of cabinet positions and political appointees. Now - because this leader of the "free World" is an ignorant bully - I found myself reading and studying each of his cabinet recommendations, their particular expertise or lack thereof. I now know more about ethics standards and rules surrounding the administration. I now know more about the Intelligence community and how it is supposed to function.
In brief, the Electoral College election of DJT, a man totally unequipped to lead this nation (who doesn't realize he is unequipped), has awakened in me the need to be as informed as I possibly can be about all the branches of government and governance. Perhaps this is the silver lining meant to motivate those of us who actually care what happens to our world and to the world we will leave our children and grandchildren, not to mention the effect this will have on the habitability of this blue ball we call Earth.
In brief, the Electoral College election of DJT, a man totally unequipped to lead this nation (who doesn't realize he is unequipped), has awakened in me the need to be as informed as I possibly can be about all the branches of government and governance. Perhaps this is the silver lining meant to motivate those of us who actually care what happens to our world and to the world we will leave our children and grandchildren, not to mention the effect this will have on the habitability of this blue ball we call Earth.
2
He is not just ignorant of his own ignorance, he is proud of it. As though you can solve the most unsolveable problems without even trying to learn anything about them. Trump represents a new form of extremist: the American-style (i.e., under the guise of "horse sense") anti-intellectual.
I've said it before, but the frequency and egregious degree of Trump's bold -faced lying and his refusal to accept responsibility for knowing or learning about the matters he is sworn to address on the American people's behalf, and refusal to dischargie responsibly the duties he sworn to diligently perform in office, is a level of willful negligence at best, and criminal perjury, if not treason, at worst.
If this recklessness was, as it clearly is now, intentional (as arguably evidenced by how he spent his lead-time as President-Elect and his selection of certain completely inexperienced, unknowlegeable and unqualified persons as agency heads from at least Election Day forward), it amounts to the perpetration of a fraud, regardless of whether he insanely believes it's the right approach. For that above all, Trump should be on the receiving end of job termination (yes, "fired"), and perhaps the object of another of his favorite expressions, "locked up."
I've said it before, but the frequency and egregious degree of Trump's bold -faced lying and his refusal to accept responsibility for knowing or learning about the matters he is sworn to address on the American people's behalf, and refusal to dischargie responsibly the duties he sworn to diligently perform in office, is a level of willful negligence at best, and criminal perjury, if not treason, at worst.
If this recklessness was, as it clearly is now, intentional (as arguably evidenced by how he spent his lead-time as President-Elect and his selection of certain completely inexperienced, unknowlegeable and unqualified persons as agency heads from at least Election Day forward), it amounts to the perpetration of a fraud, regardless of whether he insanely believes it's the right approach. For that above all, Trump should be on the receiving end of job termination (yes, "fired"), and perhaps the object of another of his favorite expressions, "locked up."
5
Strictly speaking, Trump lost the popular vote by almost 3 million against only one other candidate. He lost by almost 11 million against all other candidates. That's the number that matters most in judging his legitimacy, or lack thereof.
1
Thank you for this great description of the present crisis of world order. I would only give different answer for your final question: “So how prepared is our president for what’s next?”
For me it seems to be a rhetorical question. President is the most important part of our dystopian “next” and by definition is as ready for it as Stalin was for Stalinism.
For me it seems to be a rhetorical question. President is the most important part of our dystopian “next” and by definition is as ready for it as Stalin was for Stalinism.
2
But Bannon does know, or at least appears to - however - he also has the true agenda for this administration. Isolationism, deconstruction, more tax cuts for rich, exit TPP all put us on a path for war with China. Building the military, building walls, getting along with Russia - all designed to help the cause.
How North Korea and the South China Sea play out will be the most telling parts of his agenda. That's why Trump/bannon of gotten into status-quo on NATO and the middle east
How North Korea and the South China Sea play out will be the most telling parts of his agenda. That's why Trump/bannon of gotten into status-quo on NATO and the middle east
1
In a years time how many Western Powers will have any trust or faith in the orange one and any cordial relations rely on their tolerance of his antics all the while pining for the day he is gone. Hopefully America will still have a functioning democracy and the world is not a smoking heap.
4
Mr. Edsall, your long list of potential threats is impressive but ignores the gravest of them all: that to our environment. I realize it is not precisely a "foreign, economic or terrorist crisis" but why limit ourselves to those categories when discussing the threat the current Republican agenda poses to us all?
This doesn't take anything away from the gist, or the conclusion, of your arguments but rather amplifies them.
This doesn't take anything away from the gist, or the conclusion, of your arguments but rather amplifies them.
1
No news here. America elected a President who doesn't have the foggiest notion what he's doing, nor the desire to learn what to do. We knew all this months before the election. But people voted for him, anyway. They discounted his massive character flaws because they believed his con: that he alone could do great things that other leaders can't do. So far, the only thing he does better than any other American leader is lie. He's the world champion of telling big fat lies. We - all of us - will pay dearly for this mistake.
4
Faced with complex and unpleasant realities, Trumpians sought to destroy what they see as a cabal against them that pushes globalism, secular humanism, environmentalism, and moral relativism down their throats. So they lashed out, electing someone who claimed he could turn the clock back to a time when they and their like were "in charge" and no one challenged their world view. Well, turns out, time doesn't run backwards and the forces named above can't be put back in their bottle. And the rest of us get to live with the aftermath.
3
Trump's ignorance, and his evident unwillingness to educate himself, surround himself with qualified advisors instead of sycophants, and his disinterest in anything but Trump will not matter. All these crises and risky situations are like quantum functions - they will be much simpler, even for Trump, once he has made them collapse into actual military conflicts. Once the US has a definite enemy, one Trump can point the military at and give a green light, then Trump will no longer have to tax himself trying to understand nuance, other cultures, other interests, and diplomacy. Diplomacy is hard, hitting things with a hammer is easy. Budgets are a statement of priorities, and Trump's budget proposal takes away nearly 30% from State while giving 10% (a much larger dollars amount) to Defense. A more clear statement of Trump's values, Trump's priorities, and Trump's intentions could not be made.
2
While there is nothing really new in this article, it is spot on. It is worth reminding people, frequently, what a manifestly unqualified person we have serving as Commander in Chief. DT is like a four year old with a loaded gun.
5
Isn't it possible that he is decimating our democratic system as we know it in order to do exactly what the experts say he is doing? That is, he (and Stephen Bannon [see Bannon quotes]) wants to weaken the U.S. by cutting all good programs and building up a military (although our military is currently the largest of most countries, combined) for whatever reason (maybe he loves money more than country and the oligarchs have his back -- who knows?). All I know is that his agenda is so anti-American as to almost be impeachable, and his inability to criticize Vladimir Putin (and in fact his actual support of Putin) makes everything that he and his administration do suspect.
6
Your chart of budget changes is proof that DT is not all there. The elevator does not go up to the top. He is proposing budget changes which will effect the very people who supported his WH bid. Instead of providing more funds which would help his constituents, he is cutting them. He is consistently providing sustenance to the top 10%, not only the top 1%.
1
James Comey deserves a great deal of credit for Trump's presidency. As does Fox News and the MSM. Now Jamie Dimon claims Trump is good for business. War is almost always good for business, also.
1
Everyone agrees we have an ill-informed, uninterested, ignoramus in the White House which is a threat to the World Order. What are we going to do about it?
6
"During his first 63 days in office, Trump made 317 “false or misleading claims,” according to The Washington Post."
Wow, that's five a day...quite a pace even for the con artist in chief.
Wow, that's five a day...quite a pace even for the con artist in chief.
5
Excellent and perceptive article. Indeed, Trump does not know and does not know that he does not know and yet thinks that he knows. This is what medieval mystics called " double ignorance. " Or maybe, lies. Trump is the king of lies as well as his inner circle which itself lies to please their king. We are really in bad shape !!
1
Knowledgeable people realize they don't know everything. Ignorant people think they do. Trump definitely falls into the ignorant class.
1
Trump is a wooden-headed dummy. He will do whatever Bannon tells him to do. And Bannon is not ignorant of Trump's ignorance. He's using it.
3
Mr. Edsall, you are correct.
However, instead of pointing fingers at Mr. Trump, perhaps you should point fingers at the Democratic and Republic parties for nominating two dreadful candidates in 2016. If Mrs. Clinton was such an oustanding candidate, she would
Shame on Mrs. Clinton for running a terrible campaign, shame on the Republican party for having no viable answers to Trump's candidacy other than a clown car of bores, and shame on the Democratic party for complacently sitting back and saying it was "Hillary's turn."
However, instead of pointing fingers at Mr. Trump, perhaps you should point fingers at the Democratic and Republic parties for nominating two dreadful candidates in 2016. If Mrs. Clinton was such an oustanding candidate, she would
Shame on Mrs. Clinton for running a terrible campaign, shame on the Republican party for having no viable answers to Trump's candidacy other than a clown car of bores, and shame on the Democratic party for complacently sitting back and saying it was "Hillary's turn."
1
Yes she did run a terrible campaign. I knew about a month before the election that it would be won by the insane orange clown.
Shame on you the US people and shame on the Electorate the Media and the whole expensive debacle you allow, in what you think is the Worlds greatest Democracy.
The Media circus that has started already for the mid terms is the problem.
Your divided Government is so divided the the people forget who is supposed to be the boss.
It's we the People not the Second amendment which should be stopping this tyranny.
Until you stand up to be counted you have no Democracy.
No representation without participation grand visions, cannot be that someone else should stand to be counted.
The Media circus that has started already for the mid terms is the problem.
Your divided Government is so divided the the people forget who is supposed to be the boss.
It's we the People not the Second amendment which should be stopping this tyranny.
Until you stand up to be counted you have no Democracy.
No representation without participation grand visions, cannot be that someone else should stand to be counted.
1
Think 2018. Put all your outrage and energy into 2018. Only a Democratic Congress can rein in this reign of craziness. Put you money where your complaining comes from. Work for and donate to Democratic candidates, locally, state-wide, and nationally. It's the way democracies correct their mistakes, and boy, did this democracy make a big one. 2018! 2018!
7
Working for or contributing to the Dems is useless unless you live in a district where they even have a chance of winning.
Millions need to join the GOP and take back control of your GOP the Freedom Caucus and Tea party need to be driven out.
So yes getting the Dems over the 60 line is imperative for the Senate but in Congress getting rid of the clowns including Ryan is what needs to happen.
My disgust when I read that Ryan thought they needed to learn to Govern again appalled me he and Boehner led Six years of Congressional Government and Achieved zero.
Six years in power and not a single bill of real relevance originated in the Lower House which was capable of passing the Senate.
So figure it out changing the Monkey will not work when the organ is broken.
Understand your Government is the Congress they should have either worked with Obama or overruled him by passing better laws.
Brannon is just moving the do nothing Congress into the Whitehouse take the Farm Bill the GOP oppose any changes to that gross welfare program.
Their target is Four more years off nada nothing changing, we are doing very well thank you
no one in the GOP nor Bannon wanted to get rid of The ACA they will just blame it for everything for four more years.
Millions need to join the GOP and take back control of your GOP the Freedom Caucus and Tea party need to be driven out.
So yes getting the Dems over the 60 line is imperative for the Senate but in Congress getting rid of the clowns including Ryan is what needs to happen.
My disgust when I read that Ryan thought they needed to learn to Govern again appalled me he and Boehner led Six years of Congressional Government and Achieved zero.
Six years in power and not a single bill of real relevance originated in the Lower House which was capable of passing the Senate.
So figure it out changing the Monkey will not work when the organ is broken.
Understand your Government is the Congress they should have either worked with Obama or overruled him by passing better laws.
Brannon is just moving the do nothing Congress into the Whitehouse take the Farm Bill the GOP oppose any changes to that gross welfare program.
Their target is Four more years off nada nothing changing, we are doing very well thank you
no one in the GOP nor Bannon wanted to get rid of The ACA they will just blame it for everything for four more years.
To those who say "give him time"; time to prove what about himself? To prove that things he has said will magically disappear? To prove that he will alter, chameleon-like, into a creature capable of listening and compromise?
A 6-year-old on a sugar buzz can drive a car in a straight line for a few seconds. Shall we "give him time" to see if he gets the hang of it?
A 6-year-old on a sugar buzz can drive a car in a straight line for a few seconds. Shall we "give him time" to see if he gets the hang of it?
7
Trump is 70, and he is still the virulently narcissistic egomaniac and psychopath he has been his entire life. There is no psychological or psychiatric cure for psychopathy. Psychopaths LIKE their condition and wouldn't seek treatment. Only if they end up in prison can they be examined in detail, so most psychopaths are judged by observation of their behavior. Indications are:
Massive ego
Ability to lie with no guilt - they will almost invariably pass lie detector tests.
Need not just to win, but to punish and humiliate anybody who opposed them
No empathy for other people - they are their entire world
Unusually active and often destructive sexual lives
Trouble as teenagers (Donald was thrown out of his exclusive prep school at 13 and ended up in military school)
Master manipulators - intent on always getting their own way.
Lacking in impulse control.
Gifted with a superficial charm handy when conning somebody (sometimes' called the Sociopath Charm).
Social predators using deceit, manipulation, abuse, and fraud.
They do not feel the emotions that normal people feel, but most have learned to fake them. Some even believe that nobody really feels these emotions and everybody fakes them like themselves.
On the gold-standard PCL-R checklist, Trump looks like he scores 40 out of 40.
Massive ego
Ability to lie with no guilt - they will almost invariably pass lie detector tests.
Need not just to win, but to punish and humiliate anybody who opposed them
No empathy for other people - they are their entire world
Unusually active and often destructive sexual lives
Trouble as teenagers (Donald was thrown out of his exclusive prep school at 13 and ended up in military school)
Master manipulators - intent on always getting their own way.
Lacking in impulse control.
Gifted with a superficial charm handy when conning somebody (sometimes' called the Sociopath Charm).
Social predators using deceit, manipulation, abuse, and fraud.
They do not feel the emotions that normal people feel, but most have learned to fake them. Some even believe that nobody really feels these emotions and everybody fakes them like themselves.
On the gold-standard PCL-R checklist, Trump looks like he scores 40 out of 40.
1
Due to Mr. Trump's ignorance, our country is definitely in grave danger socially, environmentally and in terms of world affairs! If by chance he wins anther election with Russia's help, the damage he'll create may be catastrophic!
3
Trump is a vessel owned and operated by Bannon. You are right about all that you share here, Thomas Edsall, but as it is known, we cannot accomplish much if we treat only the symptoms. We must address the root causes. We have a roster of unqualified people in the Cabinet by design. Bannon's design. He does not want anyone to get in the way of his strategy, his plan, his (oh boy) New Order. We are all getting distracted with Russia's involvement as though we cannot handle two vile entities at play.
1
I do not disagree however, I suspect even Bannon is owned and operated by the Mercers. These billionaires have the most distorted view of society, what it should be like who are the "best" people to implement it. Unfortunately for us and the world, many of them are gathered in the white house at present.
1
Both Trump and Bannon are wholly owned by reclusive and nutcase NY billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah. Mercer not only was the largest funder of Trump (after his favorite candidate Cruz dropped out), but he has been the biggest funder of Breitbart for years, giving them $10 million in 2011 alone. Kellyanne Conway started out running a SuperPAC for Cruz that was funded entirely by Mercer. She stayed aboard as the PAC switched to Trump. It was Mercer who brought Bannon and Conway into the Trump campaign.
Mercer believes there is NO white racism in the US, only black racism. He is violently opposed to the Civil Rights Act and believes that black people were better under Segregation and Jim Crow than they were after the Act's passage. He also says that the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan were good for overall Japanese health, because the lower radiation outside the immediate blast zones was good for them. He also funds climate-denial groups. He gives millions to right-wing campaigns, the Heritage Foundation & the Cato Institute, & was a major contributor to Nigel Farage during the Brexit debates. He used his Cambridge Analytica company, which has data on over 200 million Americans, to focus down & target individuals who could be persuaded to vote for Trump. To celebrate Trump's victory, Mercer threw a "Heroes & Villains" party. Kellyanne wore a SuperGirl costume. Trump showed up as himself! Bob's goal is to remake America & then the world according to his values.
Mercer believes there is NO white racism in the US, only black racism. He is violently opposed to the Civil Rights Act and believes that black people were better under Segregation and Jim Crow than they were after the Act's passage. He also says that the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan were good for overall Japanese health, because the lower radiation outside the immediate blast zones was good for them. He also funds climate-denial groups. He gives millions to right-wing campaigns, the Heritage Foundation & the Cato Institute, & was a major contributor to Nigel Farage during the Brexit debates. He used his Cambridge Analytica company, which has data on over 200 million Americans, to focus down & target individuals who could be persuaded to vote for Trump. To celebrate Trump's victory, Mercer threw a "Heroes & Villains" party. Kellyanne wore a SuperGirl costume. Trump showed up as himself! Bob's goal is to remake America & then the world according to his values.
1
Are we surprised at Donald's ignorance of his own behavior? No. He will only become aware of us not "liking" him when the impeachment is finalized.
He is a travesty; a blight on most of our citizens who possess good morals and sense of reason. A "Republican" for the ages.
He is a travesty; a blight on most of our citizens who possess good morals and sense of reason. A "Republican" for the ages.
5
I can't wait for Trump geeks to emulate the way he wears ties.
4
Not only is Trump ignorant...he has no moral compass or grounding, which are required for great leadership.
This may be evidenced the best by his lack of his attention to family. Forget about the older children, who he views as tools...focus on the period since his inauguration. Has he once commented to anyone about missing his son or wife? Assuming that Barron needed to stay in NYC (which i doubt), has there been one photo which showed a real father son relationship? Have you seen one instance where you can feel the love between him and Melania? Say what you want about either Obama's or Bush's policies, they are fine men that love their families and place a priority on being a father and husband. For Trump, everyone around him is a tool. He is shallow, without conviction, impetuous and with no morals or ethics. That is the root of his political ignorance as well as his personal ignorance. It is ironic that the Republicans have always campaigned on family values and the Republican President has none.
This may be evidenced the best by his lack of his attention to family. Forget about the older children, who he views as tools...focus on the period since his inauguration. Has he once commented to anyone about missing his son or wife? Assuming that Barron needed to stay in NYC (which i doubt), has there been one photo which showed a real father son relationship? Have you seen one instance where you can feel the love between him and Melania? Say what you want about either Obama's or Bush's policies, they are fine men that love their families and place a priority on being a father and husband. For Trump, everyone around him is a tool. He is shallow, without conviction, impetuous and with no morals or ethics. That is the root of his political ignorance as well as his personal ignorance. It is ironic that the Republicans have always campaigned on family values and the Republican President has none.
11
Recent news had Trump telling Merkel:
"The negotiators for Germany have done a far better job than the negotiators for the United States," he said. "But hopefully we can even it out."
Of course, there is no trade deal between Germany and the US. It appears that Trump didn't know that.
"The negotiators for Germany have done a far better job than the negotiators for the United States," he said. "But hopefully we can even it out."
Of course, there is no trade deal between Germany and the US. It appears that Trump didn't know that.
9
Trump had probably discussed a trade agreement with Teresa May because one is entailed by Brexit. That probably gave him the idea that the US had an individual trade agreement with Germany as well.
Trump is only fussy about details like the tint of the paint on the walls.
Trump is only fussy about details like the tint of the paint on the walls.
2
Trump and his entire family and his minions are ignorant of their own ignorance. His arrogant daughter thinks she's qualified to be a WH special assistant and her equally arrogant husband with no background in government thinks he's qualified to "advise" the president on anything other than a good real estate deal.
Look at that list of dead beat dumb dumbs in the administration -- deVos who think bear roam around schools, Perry who never had a thought in his addled brain, the former head of WWE as the head of the Small Business Administration, Ben Carson an embarrassment of whacko comments on subjects about which he knows zero ie. the Pyramids.
The ignorance of all of these people is stupefying to witness.
Look at that list of dead beat dumb dumbs in the administration -- deVos who think bear roam around schools, Perry who never had a thought in his addled brain, the former head of WWE as the head of the Small Business Administration, Ben Carson an embarrassment of whacko comments on subjects about which he knows zero ie. the Pyramids.
The ignorance of all of these people is stupefying to witness.
10
The people who voted for Trump wanted change any way they could get it, so the easiest way to satisfy them all is to burn down everything.
3
His condition is called Dunning Kruger. He is incurious and thinks he is the brightest spark in the room. He thinks he can make it up and all will agree.
The sad thing is some will agree, his base is equally incurious and will swallow his words with pride.
The GOP after 8 years of intolerance of the White House is a party that cannot govern as its parts don't add up to a political party, they are a permanent opposition party without unity. It takes no thought for the chorus to say NO. The reasons for no require no consensus. They cannot agree on one thing so they cannot ever say YES.
Lead by fake leaders they cannot see the treason in their midst. They own the dog but continue to look the other way as he bites "we the people".
Trump is preparing for war while gutting the social safety net. Building bombers instead of schools, building nukes instead of infrastructure. He wants to be a war hero like Bush II. He will more likely end up as Mussolini if he gets that far. What do you do for an encore after you expand the largest military on the planet by 10%?
His ACA replacement is a tax cut bill that makes healthcare more expensive and exclusive. So much for the truth there.
The elephant in the room is when with the GOP man up and realize their mistake and deal with their dog. Or will they risk misprision of treason and let this man go to the brink or beyond.
The GOP is looking more like an enemy of the state day byevery day.
Good luck.
The sad thing is some will agree, his base is equally incurious and will swallow his words with pride.
The GOP after 8 years of intolerance of the White House is a party that cannot govern as its parts don't add up to a political party, they are a permanent opposition party without unity. It takes no thought for the chorus to say NO. The reasons for no require no consensus. They cannot agree on one thing so they cannot ever say YES.
Lead by fake leaders they cannot see the treason in their midst. They own the dog but continue to look the other way as he bites "we the people".
Trump is preparing for war while gutting the social safety net. Building bombers instead of schools, building nukes instead of infrastructure. He wants to be a war hero like Bush II. He will more likely end up as Mussolini if he gets that far. What do you do for an encore after you expand the largest military on the planet by 10%?
His ACA replacement is a tax cut bill that makes healthcare more expensive and exclusive. So much for the truth there.
The elephant in the room is when with the GOP man up and realize their mistake and deal with their dog. Or will they risk misprision of treason and let this man go to the brink or beyond.
The GOP is looking more like an enemy of the state day byevery day.
Good luck.
2
There is none so blind, as he who will not see...
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)
or
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." (Mark Twain)
or
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." (Voltaire)
and
Doubt is the willingness to learn and understand. Doubt opens one up to achieving wisdom. The virtues of openness, honesty and humility underlie the pursuit of wisdom. (Me)
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)
or
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." (Mark Twain)
or
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." (Voltaire)
and
Doubt is the willingness to learn and understand. Doubt opens one up to achieving wisdom. The virtues of openness, honesty and humility underlie the pursuit of wisdom. (Me)
6
It is Japan, not the US, not South Korea, that would be most seriously affected by a crisis with North Korea, which has a capacity and malice to destroy any number of targets in Japan at any time. But Abe, PM of Japan, does not seem to be alarmed at all by provocative, ineffective, inconsistent policies of Trump and Tillerson mesmerized by a longer-than-usual hand-holding at Mar-a-Lago. Which is the most stupid party in face of Trump?
1
It's tough to teach someone who has reached the presidency through stupidity that he is stupid. Like all the Bushes, he too, was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.
4
In Trump's case, he was also born with a silver foot in his mouth.
3
Ignorance begets ignorance. Or as Charles Darwin stated..."Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
4
In the midst of a bustling intersection, we've decided the best course of action is handing the keys to our bus over to a ten-year-old with a "Here. You drive."
2
Trump and the GOP would love nothing more than to live in a Putin style paradise in which the rich get fabulously richer and the rest of us are happy and content to live off the crumbs that fall from their overladen tables aka trickle down economics. Money and power are their guiding principles and the Constitution is just for show. Indeed Trump would love nothing more than the title" Rex Washington et Imperator Civitates Foederatea Americae" if only because he could brag about how good he looks wearing ermine. But I together with millions of others want something different.
1
As economist John Kenneth Galbraith said:
"Trickle-down theory. The less than elegant metaphor that if one feeds the horse enough oats, some will pass through to the road for the sparrows."
Trump's sparrows will hail Trump for their "windfall."
Galbraith also said:
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
This is the sole reason for the massive output of pseudo-intellectual papers that come flooding out of the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Hoover Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, the Hudson Institute & a hundred others. It is also the primary theme of magazines like Commentary and the Weekly Standard (founded and edited by William Kristol, son of former Trotskyist Communist Irving Kristol, who is often referred to as the "godfather of NeoConservatism").
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."
--Frederic Bastiat, French writer and economist, 1850
"Trickle-down theory. The less than elegant metaphor that if one feeds the horse enough oats, some will pass through to the road for the sparrows."
Trump's sparrows will hail Trump for their "windfall."
Galbraith also said:
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
This is the sole reason for the massive output of pseudo-intellectual papers that come flooding out of the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Hoover Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, the Hudson Institute & a hundred others. It is also the primary theme of magazines like Commentary and the Weekly Standard (founded and edited by William Kristol, son of former Trotskyist Communist Irving Kristol, who is often referred to as the "godfather of NeoConservatism").
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."
--Frederic Bastiat, French writer and economist, 1850
The most significant issue is not what may happen or when, but the fact that Trump and his base have no regard for the experts cited here. These professors and historians are presumed to have a liberal agenda and no amount of rational discussion will break through "Teflon Don" and company's shield. The disregard for critical thinking is astonishing.
2
It is a particularly virulent form of Confirmation Bias. The Right automatically believes anything said or written by others within it's own bubble. Anything that in the least contradicts or even opens to question their beliefs is attributed to "Liberal Bias" or propaganda by the giant conspiracy that exists to include all Americans in America. In fact, given that they distrust, disbelieve, and denigrate any source not 100% in agreement with them, it is useless to try to reach them with facts. If it comes from any source outside of their bubble, it is automatically tainted in their minds as "Fake News."
You can't teach an old dogma new tricks. It's as effective as giving medicine to the dead.
You can't teach an old dogma new tricks. It's as effective as giving medicine to the dead.
From the Donald J. Trump Political Playbook:
1. Focus on a problem. Say that it is the worst problem facing our country since World War II. Tell everyone that you are the only one who can solve it and that it will be "so easy!"
2. Fail.
3. Choose someone to blame.
4. Threaten them.
5. Tweet that the problem was not all that important anyway, and besides, you had not really given it much thought.
6. Return to #1 and repeat.
1. Focus on a problem. Say that it is the worst problem facing our country since World War II. Tell everyone that you are the only one who can solve it and that it will be "so easy!"
2. Fail.
3. Choose someone to blame.
4. Threaten them.
5. Tweet that the problem was not all that important anyway, and besides, you had not really given it much thought.
6. Return to #1 and repeat.
5
I am reading now that comrade Tschump is threatening the so called freedom caucus. Surely he has to realize that these are the representatives of the same people who made his election possible. His ignorance in this instance is bliss. It makes me very happy to watch him erect walls of division as though he can afford to lose supporters.
Those who voted for trump, who is unqualified and severely mentally ill, were and are driven by fear and the illusion of control. The lizard brain harbors racism, fear of the other, and supersedes rational behavior. The cost to our country for enduring this man is too high.
5
Trump is viciously mean, vindictive. His anger is constant. His hatred and loathing for Obama still permeates his behavior, ever since he was scathingly mocked years ago at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Yes, Trump is going to get even with that guy who he believes probably was not born in the United States. As base and banal as this all seems Trump is seething and we the people will be consumed with a terrible fear for our lives.
6
People say "deal with it." I say "no." It will be too late. I am writing my representatives daily, asking them begin the impeachment process. I have had enough, and I'm not going to wait it out. I will vote out any and all who allow this man to fulfill his vision. The assault on truth and reason will end, and it will be done together. Tell your representatives to begin the impeachment process (this can be done via email), and end the lunacy of the current administration. Anyone that doesn't, allows evil to reign.
Thank you,
Patrick
Thank you,
Patrick
2
Trump is Putin's man in the White House. What he is doing benefits Putin and Russia - insinuating American is not already great, focusing on protecting his KGB pals instead of the American electoral system, listening to bumbleheaded ideologues from the extreme right, destroying relationships with allies - on and on. All this while personally enriching himself and his family, helping oligarchs launder money through NYC real estate, and modeling his administration on that of the Kremlin - Putin has also placed his daughter and son-in-law in positions where they can profit from his presidency and help him hide money. So incompetent doesn't quite capture the entirety of the problems the U.S. has with its President and political system. After all this, how can mainstream politicians take law-making seriously? How can they pass laws designed to weaken the country and its people? And how can they stand for the Russian takeover of the White House? Putin now has his fingers on two nuclear arsenals.
1
And yet, he was elected, maybe not by a majority, but certainly by the rules that govern our elections. It's a little late to cry foul. It's the American electorate who, lacking the education and common sense that comes with it, has given us this president. Ignorance is indeed bliss at all levels, not only in the presidency.
We have no one to blame but ourselves. Stop the crying. Vote in 18 and in 20!
We have no one to blame but ourselves. Stop the crying. Vote in 18 and in 20!
1
I think a good majority of people, myself included, take comfort in reading articles like these. Although my distrust of Trump and his competence has never wavered, it's always comforting knowing that well-respected, highly-educated thought leaders and I are united in our mutual contempt for what's already transpired, and our fear of what's to come. On the other hand, I'm certain many of us also seek out and vet opposing viewpoints and attempt to really understand those drivers. With Trump's win, I quickly realized how out of touch I was with nearly half of America and really wanted to understand his appeal. The sad truth is neither Trump nor his supporters seek to really understand all the facts nor consider outcomes before they act. Each seem to only consume and regurgitate the hashtag of the hour. Until more Trump loyalists are willing to take a step back and truly see the big picture (get their info from sources other than Fox and Trump's twitter feed), I'm afraid this excellent article, and the many that have preceded and will certainly follow will only serve to appease like-minded readers. What I really need to understand is how we can stop the madness before it's too late? PA's Senator Toomey has been hiding from his constituents.
1
I consider myself middle-of-the-road between left & right on many issues. I would be willing to vote for a morally responsible and intellectually thoughtful conservative Republican President. The problem is I’ve seen few, if any, Republican presidential candidates like that for a long time. Their generally enthusiastic support for unnecessary warfare typifies their sense of morality, and candidates like Palin, GW Bush, & Pres Trump essentially pride themselves on their impulsiveness & lack of forethought, which they call “decisiveness”.
In recent decades, it seems we go through cycles (Clinton, GW Bush, Obama, Trump) of alternating sensible governance by a Democrat, destruction by a neoconservative Republican president, then another Democrat to fix the damage done by the Republican to the point where the electorate feels they now have the luxury to vote their emotions instead of their reason & elect another Republican of questionable competence & temperament.
I fear that eventually the downward part of these cycles will bring us to a point of no return.
In recent decades, it seems we go through cycles (Clinton, GW Bush, Obama, Trump) of alternating sensible governance by a Democrat, destruction by a neoconservative Republican president, then another Democrat to fix the damage done by the Republican to the point where the electorate feels they now have the luxury to vote their emotions instead of their reason & elect another Republican of questionable competence & temperament.
I fear that eventually the downward part of these cycles will bring us to a point of no return.
4
Given Trump's performance during the campaign, what in God's name should anyone expect? His toxic combination of ignorance and arrogance, far in excess even of that displayed by the last Republican president, is dangerous in the extreme. It appears that as long as he is able to serve as the Republicans in Congress' useful idiot — not to mention his fellow plutocrats' and Vladimir Putin's useful idiot — nothing more need be required. And in the meantime, he gets to exploit his power for the benefit of his own business enterprises! This is the most corrupt, unqualified president of modern times, if not all time. And it appears we're stuck with him for at least four years.
2
In pedagogical terms, he is unconsciously incompetent. Like most nascent learners, his metacognitive skills appear to be very poorly developed and he does not enjoy the activities that promote learning. This is o.k. for a first year student, but not for the President - you need someone who is unconsciously, or at least consciously, competent in the job. This is not a position for on-the-job learning of very basic concepts about the role of the President and how government "works". First year medical students don't do surgery for very good reasons.
2
We, as people, have two expectations of a leader:
Goodwill and intelligence.
Goodwill -- a deep desire to make positive contributions that improve the lives of everyone.
Intelligence -- the ability to solve problems.
To do good is the direction, and intelligence is the means.
That leaves a lot of latitude which raises secondary attributes such as vision, sense of history, humility, confidence, etc.
Two illustrations of this ideal:
The 1968 Cliff Roberson movie "Charly", based on the book "Flowers for Algernon."
The self-less personal example of Elon Musk.
As a nation, we lost our way in the 1980s by deregulating media ownership while promoting narcissism and greed.
This era (80s) was the fulfillment of Khruschev's prophecy that the US would fall like a rotten apple from a tree. This is not the result of the stupidity of American people. America is not stupid. But it has been very poorly led.
Wealth is not revealed by the concentration of money, but by its circulation.
How many times does a dollar circulate before it is removed from a community?
Goodwill and intelligence.
Goodwill -- a deep desire to make positive contributions that improve the lives of everyone.
Intelligence -- the ability to solve problems.
To do good is the direction, and intelligence is the means.
That leaves a lot of latitude which raises secondary attributes such as vision, sense of history, humility, confidence, etc.
Two illustrations of this ideal:
The 1968 Cliff Roberson movie "Charly", based on the book "Flowers for Algernon."
The self-less personal example of Elon Musk.
As a nation, we lost our way in the 1980s by deregulating media ownership while promoting narcissism and greed.
This era (80s) was the fulfillment of Khruschev's prophecy that the US would fall like a rotten apple from a tree. This is not the result of the stupidity of American people. America is not stupid. But it has been very poorly led.
Wealth is not revealed by the concentration of money, but by its circulation.
How many times does a dollar circulate before it is removed from a community?
1
As awful as Trump is, the republicans in congress may be worse. The damage they can and probably will do to this country is frightening to contemplate. To save the country, we need to break the republican's grip on congress in 2018, and banish them from the White House in 2020 - if not sooner. Sadly I have no faith that the democrats can effectively make the case to the voters.
1
Who Trump was and his complete ignorance of world politics was known before he was elected. Despite that, he was elected President. No use griping about his ignorance.
Congress must be changed in two years. Trump must be removed from office sooner rather than later before he can do serious harm to both America and the World. Not a fan of Pence, but one gets the impression he could read and understand the intelligence briefing reports. Trump can't.
Congress must be changed in two years. Trump must be removed from office sooner rather than later before he can do serious harm to both America and the World. Not a fan of Pence, but one gets the impression he could read and understand the intelligence briefing reports. Trump can't.
2
It has been obvious to any thoughtful observer that our president is unfit to be the leader of our country, let alone the leader of the free world. As you say, he is ignorant of his ignorance. He is also narcissistic, bullying, short sighted, and always looks out for himself first. He will say whatever he thinks will feed his ego the most. I my opinion, he is mentally unstable to the point that he has built himself an alternative reality to inhabit.
What is this man going to do when the next crisis occurs (as it surely will)? As you say, the world has a number of crisis waiting in the wings. How will he react if North Korea launches a missile that lands near Hawaii or California? Can we trust that he will take the appropriate action?
I think it is time for the grown-ups in the government to begin the process of removing our president under the terms of the 25th amendment before he does something terrible like get us into another war or suspend civil liberties. He actually scares the stuffing out of me.
What is this man going to do when the next crisis occurs (as it surely will)? As you say, the world has a number of crisis waiting in the wings. How will he react if North Korea launches a missile that lands near Hawaii or California? Can we trust that he will take the appropriate action?
I think it is time for the grown-ups in the government to begin the process of removing our president under the terms of the 25th amendment before he does something terrible like get us into another war or suspend civil liberties. He actually scares the stuffing out of me.
1
I’m hoping that the nuclear football is in the hands of someone faster and more rational than President Trump and Bannon (easy to do I know) and they will act in the best interest of the United States and the rest of the world should the unthinkable happen.
All joking aside, the author and his contacts and other commenters paint a very dark picture with regard to the president’s ignorance and lack of mental and rational fitness for office. I pray that James Mattis and Rex Tillerson will be in the president’s physical orbit should he propose a shooting war. Someone is going to have to stand up to Trump and Bannon and it won’t be Ivanka and Jared.
We just need to get through this presidency until 2020 or the impeachment and hope the pottery is not in too many pieces.
All joking aside, the author and his contacts and other commenters paint a very dark picture with regard to the president’s ignorance and lack of mental and rational fitness for office. I pray that James Mattis and Rex Tillerson will be in the president’s physical orbit should he propose a shooting war. Someone is going to have to stand up to Trump and Bannon and it won’t be Ivanka and Jared.
We just need to get through this presidency until 2020 or the impeachment and hope the pottery is not in too many pieces.
2
President Trump is a malignant narcissist. He also suffers from the Dunning-Kruger Effect. His ignorance and intellectual limitations prevent him from grasping all that he does not know. And his narcissism makes him believe that he is invincible, perfect, that he has "a very good brain." A person with these delusions routinely breaks agreements and relationships in deeply destructive ways. He causes massive repeated damage to those around him while remaining oblivious to his own destructive impacts. A private individual with these mental disorders is a moving disaster zone for everyone who has the misfortune to interact with him. A President with these afflictions is a clear and immediate threat to our democracy, our Constitution, our way of life, the world order, and the future livability of our one precious and fragile planet.
1
He came to the job not expecting it, not prepared for it, and not really wanting it. He wanted - and has had - the spotlight, the adoration of his followers, and headlines from his source of "news," Fox News.
He has not surrounded himself with experts or people with expertise in anything but loyalty. He continues to "hire" his family to 'advise' him, though I am fairly sure almost all the advice will be in his or their self-interest.
He fails to fill important or even essential governmental positions. He ascribes to Steve Bannon's goal of delegitimization of the federal government. He wants to control states who disagree with him.
And more. He has begun fighting Congress, inclusion his own party, because they just do not agree with him. He has a terrible understanding of the three Branches of government and why they are separate.
In my view, the United States is in despair and decline. Life in our future will be terrible. Government will fail because the toxic partisan politics will kill it. I would. I would not bet against another United States internal war between Trump followers and others.
We, the people, will indeed pay the ultimate price.
He has not surrounded himself with experts or people with expertise in anything but loyalty. He continues to "hire" his family to 'advise' him, though I am fairly sure almost all the advice will be in his or their self-interest.
He fails to fill important or even essential governmental positions. He ascribes to Steve Bannon's goal of delegitimization of the federal government. He wants to control states who disagree with him.
And more. He has begun fighting Congress, inclusion his own party, because they just do not agree with him. He has a terrible understanding of the three Branches of government and why they are separate.
In my view, the United States is in despair and decline. Life in our future will be terrible. Government will fail because the toxic partisan politics will kill it. I would. I would not bet against another United States internal war between Trump followers and others.
We, the people, will indeed pay the ultimate price.
2
Trump personality disorders should trouble all citizens:
His malignant narcissism is destructive as much as it is camouflaged.
His attention deficit is chronic as is his public incoherence.
The very institutions he wishes to underfund and dismantle are those we must preserve and fortify so our national response to international provocations is reasoned, intelligent and measured.
Three qualities absent Trump and his immediate staff.
When will the conservative wake to the potential disasters and oppose Trumps' dismantling of our institutional defenses?
His malignant narcissism is destructive as much as it is camouflaged.
His attention deficit is chronic as is his public incoherence.
The very institutions he wishes to underfund and dismantle are those we must preserve and fortify so our national response to international provocations is reasoned, intelligent and measured.
Three qualities absent Trump and his immediate staff.
When will the conservative wake to the potential disasters and oppose Trumps' dismantling of our institutional defenses?
1
This situation is fraught with danger. Not only do we have a person in the White House who is blithely unaware of his own weaknesses, but we have someone who will immediately fight anyone who dares to make him aware of it.
In short, we have a tyrant.
And now that a minority of voters, and the Electoral College have given him the reins, he is running roughshod over the country with his Executive Orders, tweets, false accusations, cringing insults, and threats.
Within the course of a few months, Donald Trump has proven himself beyond a shadow of a doubt, to be monumentally unprepared for any catastrophe, natural or man-made, that should come our way.
And with increased military spending and his built-in willingness to create conflicts, that is sure to happen...
And probably sooner than later.
In short, we have a tyrant.
And now that a minority of voters, and the Electoral College have given him the reins, he is running roughshod over the country with his Executive Orders, tweets, false accusations, cringing insults, and threats.
Within the course of a few months, Donald Trump has proven himself beyond a shadow of a doubt, to be monumentally unprepared for any catastrophe, natural or man-made, that should come our way.
And with increased military spending and his built-in willingness to create conflicts, that is sure to happen...
And probably sooner than later.
2
I ruminated a lot about the issue in question, whether Trump can distinguish what he knows from what he doesn't know, and also whether he can find his ways to reliable sources and experts, during the recent healthcare thing.
(Healthcare was a good example case for me, since I have my head a bit around the technical issues involved.)
Of course, Trump didn't do very well on the health care. "No one left out", "great insurance", " pre-existing-conditions can't count against a person", "cheaper for the government"--all when any competent advisor could tell him doing these all together is impossible.
And then the bill last week. 24 million extra uninsured, but proceed he did.
There's a tiny philosophical area called "social epistemology". It deals with the essential problem: in a complicated world, we absolutely have to rely on others for much information, and we have to use our own skills to assess the others who supply us information.
Is each other competent? Is each other being truthful with us? Those are the 2 main questions.
Were Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell honest with Trump? Did they themselves have a grip on the truth?
Poor Mr. Trump. He has a late start figuring these things out. (Hillary Clinton, for example, has been working out these issues ever since college, where she had enough curiosity and skill to start on the long, hard task.)
Bannon. Honest with the Pres.? Does Bannon himself understand the policy?
Interesting to ponder, if a bit scary.
(Healthcare was a good example case for me, since I have my head a bit around the technical issues involved.)
Of course, Trump didn't do very well on the health care. "No one left out", "great insurance", " pre-existing-conditions can't count against a person", "cheaper for the government"--all when any competent advisor could tell him doing these all together is impossible.
And then the bill last week. 24 million extra uninsured, but proceed he did.
There's a tiny philosophical area called "social epistemology". It deals with the essential problem: in a complicated world, we absolutely have to rely on others for much information, and we have to use our own skills to assess the others who supply us information.
Is each other competent? Is each other being truthful with us? Those are the 2 main questions.
Were Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell honest with Trump? Did they themselves have a grip on the truth?
Poor Mr. Trump. He has a late start figuring these things out. (Hillary Clinton, for example, has been working out these issues ever since college, where she had enough curiosity and skill to start on the long, hard task.)
Bannon. Honest with the Pres.? Does Bannon himself understand the policy?
Interesting to ponder, if a bit scary.
2
Self-adsorbed, narcissists are ignorant of what they do not know. That is a given. It creates havoc for employers, when they have these types of individual in their workplace. It creates havoc for employees who are employed by these types of individuals. For the country however, Trump is not just creating havoc, he is creating a series of very dangerous situations for us, both domestically and in our foreign policy. The only way to deal with President Trump is to either impeach, convict and remove him from office or refuse to re-elect him in four years. The later options however, will only further increase the danger to this country.
As the writer correctly implies, Trump's problem is not so much his ignorance, as his lack of self-knowledge of that ignorance.
All leaders have areas in which they lack expertise. And they know it. That's why they surround themselves with advisors.
Trump's arrogant, narcissistic personality makes it impossible for him to understand his own shortcomings, and so he surrounds himself with people who complement those shortcomings, enabling his ignorance rather than helping him overcome it.
However, even were he less ignorant, he'd still be a danger to the United States and the world. He's a deranged megalomaniac with the ego of a child, the least qualified kind of person to whom anyone in a sane society would want to give any sort of power.
All leaders have areas in which they lack expertise. And they know it. That's why they surround themselves with advisors.
Trump's arrogant, narcissistic personality makes it impossible for him to understand his own shortcomings, and so he surrounds himself with people who complement those shortcomings, enabling his ignorance rather than helping him overcome it.
However, even were he less ignorant, he'd still be a danger to the United States and the world. He's a deranged megalomaniac with the ego of a child, the least qualified kind of person to whom anyone in a sane society would want to give any sort of power.
1
Simplicity is not necessarily a disadvantage in a politician. It can work well when accompanied by decisiveness and determination and openness to argument. One thinks of Ronald Reagan's simplicities, for instance, as profoundly effective on the world stage.
The trouble is that what we ("the world") seem to be having to accept with the new President is "stupidity" rather than "simplicity." That is less useful.
The trouble is that what we ("the world") seem to be having to accept with the new President is "stupidity" rather than "simplicity." That is less useful.
Yes, the bull is in the china shop. And, I think we liberals can come up with Trump-like examples in our own families or among friends who are equally thrilled to have a chance to debunk "intellectuals," claiming that in fact they are the smart ones, and the intellectuals are the ignorant ones. Not for a second does Trump or this cohort believe that they are ignorant, quite the reverse. They now "have the floor" to speak, "la parole" or "la palabra" as better expressed in French and Spanish. And, actually, I don't blame them. They have been condescended to for a long time and perhaps it is indeed their turn, and they did manage to win the November election.
You cite policy analysts who are unlikely to be seen as credible sources by Trump supporters. Are there other leaders, perhaps business executives, who would similarly characterize Trump and be seen as credible to those who are similarly unaware of their ignorance?
1
There is only one credible source to them: the Mighty Tweeter himself.
Administrations often say they will find many ways to make government more efficient, and then flounder at finding any specific cuts. Trump is proposing to cuts budgets 10-20% first, and let others figure out how to make do with what is left.
1
This is the "sequester" redux.
If only it were just Trump's deficiency we had to worry about. True, Trump is not aware of the big problems mentioned in this article. But he was voted into office by people who are not aware of big problems either--only their own problems. These are people who believed that the problems the country faces are something a good business person could take care of. Congress has made the business of the country their own personal business of retaining their seats at all cost.
Nobody is reminding them that government is not a business. It is the way we organize ourselves to solve problems. Thinking of it as a business has crippled us, is encouraging us to tear it all up. Again, government is not a business.
Nobody is reminding them that government is not a business. It is the way we organize ourselves to solve problems. Thinking of it as a business has crippled us, is encouraging us to tear it all up. Again, government is not a business.
4
What about Evelyn Farkus?
As he usually does, Thomas Edsall consults experts -- those who have thought deeply and extensively about particular subjects -- to substantiate his argument. Most, if not all, are located in universities. But don't expect Trump, or more importantly the 62 million who voted for him, to be convinced by this argument or the analysis of those Mr. Edsall has consulted. According to them, universities are bastions of 'elites' who like to tell others what to believe, how to live, what policies to follow, in short, who want to control modern society. Elsewhere in the Times today, we find that the administration and its conservative allies want to abolish the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and that Trump has made only one appointment in this department during his first 63 days.
This didn't spring from Trump alone; four years ago, after the second Obama election, Mitch McConnell was back in Kentucky sneering at the 'professors in Washington' who think they know better than the people to whom he was speaking. What is frightening about this is not just that Trump sits atop American government, but that a sizeable number of Americans think the same way and that large populations in other Western countries are willing to abandon reason for nescience.
This didn't spring from Trump alone; four years ago, after the second Obama election, Mitch McConnell was back in Kentucky sneering at the 'professors in Washington' who think they know better than the people to whom he was speaking. What is frightening about this is not just that Trump sits atop American government, but that a sizeable number of Americans think the same way and that large populations in other Western countries are willing to abandon reason for nescience.
21
One cannot even get Americans to self-organize to conduct speedy and equitable zip-merges at lane reductions on highways.
1
Thanks from Kansas for this intelligence from Oklahoma. As I tried to say myself in an earlier response to this urgent and vital commentary by Mr. Edsall, the thing that gets me is the personally malicious way this presidential fool treats distinguished foreign leaders like Angela Merkel. And, as Mr. Edsall also tried to say--thanks to a brilliant Professor from Wisconsin--this whole style of governance can't be the product of serious policy in the cabinet departments. The response to this article seems to be that we are witnessing the unravelling of US government in any responsible sense. If this isn't a political crisis, I can't imagine what is. It's time for the Republican Party in the House and Senate to wake up and take responsibility for what their rhetoric has done to America, because it is their attitude that made Trump what he is. Responsibility also means a serious effort to replace Trump. It's that short and simple.
1
I'm not sure he's really ignorant of his own ignorance. There may be a typographical error that has created this whole misunderstanding., which could have led all the way to his election.
During the campaign he was quoted as saying,
I'm, like, a really smart person.
It is now my suspicion that this was incorrectly punctuated. I suspect what he was really saying was,
I'm "like" a really smart person.
But for scare quotes ...
During the campaign he was quoted as saying,
I'm, like, a really smart person.
It is now my suspicion that this was incorrectly punctuated. I suspect what he was really saying was,
I'm "like" a really smart person.
But for scare quotes ...
1
A hedge fund mathematician named Robert Mercer bankrolls a lot of Trump boosting. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the genius who calculated the odds for the Electoral College victory.
We are a nation of "Social Science Deniers." Trump's problems are not philosophical or intellectual. They are psychological.
Americans would much rather see problems in terms of moral or intellectual failings which can be corrected through education or willpower as, opposed to seeing them as intractable mental health issues.
Sociologists have identified the causes of many problems and offered solutions but most people and most politicians put more stock in their irrational intuition.
I know many people who "went to college" who are proud of their willful denial of the social sciences.
Americans would much rather see problems in terms of moral or intellectual failings which can be corrected through education or willpower as, opposed to seeing them as intractable mental health issues.
Sociologists have identified the causes of many problems and offered solutions but most people and most politicians put more stock in their irrational intuition.
I know many people who "went to college" who are proud of their willful denial of the social sciences.
4
The US is utterly pathetic in its level of understanding of the emotional roots of human intelligence.
In my experience, such folks dismiss the social sciences as "liberal nonsense", and of course in today's America, anything liberal is bad.
While many wish we were not where we are, at least the incompetence is front and center. The malignant narcissist in the White House owns it along with the entrenched fundamentalists, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Our America is likely in for some very tough lessons if they continue to shun responsibility. We got what is deserved by a place where "doing each other in" is what passes for survival. The handwriting has been on the wall for quite a long time, now. The best option must be to take the opportunity at hand.
2
Trump has a more disconcerting ignorance, a profound ignorance of self. Jung wrote of the unconscious mind ("shadow"):
"Everyone carries a shadow,and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is."
"A man who is unconscious of himself acts in a blind, instinctive way and is in addition fooled by all the illusions that arise when he sees everything that he is not conscious of in himself coming to meet him from outside as projections upon his neighbor."
The man expiates his own evil by projecting his demons onto others. So how would Mr Hyde "cleanse" his soul?
"Everyone carries a shadow,and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is."
"A man who is unconscious of himself acts in a blind, instinctive way and is in addition fooled by all the illusions that arise when he sees everything that he is not conscious of in himself coming to meet him from outside as projections upon his neighbor."
The man expiates his own evil by projecting his demons onto others. So how would Mr Hyde "cleanse" his soul?
Arrogance & Ignorance are conjoined twins. Even Dr Carson can't separate them.
6
We are not helpless victims here. The millions of Americans who voted against Donald Trump are girding for battle. We will continue to fight for the Republic with all of the weapons at our command. In the meantime, the odor of Watergate and treason grows stronger in Washington.
3
Don't blame Trump. He is a symptom of a larger anti-intellectual movement that, although well-founded in legitimate concerns regarding employment, racism, immigration, foreign policy, etc., are misplaced when it comes to the solutions.
The reason why Trump is in his current position of power is because he at least attempted to address these issues, even if his methods are founded in ignorance. I fear that this is the first crack in an underground fault that has split the United States and may continue to do so if we don't address this national ignorance immediately.
Education, compassion, intellectual curiosity, and genuine empathy for those affected by changing global economic forces are the solution. One can only hope that Obama has outsmarted Trump's administration enough to bulletproof his legacy with legal creativity to stall Trumps agenda for the next 4 years, or at least until we have a leader that is actually capable of vision, progress, and forward thinking.
Still, changing one person's job will not determine our future, investment in our own people will...and I'm not talking about shipping out Mexicans and bringing back coal jobs. Let's think forwards, not backwards.
The reason why Trump is in his current position of power is because he at least attempted to address these issues, even if his methods are founded in ignorance. I fear that this is the first crack in an underground fault that has split the United States and may continue to do so if we don't address this national ignorance immediately.
Education, compassion, intellectual curiosity, and genuine empathy for those affected by changing global economic forces are the solution. One can only hope that Obama has outsmarted Trump's administration enough to bulletproof his legacy with legal creativity to stall Trumps agenda for the next 4 years, or at least until we have a leader that is actually capable of vision, progress, and forward thinking.
Still, changing one person's job will not determine our future, investment in our own people will...and I'm not talking about shipping out Mexicans and bringing back coal jobs. Let's think forwards, not backwards.
2
Many people are ignorant of their own ignorance. What makes Trump (and many tens of millions of other Americans) is the pride they take in their ignorance. This is not a subtle difference - these people simply do not care.
8
In the hospitals, when the new interns started on the wards, the nurses always said, "The most dangerous intern is not the one who doesn't know. He is the intern who doesn't know he doesn't know."
2
Donald Trump is not only abysmally ignorant but has been completely corrupted by his love of money and may very well have committed treason. However, he has said that he wants to take the US out of the business of nation building and has indicated a skepticism of military intervention. His appointments of GeN. Mattis, Gen. McMaster, Rex Tillerson, John Huntsman and Terry Branstad have been more than acceptable. Of course, his slashing of the State Department's budget and the marginalizing of diplomacy is more than worrisome. However, what is troublesome is that there is not even a mention of the galactic failure of American perpetual military intervention. Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan are just three of many terrible and unsuccessful wars the US has waged at a terrible human cost and an unsustainable price in respect, admiration and influence. Our attempts to export American style democracy, our view that our interests are global and our complete refusal to understand that we are viewed as an existential threat to the national security of other nations including Iran, North Korea, Russia, etc. is as equally worrisome as the utter inadequacy of Donald Trump.
It is not "isolationist" to use diplomacy as the conduit of our foreign policy and the use of the military as only a last resort and when our true national security is at risk,
It is not "isolationist" to use diplomacy as the conduit of our foreign policy and the use of the military as only a last resort and when our true national security is at risk,
1
Everybody "knew that healthcare was so complicated"; except one person. He knows everything. If he doesn't know it it isn't knowable. Therefore there is nothing to learn. It takes your breath away.
6
In spite of his relentless incompetence and willful malfeasance for decades, nothing Trump has perpetrated has ever blown up in his face. Banks let him slide on massive defaults, women let him grope them with impunity, victims settled fraud suits in silence.
"Nothing succeeds like success" may well be his mantra, exemplified by the reward of the presidency. (Also, "Nothing exceeds like excess," for him.) What experience has taught Trump to behave or think differently? Certainly not the carping of opponents and less successful mortals.
"Nothing succeeds like success" may well be his mantra, exemplified by the reward of the presidency. (Also, "Nothing exceeds like excess," for him.) What experience has taught Trump to behave or think differently? Certainly not the carping of opponents and less successful mortals.
2
He's like a student starting college, self assured they know every subject because they know one or two things about it. Adamant they have life figured out when they are oblivious to the road ahead.
At least 99% of students open their minds in the first few months.
This ignoramus doesn't need to, cushioned as he is by inherited wealth.
At least 99% of students open their minds in the first few months.
This ignoramus doesn't need to, cushioned as he is by inherited wealth.
7
This is an urgent OP-ED. Edsall's outline of major trends causing destabilization of Western democracies and global instability represents a carefully researched and clearly written siren call. The situations and threats are more explosive given the morally corrupt, ignorant and mentally ill president Trump at the helm of our country. This clarion OP-ED provides a solid basis for our horror, and it stirs us to quickly end Trump's presidency in a lawful way. Waiting for the results of the Senate's intelligence committee and the FBI's investigations into Russia's tampering with our presidential election and possible collusion between Trump and or members of his campaign with Russian actors. signals the risks associated with the waiting game during crisis.
9
Trump is the embodiment of the 'Dunning-Kruger effect'.
I recommend to every reader the IgNobel prizewinning essay by Dunning and Kruger, named: "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments".
The Dunning–Kruger effect (see wikipedia) is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is.
Need I say more ...
I recommend to every reader the IgNobel prizewinning essay by Dunning and Kruger, named: "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments".
The Dunning–Kruger effect (see wikipedia) is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is.
Need I say more ...
3
We have handed the keys to the bus on a crowded street to a ten-year-old and said, "Here. You drive."
4
To a degree Trump is exemplary of far too much modern business ethics. He has what he thinks is clear evidence that the pursuit of his own self interest produces positive results--meaning profit and the betterment of society. His own experience, I'm sure he thinks, proves this simple truth--after all, he's rich. Perhaps this is what Obama meant by observing that Trump is a "pragmatist." I think Obama regrets his observation.
Unfortunately, Trump thinks (as do his fellow capitalists) that the concentration of capital is what has brought about the enrichment and betterment of those parts of the world where it has happened--certainly America--and he is hell-bent on demonstrating this truth. Problem is, it ain't true. And there's no better demonstration of the falsity of this claim than the writings of the economic historian Deidre McCloskey. The major problem here, of course, is that no one in the Trump administration reads anything, or, if they do read, they don't know how to read properly. This isn't just ignorance, it's willful ignorance.
Unfortunately, Trump thinks (as do his fellow capitalists) that the concentration of capital is what has brought about the enrichment and betterment of those parts of the world where it has happened--certainly America--and he is hell-bent on demonstrating this truth. Problem is, it ain't true. And there's no better demonstration of the falsity of this claim than the writings of the economic historian Deidre McCloskey. The major problem here, of course, is that no one in the Trump administration reads anything, or, if they do read, they don't know how to read properly. This isn't just ignorance, it's willful ignorance.
3
Ignorance is not bliss. It's destructive in this case.
My sense is that this President doesn't care what's in his budget, the healthcare bill, the TPP or any myriad of issues he is supposed to grasp. He just likes the title and power. He's comparable to a kid who's become the recess monitor and can boss the other kids around.
My sense is that this President doesn't care what's in his budget, the healthcare bill, the TPP or any myriad of issues he is supposed to grasp. He just likes the title and power. He's comparable to a kid who's become the recess monitor and can boss the other kids around.
4
Yes, he is finally the best, better than his dad, better than anyone.
Except Steve Bannon, who is controlling this puppet.
Except Steve Bannon, who is controlling this puppet.
Mr. Trump may be "ignorant of his own ignorance", but I think his bigger problem is his lack of self-awareness. The man does not seem to examine the motives for any of his actions, nor does he even appear to consider their consequences.
The office of President of the United States of America is definitely one where the incumbent is required to "learn on the job". Every candidate comes in with some measure of "unknown unknowns", but this President is, I think, the first who will most likely _leave office_ even more ignorant of his ignorance, than when he entered.
God help America.
The office of President of the United States of America is definitely one where the incumbent is required to "learn on the job". Every candidate comes in with some measure of "unknown unknowns", but this President is, I think, the first who will most likely _leave office_ even more ignorant of his ignorance, than when he entered.
God help America.
3
On one side of Trump, we have Bannon whose primary goal is to totally dismantle what he calls "the administrative state". Bannon states that cabinet officials were selected specifically to destroy the departments they are heading and the proposed budget depletes domestic services. That clearly makes us weaker domestically.
On the other side we have the Putin influences whoever they might be aiming to implement the Putin goal of making America less influential in the world, to diminish our status with other countries even our closest allies while Putin adds to his international allies. And Trump's actions like antagonism to Germany and NATO and accusations about Great Britain spying and unconcern for international human rights all diminish us as Putin wants
And between these two bookends we have a man who is ignorant of his ignorance a man who does not know what he does not know and who does not care to learn. None of this bodes well for the future of America.
And to add the it all, is a GOP so intent on destroying our safety net,and on imposing on the people what they know the majority of the people do not want, that they are are ignoring all of the above even if it means bringing America to its knees.
No, we are not in a good place and no, our future is not looking bright.
On the other side we have the Putin influences whoever they might be aiming to implement the Putin goal of making America less influential in the world, to diminish our status with other countries even our closest allies while Putin adds to his international allies. And Trump's actions like antagonism to Germany and NATO and accusations about Great Britain spying and unconcern for international human rights all diminish us as Putin wants
And between these two bookends we have a man who is ignorant of his ignorance a man who does not know what he does not know and who does not care to learn. None of this bodes well for the future of America.
And to add the it all, is a GOP so intent on destroying our safety net,and on imposing on the people what they know the majority of the people do not want, that they are are ignoring all of the above even if it means bringing America to its knees.
No, we are not in a good place and no, our future is not looking bright.
4
The Trump presidency is a nightmarish joke. I want so badly to wake up and find that the country is not hurtling towards destruction and chaos, but still it feels like the Gary Larson 'Far Side' cartoon of the crisis center, the building on fire as it rushes towards the deadly waterfall.
I am surrounded by people who voted for him -- who unfathomably voted for him in spite of blinding, glaring flaws in temperament, character, intellect, and experience. These people around me are or were my friends, my relatives, people who saw the same man as I did campaign, debate, and brag about the women he had groped. A Croesus-rich frat boy whose idea of a good day at work is spent at pep rallies being cheered after he has already been elected.
He is a new extreme definition of narcissism, caring not a whit about anything of consequence, like his country, caring only for himself. The presidency is just a newer and bigger way to reach out and suck up attention and adoration, more important to him than air or water. And still his supporters cling, riding this roller coaster that must crash.
I am surrounded by people who voted for him -- who unfathomably voted for him in spite of blinding, glaring flaws in temperament, character, intellect, and experience. These people around me are or were my friends, my relatives, people who saw the same man as I did campaign, debate, and brag about the women he had groped. A Croesus-rich frat boy whose idea of a good day at work is spent at pep rallies being cheered after he has already been elected.
He is a new extreme definition of narcissism, caring not a whit about anything of consequence, like his country, caring only for himself. The presidency is just a newer and bigger way to reach out and suck up attention and adoration, more important to him than air or water. And still his supporters cling, riding this roller coaster that must crash.
6
Perhaps President Obama set the bar too high for most Trump voters...as though they just gagged on his discipline, dedication and brilliance at the job of Leader of the Free World as I used to think our country exemplified and decided to vote for the self-appointed playboy of the western world. To go from such excellence to such Walmart-level governance is appalling and opened my eyes to the fact that many of my fellow Americans themselves are as ignorant as this man they elected...I gave them more credit than they deserved and now they have seen to it that all of us are brought down to their level expectations from a president, including those of us who still cannot believe we have such a poor excuse for president. It's a 4-year nightmare that just began; it will take a miracle to get this man out of the White House.
2
Trump will take the United States down to the level of Bolivia - MAGA!
1
Trump is arrogant ignorance personified.
4
Democracy is difficult. Though I might have not agreed with conservatives there were once enough of them who respected the institution to rise above ideology when the Constitution was threatened from within. Watergate was our ugliest and finest hour. Even Nixon, who loathed the press, and in the end rightfully so as it brought him down, could break the law but as a lawyer spent enough time practicing it know it's reality. And, no matter how it served him he'd be no pal of Putin's. We are in the hands of murderers and thieves. Putin kills opponents with impunity, Trump and his cronies are using national policy to make money. MONEY IS GOOD. NOT GETTING IT IS EVIL!
A hate monger has led this democracy to the beginning of its fall. The monkey meat of violent chimps tear at its frail fabric: in an instant old men become apes in expensive ties and suits but the effect of the circus is not comical but deadly. The Mob line, "It's only business" as a rational for murdering the competition has now been given the monumental status of justifying the slaughter of millions and, indeed, a hit on the planet.
A hate monger has led this democracy to the beginning of its fall. The monkey meat of violent chimps tear at its frail fabric: in an instant old men become apes in expensive ties and suits but the effect of the circus is not comical but deadly. The Mob line, "It's only business" as a rational for murdering the competition has now been given the monumental status of justifying the slaughter of millions and, indeed, a hit on the planet.
2
Trump should be the poster-child for the Dunning-Krugger effect.
His ingorance of his stunning ignorance is what accounts for his absurd self-confidence.
Usually, natural selection weeds out people like this pretty quickly.
But in our times, if you have enough money and lawyers, this kind of ignorance can persist for a long time.
His ingorance of his stunning ignorance is what accounts for his absurd self-confidence.
Usually, natural selection weeds out people like this pretty quickly.
But in our times, if you have enough money and lawyers, this kind of ignorance can persist for a long time.
1
Mr Edsall... what a well presented article. The quotes and resources were excellent and professional. Please keep up the good work and reporting... Keep digging. Keep exposing the truth... Defend democracy by showing that the pen is mightier than the sword..(or 140 characters)...
1
It was obvious that during his campaign that Trump didn't know what he was talking about. He promised things that he couldn't possibly deliver, and his ignorance of the affairs of government was on full display. Yet his followers swallowed his lies totally.
Now, we are saddled with this ignoramus and possibly nefarious Russian point man.
We will get no help by his Republican cohorts that want power at the expense of their desire to help the rich, and fleece the poor.
Now, we are saddled with this ignoramus and possibly nefarious Russian point man.
We will get no help by his Republican cohorts that want power at the expense of their desire to help the rich, and fleece the poor.
5
There is a difference between ignorance (lack of knowledge, which can be acquired), and stupidity, which is the limit to the cognitive ability you were born with (hence, the saying "You can't cure Stupid!"). Trump is both. He also seems to have a mare's nest of learning and attention deficit disabilities that would prevent him from improving his knowledge, even if he did have the cognitive ability to process it - which he has shown from day one is lacking.
There is actually a syndrome, the Dunning-Kruger Effect, in psychology to describe people too stupid to know they are stupid. People who suffer from this show a remarkable ability to convince themselves that they are, in fact, really smart. In one study, in a cognitive abilities test, the Dunning-Kruger participants all scored in the 12% or lower percentiles. Yet, asked after the test how they did, they thought they were at least in the 65th percentile, and some much higher.
Trump is clearly a Dunning-Kruger person, which means that no amount of his staff's attempts to prepare him to understand issues more complex than can be expressed in a 140-character tweet have a chance of improving his presidential decision-making skills.
There is actually a syndrome, the Dunning-Kruger Effect, in psychology to describe people too stupid to know they are stupid. People who suffer from this show a remarkable ability to convince themselves that they are, in fact, really smart. In one study, in a cognitive abilities test, the Dunning-Kruger participants all scored in the 12% or lower percentiles. Yet, asked after the test how they did, they thought they were at least in the 65th percentile, and some much higher.
Trump is clearly a Dunning-Kruger person, which means that no amount of his staff's attempts to prepare him to understand issues more complex than can be expressed in a 140-character tweet have a chance of improving his presidential decision-making skills.
5
Trump's name and image have been broadcast all around the world, probably reaching more people than have ever existed before.
The Big Bang, the formation of the cosmos, all of history and evolution, learning and wisdom... and we find ourselves with Trump as the most famous human in the world.
The Big Bang, the formation of the cosmos, all of history and evolution, learning and wisdom... and we find ourselves with Trump as the most famous human in the world.
2
Conservatives, projecting their own selfishness, assume that partisanship is the primary motive behind calls for Trump's removal from office. They're wrong. Our opposition to their brand of politics only means that we had no mental barriers to the recognition of the clear and present danger that this reckless, unqualified narcissist is to the country. But that is becoming more and more obvious, even to conservatives, and something must be done.
The sooner he's out, the sooner the damage will stop.
The sooner he's out, the sooner the damage will stop.
His goals are money and power.
He is doing everything he needs to achieve those goals.
Nothing else matters to him, and his ignorance is his bliss.
He is doing everything he needs to achieve those goals.
Nothing else matters to him, and his ignorance is his bliss.
3
“One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision.”
― Bertrand Russell
― Bertrand Russell
7
Confucius say:
"And the fool who knows not, and knows not he knows not: shun him".
"And the fool who knows not, and knows not he knows not: shun him".
Millions of uneducated, non-readers, "anti-anything-re:arts", unemployable and fanantical far-right religious voters got what they wanted.
6
Unfortunately, it's not just Trump. The arrogance of ignorance is a nationwide problem.
13
Trump is obviously extremely dangerous, realized by everyone. Except his supporters, The Trumpster Dumpster Dogs. They love Trump because, as they always say, "Donald, we love you because you are one of us." Indeed he is, which exponentially increases the threat by virtue of pure mass.
3
This presidency/administration is terrifying. It's one thing to be ignorant (though willing to learn), but I think 45 is truly lacking in intellect, and may not have the mental capacity TO learn.
From earlier articles: "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. Malignant narcissism,” which is defined as a mix of narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, aggression and sadism," coupled with his gross lack of base intellect, make the thought of his holding the highest political office in the world completely and utterly terrifying.
It's as though he hates human beings, our country, and the world.
From earlier articles: "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. Malignant narcissism,” which is defined as a mix of narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, aggression and sadism," coupled with his gross lack of base intellect, make the thought of his holding the highest political office in the world completely and utterly terrifying.
It's as though he hates human beings, our country, and the world.
7
As an engaged democracy, we must persist in journalistic inquiry, scientific method, investigations, and speaking up at events in our cities, towns and counties.
#45's ignorance and unwillingness to educate himself will continue to test those who care about the health, safety, and security of the US.
#45s continued tweets lashing out at NYTimes re: reporting on Russia's interference demonstrates what bullies like #45 do when they are cornered.
#45's ignorance and unwillingness to educate himself will continue to test those who care about the health, safety, and security of the US.
#45s continued tweets lashing out at NYTimes re: reporting on Russia's interference demonstrates what bullies like #45 do when they are cornered.
3
The more you learn, the more you realize how little you actually know. Trump has obviously learned very little in his lifetime.
6
Many citizens here share the symptoms of Trump's disease of ignorance. Many more seem to have a related disease which makes them susceptible to his lies and ready and able to abandon their own mechanism for discerning truth. These people are somehow able to accept Trump's preposterous falsehoods as absolute truths, often despite their own senses.
If we were watching as alien naturalists might, from the vantage of another planet, we might look for the causes of this malady. We would, in any case, be fascinated at the (human) species' predicament: so much individual intellect, so many developing social institutions, yet such unproductively dangerous, even suicidal, social behavior.
If we were watching as alien naturalists might, from the vantage of another planet, we might look for the causes of this malady. We would, in any case, be fascinated at the (human) species' predicament: so much individual intellect, so many developing social institutions, yet such unproductively dangerous, even suicidal, social behavior.
2
And Edsall's summary is the GOOD news. The bad news, not even mentioned, is a mentally disturbed, corrupt president, with unknown destabilizing ties to a foreign adversary.
4
Finally, an assessment of just how incompetent this man who sits in the Oval Office is. What I am most amazed by is the TV pundits who continue to intellectualize Trump's actions and comments--a ridiculous exercise in trying desperately to bring this presidency up to a level of intellectual pursuit and thoughtfulness that we are accustomed to that was recently exemplified by such a stellar president as President Obama. It is clear that Trump is flying by the seat of his pants; he has deliberately appointed people are grossly unqualified to cabinet posts and other positions as spoils that will surely come around to bite both him and those of us who know better in the back. It just doesn't work to repeat his twittering tweets if he is to be taken seriously about anything besides himself, his family, and his money.
3
45 is a corporation. The bottom line is to destroy our country's public support systems so he can easily make more profit. 45 doesn't care for anything but profit, this is not my opinion its his modus operandi and historically anything that gets in the way of profit must be removed. Shady practices, idolizing dictators with a never ending spew of chaos via his own mouth and the help of an outside government have now brought his kind to the White House. His son-in-law parrots his beliefs "Government Should Be Run Like a Great American Company". 45 cannot control those around him so now he surrounds himself with family, remember this is why we left England and its royal family to form America. 45 complains the EPA had so many rules and laws which hurt profit. The EPA didn't just make laws for the sake of a making laws, the EPA was protecting us from profit driven carelessness and now our protection is being attacked and dissolved. What American would think that dumping coal debris in a river is ok, profit did. 45's now whittles away freedoms, insurance, education, clean air, our private information, and the list goes on. I don't believe that this is more complex than that. What astounds me is that this kind of behavior is being addressed with rules and civility of our elected official while he brushes off its citizens like annoying lint.
4
Ordinarily, when a state finds itself in the kind of state that the Uniited States finds itself in, with a head of state incapacitated, for whatever reason, the governing party would set matters right. However, the United States finds itself in the truly extraordinary situation where the governing party is also incapacitated, which leaves the fate of the nation in the hands of the few capable military hands that occupy positions of responsibility. Thus, it may be up to "Mad Dog" Mattis, the perpetrator of the US Guernica known as "the destruction of Fallujah," to come to the country's and the world's aid.
1
I disagree that
"the growing list of things he seemed certain to do where that certainty has now largely disappeared: “tearing up” the Iran nuclear deal; jettisoning NATO; abandoning the “One China” policy; moving the US embassy to Jerusalem; reinstituting torture...."
any of these things are off the table with Trump. Just because he is not tweeting about them every morning at 6:45 doesn't mean ANY of them have gone away, particularly and ominously including Iran. Summer is the season things get hot under the collar in the Mideast. Caesar, beware the Ides of August.
"the growing list of things he seemed certain to do where that certainty has now largely disappeared: “tearing up” the Iran nuclear deal; jettisoning NATO; abandoning the “One China” policy; moving the US embassy to Jerusalem; reinstituting torture...."
any of these things are off the table with Trump. Just because he is not tweeting about them every morning at 6:45 doesn't mean ANY of them have gone away, particularly and ominously including Iran. Summer is the season things get hot under the collar in the Mideast. Caesar, beware the Ides of August.
1
Remember that other famous Republican president, George W. Bush, sending our armed forces into the Middle East with the thought that we can bring democracy to the area. That might be the archetype example of not knowing what you don't know.
Quoting Rumsfeld in this piece undercut, a bit, the most brilliant synopsis of Trump that I've ever seen written:
"We face precisely the kind of world Donald Trump is least equipped for, mentally and morally."
One of the most perfect statements about our national crisis ever written.
"We face precisely the kind of world Donald Trump is least equipped for, mentally and morally."
One of the most perfect statements about our national crisis ever written.
5
Don't you think this is exactly what Putin wanted? To have an American president so ill equipped and destructive to our standing in the world, we'd lose influence around the world. Putin does not want a strong America, he wants a weak one. Given all of the circumstantial evidence we've now seen on Trump's ties to Russia - or his people's ties - it's hard to believe Putin didn't know what he was doing.
At the same time you have to wonder why Trump and his people are so motivated to go along with a plan to diminish America's standing in the world: State Dept. cut by 30% (gut diplomatic staffing), undermine the IMF (one of our great levers of power in the global economy), cancel TPP (allowing us to overrule China on its own turf), fall back from leadership on the next energy revolution (renewables), undermine NATO, and who knows what else. Are Trump and his folks really that committed to fulfilling Putin's dreams? Or is there simply a lot of overlap with their ideologies and Putin's, so it's not necessarily always intentional?
Either way my opinion, which seems based on common sense, is that a more powerful Russia,led by Putin, at the expense of American leadership through the exercise of democracy, is a bad thing. Russia itself is a mess, Putin a brutal murderous kleptocratic ruler. Why would we ever want history to arc in Putin's direction?
At the same time you have to wonder why Trump and his people are so motivated to go along with a plan to diminish America's standing in the world: State Dept. cut by 30% (gut diplomatic staffing), undermine the IMF (one of our great levers of power in the global economy), cancel TPP (allowing us to overrule China on its own turf), fall back from leadership on the next energy revolution (renewables), undermine NATO, and who knows what else. Are Trump and his folks really that committed to fulfilling Putin's dreams? Or is there simply a lot of overlap with their ideologies and Putin's, so it's not necessarily always intentional?
Either way my opinion, which seems based on common sense, is that a more powerful Russia,led by Putin, at the expense of American leadership through the exercise of democracy, is a bad thing. Russia itself is a mess, Putin a brutal murderous kleptocratic ruler. Why would we ever want history to arc in Putin's direction?
2
As Mark Twain is famously believed to have said,
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.
It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.
It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
1
Top on my wishlist--a general statement from the Republican Party--the RNC, the House, the Senate on the incompetence of the President and how they will fulfill their oaths to protect the country with him in charge. Particularly from the RNC--how any candidate for President running on their ticket should be vetted prior to installing him/her on the ticket--a vetting that includes signed agreement for comprehensive divestment--reviewed and approved with signatures up front. Democrats should consider the same. Yes I know I can dream...
In more realistic terms--if Republicans would only do their jobs of oversight, we could probably dispatch with this problem.
In more realistic terms--if Republicans would only do their jobs of oversight, we could probably dispatch with this problem.
2
The only check on Trump now is our Democratic bureaucratic governemental institutions. Will they hold?
The congress and the courts could be a buffer but the congress is currently run by ideologues who have no more regard for governing that Trump has and is willing to put protecting their party and wealthy donors before country. Ryan, McConnell and freedom caucus and other right wingers that means you.
Given Trumps cabinet and advisors these institutions will be tested. I hope each and every public servant wil look at their job descrition and the legal framework their office and stand strong.
The congress and the courts could be a buffer but the congress is currently run by ideologues who have no more regard for governing that Trump has and is willing to put protecting their party and wealthy donors before country. Ryan, McConnell and freedom caucus and other right wingers that means you.
Given Trumps cabinet and advisors these institutions will be tested. I hope each and every public servant wil look at their job descrition and the legal framework their office and stand strong.
2
It seems the prevailing wisdom is Trump’s victory, BREXIT, and the rise of Right-Wing Nationalism are repudiations of the Post WWII “liberal order, “ but IMO, these recent political upheavals are a throw-back to the Post WWI era, which signaled the ascendancy of American military and economic preeminence.
The rise in the American public’s antipathy towards NATO demonstrates the fact that a majority of the American Public are unaware that NATO is essentially an American creation designed to ensure America’s military supremacy throughout the western world. NATO was never intended to create a coalition of equal partners, which is demonstrated by the fact that, during the 1956 Suez Crisis, Eisenhower sided with Egypt and the Soviet Union against its NATO allies, France and Britain.
Although Eisenhower’s opposition towards the French, English, Israeli collaboration was allegedly based on his belief that the, then ongoing conflict could lead to WWIII, the fact that the Mid-East Crisis existed in 1956 can be traced back to the failed policies of the Post WWI “New World Order.”
Given the space constraints of the comments section, it is impossible to provide an extensive analysis of my position, but suffice it to say, anyone interested should read Adam Tooze’s “The Deluge.”
The rise in the American public’s antipathy towards NATO demonstrates the fact that a majority of the American Public are unaware that NATO is essentially an American creation designed to ensure America’s military supremacy throughout the western world. NATO was never intended to create a coalition of equal partners, which is demonstrated by the fact that, during the 1956 Suez Crisis, Eisenhower sided with Egypt and the Soviet Union against its NATO allies, France and Britain.
Although Eisenhower’s opposition towards the French, English, Israeli collaboration was allegedly based on his belief that the, then ongoing conflict could lead to WWIII, the fact that the Mid-East Crisis existed in 1956 can be traced back to the failed policies of the Post WWI “New World Order.”
Given the space constraints of the comments section, it is impossible to provide an extensive analysis of my position, but suffice it to say, anyone interested should read Adam Tooze’s “The Deluge.”
1
Just as an aside, he lost the popular vote by a total of OVER 10.6 MILLION. That's important to note when dealing with the ego in the White House.
His stunning ignorance made even more terrifying by his stunning arrogance has me feeling as uneasy as I did in the aftermath of 9-11. I PRAY that the "deep state" does, in fact, exist.
His stunning ignorance made even more terrifying by his stunning arrogance has me feeling as uneasy as I did in the aftermath of 9-11. I PRAY that the "deep state" does, in fact, exist.
3
While I recognize that Professor Edsall is likely to ignore my opinion, he needs to stop re-litigating the 2016 Presidential Election. Whereas Secretary Clinton won the States of California, Illinois, and New York by ca. 6 million votes, Mr. Trump won the remaining states + DC by ca. 3 million votes. Here in Flyover County, Mr. Trump did win a mandate.
I am also aware that Mr. Trump was not prepared to make all of the political appointments that he is obliged. Near and dear to me is his failure to nominate a Science Advisor/head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The failure to have leadership at OSTP is the likely reason why the US Chemical Safety Board funds were zeroed out in the proposed budget. The CSB has an analogous role to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the chemical space. Whereas the NTSB investigates airplane crashes, the CSB investigates incidents like the explosion at the West, Texas fertilizer plant.
Mr. Trump has brought on capable professionals such as Gens. Kelly, Mattes, and McMaster. These men have run complex organizations and are deeply respected by those reporting to them. Mr. Tillerson would not have risen to the top of Exxon had he not been a stellar performer.
Mr. Trump has been POTUS for less than 70 days. It is beyond ridiculous that he while he has not helped himself (i.e., Twitter), there are constituencies within the US who appear to want him to fail. He is our POTUS, let's give him a chance.
I am also aware that Mr. Trump was not prepared to make all of the political appointments that he is obliged. Near and dear to me is his failure to nominate a Science Advisor/head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The failure to have leadership at OSTP is the likely reason why the US Chemical Safety Board funds were zeroed out in the proposed budget. The CSB has an analogous role to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the chemical space. Whereas the NTSB investigates airplane crashes, the CSB investigates incidents like the explosion at the West, Texas fertilizer plant.
Mr. Trump has brought on capable professionals such as Gens. Kelly, Mattes, and McMaster. These men have run complex organizations and are deeply respected by those reporting to them. Mr. Tillerson would not have risen to the top of Exxon had he not been a stellar performer.
Mr. Trump has been POTUS for less than 70 days. It is beyond ridiculous that he while he has not helped himself (i.e., Twitter), there are constituencies within the US who appear to want him to fail. He is our POTUS, let's give him a chance.
"His 2018 budget, the potential impact of which he does not seem to grasp"
He also did not "grasp" anything to do with health care legislation -- in any form.
The truth is that he does not CARE!
Why should he? He only entered the race to raise the profile of his 'brand.' Now that he's actually there, he cares only for boosting the income of his properties, impressing his old colleagues, and settling scores.
In essence, unless there's a criminal charge or impeachment process on the horizon, it's a waste of space and effort to be writing about him.
He also did not "grasp" anything to do with health care legislation -- in any form.
The truth is that he does not CARE!
Why should he? He only entered the race to raise the profile of his 'brand.' Now that he's actually there, he cares only for boosting the income of his properties, impressing his old colleagues, and settling scores.
In essence, unless there's a criminal charge or impeachment process on the horizon, it's a waste of space and effort to be writing about him.
4
Effectively, Steve Bannon is our president. Trump, as you point out, is ignorant and uncomprehending -- just a front man for Bannon. He's playing the role of Louis XIII to Cardinal Richelieu. And Bannon is anything but ignorant and uncomprehending. He has an evil agenda and is pursuing it methodically.
The president is utterly incompetent, and surrounded himself by totally incompetent cabinet. They can't even write a coherent executive order. Add to that republicans like Ryan, supposedly a policy man, who is not able to write a coherent legislation that proposes a working solution, other than repeal of something, or cutting taxes by certain amout, without any concern for real life consequences.
What happened to this country? Simple answer, totally derailed by American conservatism. Train wreck or freak show, take your pick.
What happened to this country? Simple answer, totally derailed by American conservatism. Train wreck or freak show, take your pick.
3
I'm not a psychiatrist or psychologist (and I never even played one on TV), but as an armchair observer of both human nature and the political scene, I see a man born of privilege, desperate for his father's love and/or approval, not very bright or intellectually curious, who had the luxury of a million-dollar loan to start him out in the family business, and endless financial handouts from the family each time he failed.
Trump is a narcissist who can never, ever see himself in a lesser position. He must be the Alpha Male who, when he comes into a room filled with people, feels that he is superior to all of them, precisely because he knows he is inferior to most of them.
As a failed businessman (for bankruptcies for starters), he never had to be held accountable because there was always that family parachute to bail him out. And now as president, he has a world platform to play with, so we will see him playing Navy Admiral again, or truck driver tooting the cab horn. The world is his playpen.
As for him not knowing what he does not know and using bullying bluster to compensate, isn't that a stage of adolescence? Except he's 70 years old. Lord help the country.
Trump is a narcissist who can never, ever see himself in a lesser position. He must be the Alpha Male who, when he comes into a room filled with people, feels that he is superior to all of them, precisely because he knows he is inferior to most of them.
As a failed businessman (for bankruptcies for starters), he never had to be held accountable because there was always that family parachute to bail him out. And now as president, he has a world platform to play with, so we will see him playing Navy Admiral again, or truck driver tooting the cab horn. The world is his playpen.
As for him not knowing what he does not know and using bullying bluster to compensate, isn't that a stage of adolescence? Except he's 70 years old. Lord help the country.
8
Remember Plato´s allegory of the dark cavern, where some folks saw images projected on a wall and believed they were the reality? The message was to show how ignorant people are. Of course, he did this so that we, humans, can learn from this and become better each day. It was part of his legacy of wisdom and philosophy for the generations to come...
But... here we are, more than 2000 years after, the generations Plato hoped to be enlightened by his message... Isn't it ironic, (thanks Mrs Morrisette), to have as a leader someone whose description is exactly what Plato taught, more than 2000 years ago??
Is almost like a Woody Allen black joke... Perhaps it´s a new reality show we are all part of, like in the Jim Carrey's movie...and perhaps someday we will discover this was just a new, extravagant Big Brother we are part of... perhaps... perhaps it´s a part of me who wishes to be in Plato´s cavern...
But... here we are, more than 2000 years after, the generations Plato hoped to be enlightened by his message... Isn't it ironic, (thanks Mrs Morrisette), to have as a leader someone whose description is exactly what Plato taught, more than 2000 years ago??
Is almost like a Woody Allen black joke... Perhaps it´s a new reality show we are all part of, like in the Jim Carrey's movie...and perhaps someday we will discover this was just a new, extravagant Big Brother we are part of... perhaps... perhaps it´s a part of me who wishes to be in Plato´s cavern...
"Stupid" is a word I very, very rarely use. Genuine stupidity is a sad and terribly limiting condition for which the gentle-minded should feel sympathy.
Then there's "ignorance", which in its proper form is merely a lack of knowledge. Unlike stupidity, it's curable.
But for "willful ignorance", there is no cure. The patient resists treatment, and consequently risks being called stupid, or may in fact *be* stupid.
Trump is such a... patient.
Then there's "ignorance", which in its proper form is merely a lack of knowledge. Unlike stupidity, it's curable.
But for "willful ignorance", there is no cure. The patient resists treatment, and consequently risks being called stupid, or may in fact *be* stupid.
Trump is such a... patient.
7
Next thing you know, Trump will be President?!?!???!
This "analysis" is so out of touch, it just shows why Trump was able to "surprise" media and pundits with his electoral win.
Trump cares nothing for absolute "goods" or "bads." He only cares about winning. And he does that. It is a disaster for our country and the world, but he's winning (and he has been brilliant, not "ignorant" in doing so - those of us who wish otherwise are the ones who have been ignorant).
I wish I could say the Obamacare repeal debacle might finally indicate a puncture in the man's automatically resealing tire buffer. But there have been so many other debacles, I think it's just "one more." The impact? Zero. So far!
This "analysis" is so out of touch, it just shows why Trump was able to "surprise" media and pundits with his electoral win.
Trump cares nothing for absolute "goods" or "bads." He only cares about winning. And he does that. It is a disaster for our country and the world, but he's winning (and he has been brilliant, not "ignorant" in doing so - those of us who wish otherwise are the ones who have been ignorant).
I wish I could say the Obamacare repeal debacle might finally indicate a puncture in the man's automatically resealing tire buffer. But there have been so many other debacles, I think it's just "one more." The impact? Zero. So far!
2
Thanks for writing about President Trump in terms of his ignorance, though possibly it is also about his mental makeup. Will we need to deal with the president’s ignorance and mental deficiencies for four, or even eight years? If the US Congress does it task properly, it should be feasible to move towards impeachment or putting pressure on Trump for his resignation. The freedom of the United States citizenry and the free world depends upon such a move before all of the small minded henchmen beholden to the president are put in place and do further damage. Or is this what Senator McConnell and Congressman Ryan want?
When Mr. Hitler came to power, he was not stopped from placing his like-minded henchmen in positions of power. They carried out Hitler’s ideals and their own narcissistic “needs” and brought havoc on the world. It took 12 years before the Hitler regime came to naught. Are we currently on a similar path?
It should take less than 12 months to see Trump ushered out of the White House, if McConnell and Ryan are willing to be accountable. Or are McConnell and Ryan simply Trump’s little henchmen, under Trump’s thumb and are dancing to the tune of Trump’s temperament deficiencies? They did not act responsibility in their dealings with President Obama. Possibly they will not act trustworthy in the Trump matter, but at least we can hope.
When Mr. Hitler came to power, he was not stopped from placing his like-minded henchmen in positions of power. They carried out Hitler’s ideals and their own narcissistic “needs” and brought havoc on the world. It took 12 years before the Hitler regime came to naught. Are we currently on a similar path?
It should take less than 12 months to see Trump ushered out of the White House, if McConnell and Ryan are willing to be accountable. Or are McConnell and Ryan simply Trump’s little henchmen, under Trump’s thumb and are dancing to the tune of Trump’s temperament deficiencies? They did not act responsibility in their dealings with President Obama. Possibly they will not act trustworthy in the Trump matter, but at least we can hope.
The swiftest way to address this overwhelming problem is to get an independent prosecutor going on the entire Trump team. We need WHISTLE-BLOWERS to leak anonymously to respected media Trump's Russia entanglements and tax returns in detail for the past decade.
Let the public know the facts so they can exert unrelenting pressure on Congress. Urge Congress to replace Ryan who is complicit and also involved in the cover-up of the investigation.
Since we already have enough facts that our enemy deeply influenced the presidential election, the outcome was tainted. Call for a new election within 60 days for president/vice president. Would Kasich and Clinton/Bernie run? Let career professionals run the day-to-day government in the meantime.
The rot must be carved out so the rest of us can survive.
Let the public know the facts so they can exert unrelenting pressure on Congress. Urge Congress to replace Ryan who is complicit and also involved in the cover-up of the investigation.
Since we already have enough facts that our enemy deeply influenced the presidential election, the outcome was tainted. Call for a new election within 60 days for president/vice president. Would Kasich and Clinton/Bernie run? Let career professionals run the day-to-day government in the meantime.
The rot must be carved out so the rest of us can survive.
5
"If ignorance is bliss,this must be paradise." No, it is hell,at least for those who can put together a coherent sentence,never mind a paragraph. Trump does not read. He watches Fox "news" and gets information/opinions from the swamp creatures who surround him. He thinks he is smart. Anyone who has to tell people how smart he is is too dumb to know that no one believes him. Stephen Hawking is smartest. Barack Obama is smart. Hillary Clinton is smart. I can't remember them ever saying publicly "I am so,so smart" as Trump has. Humility and the knowledge to know there is so much more to be learned and the willingness to search for that knowledge is something Trump will never have. He is destroying everything a very smart man,Obama,got through an obstructive Congress. Why? Because his jealousy and ignorance are what he operates on every day. Since his election, I fear for our Democracy every day. Something I have never,ever done before in my 75 years. I cling to the hope that more Republicans like McCain and Graham will stand up against him and Paul Ryan,who has proven to be a sycophantic lackey.
3
The electoral college must go as proven by this last election... when you have 4 parties vying for the presidency but the EC can only cast a vote for 2 and are punished if they do not vote their party we are screwed... we will have future presidents chosen with much fewer votes by both popular & electoral if we do not stop it now.... do the math
1
GC,
I disagree. The electors didn't execute their responsibilities effectively in 2016 and state laws need revisions. I fear that one worse than Trump may arise in the distant future. Our Founding Fathers were wise....
I disagree. The electors didn't execute their responsibilities effectively in 2016 and state laws need revisions. I fear that one worse than Trump may arise in the distant future. Our Founding Fathers were wise....
Indeed. The old proverb containing the phrase "He who knows not, and knows not that the knows not" ends with the advice: "He is a fool. Shun him".
That Trump fits that phrase among the four elements of "knowing" in the proverb is self-evident. He is a fool.
Trump may also fit - broadly speaking - the description of the "idiot savant", inasmuch as his mastery of the art of deception in commercial affairs - coupled with an equal mastery of the use of bankruptcy proceedings - could be the source of his obvious sense of being "master of all he surveys", including those things of which he knows nothing.
Those things don't matter, because if necessary he can master them in days or hours. He's said so. Trust him. He guarantees it.
That Trump fits that phrase among the four elements of "knowing" in the proverb is self-evident. He is a fool.
Trump may also fit - broadly speaking - the description of the "idiot savant", inasmuch as his mastery of the art of deception in commercial affairs - coupled with an equal mastery of the use of bankruptcy proceedings - could be the source of his obvious sense of being "master of all he surveys", including those things of which he knows nothing.
Those things don't matter, because if necessary he can master them in days or hours. He's said so. Trust him. He guarantees it.
1
The biggest and clearest dangers since the Cold War Cuban Missile Crisis approach a twittering, mindless moronic administration, asleep at the ship's wheel. That is not a surprise. Many saw the looming icebergs.
Why didn't HRC support her generalizations with these specifics in the campaign? Why didn't her well-heeled backers fund these analyses, muster these experts, fill the media with these charges? It seems the Dems were asleep at the wheel or feckless much of the campaign, or both. Shame.
Weren't Dems aware of what their own brain-trust in State and Defense saw looming? Why was Obama not marshalling those centurions with combined centuries of expertise/ Where was Biden? Shame.
Why didn't the media, including the NYTimes and WaPost detail these dead-ends in Trump's brain and brain-trust before now? Rachel Maddow seemed ready to go, as did others, but where were the major papers' and networks' eyes - on T. as a gift to short-term profits? Shame.
And why, in God's name, did the mainline GOP leaders, media, and Congers fools smirk and bow and wink, gerrymander and voter-restrict, echo his rants and surround him with the least-able "contender"-circus ever? Shame.
If we are going down, half the nation is still watching "Apprentice" re-runs. OK, 35%. Too few spoke in detail or in time. That's a shame because the icebergs are here.
Why didn't HRC support her generalizations with these specifics in the campaign? Why didn't her well-heeled backers fund these analyses, muster these experts, fill the media with these charges? It seems the Dems were asleep at the wheel or feckless much of the campaign, or both. Shame.
Weren't Dems aware of what their own brain-trust in State and Defense saw looming? Why was Obama not marshalling those centurions with combined centuries of expertise/ Where was Biden? Shame.
Why didn't the media, including the NYTimes and WaPost detail these dead-ends in Trump's brain and brain-trust before now? Rachel Maddow seemed ready to go, as did others, but where were the major papers' and networks' eyes - on T. as a gift to short-term profits? Shame.
And why, in God's name, did the mainline GOP leaders, media, and Congers fools smirk and bow and wink, gerrymander and voter-restrict, echo his rants and surround him with the least-able "contender"-circus ever? Shame.
If we are going down, half the nation is still watching "Apprentice" re-runs. OK, 35%. Too few spoke in detail or in time. That's a shame because the icebergs are here.
1
This whole country was utterly clueless how badly the Electoral College had made voting feel utterly futile for the millions whose votes have NEVER mattered in a presidential election.
2
The man is basically insane, and infatuated with his own power, a danger to not only the people of the United States, but the entire world, yet he is still in power? We are the insane ones.......
3
DT is the poster boy for willful ignorance.
I still am ashamed that this man was able to rise to the highest office in the land.
I assume he will be removed from office before his term is up- there are so many reasons this could occur- mental illness, erratic behavior, or just plain old treason- the fact that he got so many votes breaks my heart and makes me fear for the future of this country's ability not to be duped.
Trump voters- where are your critical thinking skills? You've been conned and the evidence was right in front of your face for 18 months before the election. I fell like I am living in the twilight zone.
I still am ashamed that this man was able to rise to the highest office in the land.
I assume he will be removed from office before his term is up- there are so many reasons this could occur- mental illness, erratic behavior, or just plain old treason- the fact that he got so many votes breaks my heart and makes me fear for the future of this country's ability not to be duped.
Trump voters- where are your critical thinking skills? You've been conned and the evidence was right in front of your face for 18 months before the election. I fell like I am living in the twilight zone.
3
I'm getting tired of reading all of these articles about how doomed we are. It's obvious that Trump and is klan of lying thieves are so far over there head in DC. I want to see more ACTION about taking his administration down...less about how he will destroy America.
2
There is a name for the concept of being incompetent or ignorant and being completely unaware of your own ignorance. It's called the "Dunning Kruger" effect, but perhaps should be renamed the "Trump effect" (apologies to Professors Dunning and Kruger).
Mr.Edsall correctly describes the utter incompetence and unpreparedness of Donald J. Trump to be President.
What he doesn't address however are Trump's enablers and the so-called leaders of the Republican Party, who are fully aware of all this and know better, but are willing to sell out their country in blind pursuit of power and the opportunity to pay back the billionaires and corporations who bought them their seats.
These traitorous cowards in the GOP should never be forgotten or forgiven for what they have wrought.
What he doesn't address however are Trump's enablers and the so-called leaders of the Republican Party, who are fully aware of all this and know better, but are willing to sell out their country in blind pursuit of power and the opportunity to pay back the billionaires and corporations who bought them their seats.
These traitorous cowards in the GOP should never be forgotten or forgiven for what they have wrought.
3
Must be nice to live as Trump - ignorant but blissful. I just wonder about the people who work with him. I presume many of them are not that ignorant. How do they do it and how long can they last?
Just one example - how can Spicer function honestly on a daily basis? How about his blood pressure.
I must be naive.
Just one example - how can Spicer function honestly on a daily basis? How about his blood pressure.
I must be naive.
It is extremely frightening to live in TRUMP's America, it is cruel, cold and callous not just to Americans themselves, but to Muslims everywhere. And the way TRUMP has handled our foreign affairs so far with our closest allies, gives me no hope of change. His administration has left so many in despair.
I agree completely with Andrew Bacevich-- but isn't it sad that the thing that makes us most sanguine about the future, is that our President is too unprincipled or stupid to try to understand the issues and the history. Its sort of like going into a high stakes poker game where the best one can say about a player is that because he doesn't understand what the cards mean, he may not bet very much.
Not knowing what you don't know--not knowing the limits of your own knowledge--not knowing what standards you should be comparing your own actions too--these are the definitions of incompetence.
2
He indicates the problems he's aware of by assigning them to Jared. The rest he ignores.
1
It's quite simple really. Just look up the Dunning-Kruger effect and see if it reminds you of someone.
1
People who are ignorant about anything do not know that they are unless someone whose opinion they trust informs them or they become informed about whatever it happens to be about which they are ignorant. Trump's lack of understanding of government, domestic issues, foreign issues, history, and the law are unique amongst new Presidents because it's usually interests in one or more of these subjects which motivates them to run for office. Trump seems to have run for President as a person who likes contests and craves the attention of audiences, but who otherwise could not care less about what Presidential responsibilities happen to be. But one cannot blame Trump for being in the position in which he happens to be. All voters who had any clue about these subjects about which Trump is ignorant understood that the man was not suited to be President but 47% of the people who voted, those who elected Trump, were just as ignorant as is Trump. We are stuck with Trump until he leaves office, but we can make an effort to inform the public about government, world affairs, science, economics sufficiently so that no so unqualified a person as Trump is ever elected President, again.
At a time when we needed an Abe Lincoln or FDR we got Alfred E Newman.
and Cartman.
From Eisenhower to Nixon to Reagan to Bush to Trump the republican party has dumded down in a pretty straight line, with HW Bush the one exception.
Democrats from Carter forward have gotten smarter and perhaps the smartest of all was next, but she was a woman.
and Cartman.
From Eisenhower to Nixon to Reagan to Bush to Trump the republican party has dumded down in a pretty straight line, with HW Bush the one exception.
Democrats from Carter forward have gotten smarter and perhaps the smartest of all was next, but she was a woman.
3
A path to becoming an expert goes through four phases:
1) unconsciously incompetent,
2) consciously incompetent,
3) consciously competent,
4) unconsciously competent.
Trump is still at step one. Is he the first president to start at step one? Most start on step two and surrounded themselves with people who can help.
1) unconsciously incompetent,
2) consciously incompetent,
3) consciously competent,
4) unconsciously competent.
Trump is still at step one. Is he the first president to start at step one? Most start on step two and surrounded themselves with people who can help.
1
Full support for this column. Full depression when I read the chart of where the cuts and additions were in the proposed budget. Tried to understand a friend who voted Trump because "Obama lied about 'you could keep your doctor'," and won't even consider what else his election has done. The people who are going to be hurt most by this president and the loyalty Congress has shown in propping him us are the ones who will either never read or understand the facts and how much they influence what happens to them. And to top all this, it has yet to be proven exactly what the connections (which seem to expand daily) with Russia are. Maybe we aren't really a free world country any more. It will be interesting what comes to light...or what is allowed to come to light.
3
"Without an obvious mandate (as the world knows, he lost the popular vote by 2.87 million), Trump has proposed a profound retrenchment of domestic policy."
Trump did not lose the "popular vote." No popular vote was held. If popular vote were the object of the election, all candidates would have executed different campaign strategies. What results ? No one knows.
Moreover, no candidate in this election won a majority of the votes cast. If we loosely define the candidates as market-based vs. regulatory-political, then Republican plus Libertarian outperformed Democrat plus Green.
Quite likely, had "none of the above" been offered as a selection, that choice could have out-polled the other choices. Most importantly here, NYT writers should stop the calling out of Trump for losing the popular vote. It reveals the ignorance of the writer--especially someone who is (justifiably) condemning ignorance in others.
Trump did not lose the "popular vote." No popular vote was held. If popular vote were the object of the election, all candidates would have executed different campaign strategies. What results ? No one knows.
Moreover, no candidate in this election won a majority of the votes cast. If we loosely define the candidates as market-based vs. regulatory-political, then Republican plus Libertarian outperformed Democrat plus Green.
Quite likely, had "none of the above" been offered as a selection, that choice could have out-polled the other choices. Most importantly here, NYT writers should stop the calling out of Trump for losing the popular vote. It reveals the ignorance of the writer--especially someone who is (justifiably) condemning ignorance in others.
1
Thanks for the "alternative facts".
2
Trump is just signing whatever document Steve Bannon hands him. Trump is barely holding it together. Of course Ivanka needs an office in the West Wing; she is babysitter-in-chief. Probably the most important position, at present.
2
Our obsolete Electoral College System has put a man, who doesn't know how to fly, in charge of a cockpit of a plane where the passengers are all the American people.
Very scary!.
Very scary!.
3
the Times author jumps from the President's obvious cognitive problems, to policy issues that are pretty standard Republican platform positions; as if the fed cutbacks are a cognition problem and not a matter of policy decisions (cf. Reagan, W. Bush); he also raises the false issue of the 2016 election results, since the electoral college was established 2 centuries ago and not by Trump, so calling attention to the lack of a majority vote is irrelevant and detracts from the seriosuness of his argument
1
The nearly 3 million popular vote deficit is surely highly relevant to the serious issued Edsall discusses. It indicates that the appalling outcome we are all now grappling with was partly due to quirks in our electoral system, rather than a collective death-wish.
It isn't in his best interest to be isolationist. After all, The Leader of the Free World is a pretty spiffy title, however it's one that goes away pretty quickly if you don't do the work to maintain it. Friends from other countries are past the laughing stage, and are saying the US is fast becoming irrelevant.
What this bunch in the White House doesn't seem to realize: nowadays, you can't be isolationist. We aren't a country separated from the rest of the world by giant oceans that are tough to get across. News doesn't take a week to get here. You can't be 'great' while keeping people out.
I've said before: it disturbs me that my heretofore mid-conservative Republican leanings are now considered left of center liberal...that says the right is somewhere in the vicinity of Genghis Khan.
What this bunch in the White House doesn't seem to realize: nowadays, you can't be isolationist. We aren't a country separated from the rest of the world by giant oceans that are tough to get across. News doesn't take a week to get here. You can't be 'great' while keeping people out.
I've said before: it disturbs me that my heretofore mid-conservative Republican leanings are now considered left of center liberal...that says the right is somewhere in the vicinity of Genghis Khan.
Yep. The Emperor has no clothes. That was obvious before he was elected. It certainly comes as no surprise now.
Who among the Republicans will finally have the courage to call him out in his nakedness?
Who among the Republicans will finally have the courage to call him out in his nakedness?
23
For a President who reached this position by promising "jobs, jobs, jobs" these proposed budget cuts are particularly ill-conceived. It's not just money going into a black hole; it represents many thousands of Americans who may no longer be employed. Has there been any analysis of how many coal mining jobs will come back, vs. the EPA employees who lose theirs? What's your plan for them, Mr. Trump?
90
He has no plans for anyone other than himself and his family, and the upper percent of the 1%, his billionaire staff and friends. Getting rich using the presidency and while at it, deconstruction of America are his only goals. This empty suit did not want to serve, he is only in it to serve himself.
2
I’ve been wondering why Trump was elected President of the most powerful nation of all times. He was not a political persona, not even an intelligent TV showman. Generally he looked like a dull & dumb person, rejected by traditional Republicans and criticized by Press. Did he buy the caucus delegates ? Is USA drafting a decay electing a President like Trump ? Doesn’t matter whatever shal be the answer. One can say that he is a SB (stupid billionaire). But, it’s probable that Trump is nothing but a Mental Weakling and USA Congressman must be honorable enough and approve Trump’s IMPEACHMENT soon. God Save America, and the World !
2
But - but - but -- he's such a stellar businessman! So accomplished! So successful! (it's a lot easier to grab your own bootstraps when your dainty foot is on the neck of some struggling small businessman!)
Perhaps this rare and yuge intellect has chosen to be willfully ignorant?
Perhaps this rare and yuge intellect has chosen to be willfully ignorant?
5
When Trump attempted to answer a question regarding nuclear stockpiles during the campaign it was clear that he did not understand what the nuclear triad was. He also asked why we even have nuclear weapons if not to use them.
As Mr. Edsall discusses there are a myriad of ways that this President, both an ignorant buffoon and a sociopath, threatens America. However one peril overwhelms all others: he controls the nuclear codes. Every day that he does so represents a renewed threat that none of our children will grow up.
As Mr. Edsall discusses there are a myriad of ways that this President, both an ignorant buffoon and a sociopath, threatens America. However one peril overwhelms all others: he controls the nuclear codes. Every day that he does so represents a renewed threat that none of our children will grow up.
5
Best said:
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." ~ CONFUCIUS
What else?
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." ~ CONFUCIUS
What else?
5
I must respectfully disagree. It's not that Trump doesn't know what he doesn't know, it's the fact that he believes it's not important to know. Trump believes in the art of the con. This is based on the premise that you can fool most of the people most of the time. This explains why he is so often caught out in petty lies. Short of impeachment, it's difficult to see how this will not end badly for we the people.
4
Pence is an end-times religious fanatic. He won't be an improvement on Trump.
2
Um, yes, now what? No one in authority wants to do anything about this incompetent until they've gotten what they want out of him. The Republican party is riding the tiger on this one and they don't care. They still think they can let this slide for some amount of time. How long have they and we got? We are one NK antic away from serious trouble.
2
Well, Trump said this about Brexit: “I don’t think anybody should listen to me because I haven’t really focused on it very much." (from Washington Post). Pretty much says it all, but when I noted that to my evangelical neighbors they looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out my nose. I do envy conservatives. Life is so black and white, so to speak. We liberals have to examine the empirical facts, and that takes time, and a brain - so 20th century.
3
Tell me, how many 70-year-old men do you know who want to start learning vast amounts of new information? Who never read much in his entire life? Who has prided himself on "being smart" by trading in conspiracy theories? Who could get rid of anyone who stood up to him? Good luck with that.
5
Trump's ignorance is surpassed only by the ignorance of those who voted for him.
12
As far as trump running roughshod over the constitution, the checks and balances between the three parts of our government should prevent that from happening. The part that is very very scary is, what is the check and balance to prevent him, commander in chief of the armed forces, from pushing the "Red Button".
3
The only thing that scares me more than Trump are the people who thought he was qualified of the job.
18
Yea, but he'll have enough photos of himself to publish a coffee table book, and really, isn't that enough for one man-child?
3
turn the tables, turn the corner, turn the House Republicans out in 2018!
5
A few Republican senators can exert leverage with the national security risks arising from Trump and Bannon. McCain, Graham, and Rubio, for instance, can tell Trump: (1) release your tax returns for the past 15 years, (2) you, your family, your administration, and your campaign staff will now fully disclose all involvement with the Russian government, financial institutions, etc., and (3) remove Bannon from the administration, OR we will declare our party affiliation as Constitutional Independents and caucus with Democrats.
Another set of senators, Collins, Murkowski, and Capito, for instance, could likewise exert leverage over budget proposals. If there is an emergency need to increase defense spending, its financing should be via taxes or debt rather than reckless cuts to diplomacy and domestic spending that already has been cut in real terms for years.
On the issue of Trump remaining in office, members of Congress need to contemplate Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution in relation to Mr. Trump's ongoing exhibition of detachment from reality while having the unilateral authority to order the use of nuclear weapons. This amendment gives Congress the authority to pass a law creating a body which can declare a president unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. This is the alternative provided by the amendment to a cabinet declaration of inability.
Another set of senators, Collins, Murkowski, and Capito, for instance, could likewise exert leverage over budget proposals. If there is an emergency need to increase defense spending, its financing should be via taxes or debt rather than reckless cuts to diplomacy and domestic spending that already has been cut in real terms for years.
On the issue of Trump remaining in office, members of Congress need to contemplate Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution in relation to Mr. Trump's ongoing exhibition of detachment from reality while having the unilateral authority to order the use of nuclear weapons. This amendment gives Congress the authority to pass a law creating a body which can declare a president unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. This is the alternative provided by the amendment to a cabinet declaration of inability.
9
It's really confusing how Trump espouses noble goals, like cutting drug prices, and then appoints people with opposite views, like Scott Gottlieb for the FDA.
It seems as though he is being fed a list of appointees and has no idea who they are. Or, maybe, it's just a 1984 kind of behavior based upon doublethink and disinformation?
It seems as though he is being fed a list of appointees and has no idea who they are. Or, maybe, it's just a 1984 kind of behavior based upon doublethink and disinformation?
7
Reading about Chuck Schumer in the New Yorker I was surprised to find he thinks that Trump is not aware of his nominee's views "because that is not what he cares about. And that's really sad...not to care about the issues you're governing about."
1
In psychology, this is called unconscious incompetence. People with this level of ignorance do the most damage if they are given power and control. The next level is conscious incompetence, which means you recognize that you need education and have the potential to move up towards competence.
But people like Trump are stuck on the unconscious level and never rise above it. He should have never been allowed near the White House....
But people like Trump are stuck on the unconscious level and never rise above it. He should have never been allowed near the White House....
19
This essay confirms what 63% of the American people already know. I'm now waiting for this ignoramus' approval rating to slip to 12%. How long will it take for Congress to wake up and smell the coffee? America used to be great---MAGA--Make America Gasp Awkwardly.
No country worth its recognition as a partner in trade or in defense for democracy recognizes the USA as a leader in global efforts toward guarantees of peace and human rights. We are eroding our own human rights and becoming a barbaric state ruled by oligarchs who dismiss the masses as irrelevant.
How in God's name did this happen? In America? A government of the people, for the people, and by the people?
No country worth its recognition as a partner in trade or in defense for democracy recognizes the USA as a leader in global efforts toward guarantees of peace and human rights. We are eroding our own human rights and becoming a barbaric state ruled by oligarchs who dismiss the masses as irrelevant.
How in God's name did this happen? In America? A government of the people, for the people, and by the people?
8
So what happens when the unknown unknown becomes a reality under Trump? Does he metaphorically or literally cower under his Oval Office desk, overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation? Will he freeze like Stalin did after the German invasion of the Soviet Union, nearly losing his nation in the process? Will he tell the unmitigated truth (if there is time to do so) to the American people or dissemble to save himself? Can America even trust his guidance when that terrible day arrives?
6
He has no grasp on the truth, so no, the nation cannot trust this compulsive liar.
2
You know we can't trust Trump in an emergency. There WILL be an emergency. Either it'll be created through his administration's bumbling or it'll be created by an outside power. I think what we'll probably see first is some kind of aggression with North Korea. Two nuclear-armed countries headed by ignorant, boasting megalomaniacs, what could possibly go wrong? Trump is already said that he doesn't understand why we don't use nuclear weapons. There's no reason to believe that he's learned any differently since he became president. All the evangelicals who thought that the end of the world is coming may have voted it into office.
3
I'm with 'Ruby'.
I am scared for the world and for the US.
Every day this disaster is reenforced. Seriously, What can be done by 'We the people' to get rid of the 'troglodytic lout' NOW?!?!
I am scared for the world and for the US.
Every day this disaster is reenforced. Seriously, What can be done by 'We the people' to get rid of the 'troglodytic lout' NOW?!?!
6
I think you miss the point of trump's policies toward our allies and Russia. Trump is working with Russia to break up and destroy the European Union. He is going to allow Russia to invade the the Baltic states and more of Ukraine. Trump wins by everyone else thinking he's stupid. He really just has malevolent goals that people are underestimating or ignoring or afraid to say in fear of sounding crazy. Maybe we are the ignorant ones.
4
So you are confirming he is an actual Manchurian candidate and an traitor to the United States. We have never had a president so clearly in it for himself. Conversely President Washington tried to avoid the Presidency, but took it. The situation is so dire, it's hard to fathom how we elected this opportunistic narcissist. Sad!
1
Remember the saying, 'He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool"
How does America handle a President who is a fool?
How does America handle a President who is a fool?
7
Interesting how all of your "analysts and other scholars" have filled their comments with Trump being incompetent, unqualified, even ignorant, without once acknowledging his successes in business worldwide - he knows how to deal globally but it's not the way you like (No more Mr Nice Guy!). When viewing Trump's agenda as President they continually mention all the negative scenarios: how he will fail if this or that happens, the potential for disaster, a possibile breakdown. But there have been no failures, disasters or breakdowns and there won't be. He knows what he is doing. You and your liberal colleagues fail to see that because you have not yet accepted the very clear fact that the world order has changed, moved on. Warren Christopher and his ideas count for nothing these days, it's a different world - Brexit, the nationalist movements in Europe, the endless turmoil in the Middle East, China, Russia and N. Korea muscle flexing. What worked 15 or 20 years ago doesn't work anymore, it was tried and tried for years and it failed. Match the world today with the world in 1990. Trump knows this and so do the people who voted for him (forget the popular vote, you all know how the president is, and always has been elected) and the people who voted for Brexit and will vote in France and Germany. The times, they have a' changed...you should accept that.
1
which of his bankruptcies, failures to pay workers, and 3500 lawsuits led you to believe he is a great example?
6
What kind of a fool trumpets Trump's numerous bankruptcies, likely avoidance of paying taxes, and stiffing the people that he works for as being a 'superb businessman'?
And no -- I will NOT accept that you can gloss over the popular vote, nor that the government can (or should) be run as a business. In business, you work to increase your profit and bottom-line for your shareholders. In government, you work for the all the people, not some.
I know what you're thinking. "Oh, it's just an angry snowflake." Don't forget that snowflakes make blizzards.
And no -- I will NOT accept that you can gloss over the popular vote, nor that the government can (or should) be run as a business. In business, you work to increase your profit and bottom-line for your shareholders. In government, you work for the all the people, not some.
I know what you're thinking. "Oh, it's just an angry snowflake." Don't forget that snowflakes make blizzards.
5
Great analysis, the main issue is not Trump's incompetence or narcissistic personality disorder, it's the fact that he was elected, this is about the US, this is how an empire /democracy dies. Timothy Snyder, the great historian of mid 20th century historian of tyranny and bloodshed, said we have about a year to fix this.
10
Accepting all that Mr. Edsall says, it's still true that slightly less than half of American voters chose Trump in 2016. Hillary Clinton kept pointing out that Trump was supremely unqualified. President Obama made strong interventions to hammer home the point. This did not matter in the polarized and partisan election campaign. Trump's supporters (practically all Republicans) ignored corroborated accusations by several women that he groped them. It was well-known that Trump was a serial bankrupt. The scam of Trump University was still in litigation. Yes, Russian cyber-interference amplified by media focus and Comey's ill-timed interventions made a difference. But still a large part of the American electorate is not prepared for the world today. The bubble of media propaganda and social messaging creates an alternate universe which skews choices in a democracy. Until America's institutions and systems can learn to defeat a cultural/political viral infections like Trump, the welfare of the republic will remain at risk.
9
Narcissism doesn't allow for self-reflection. He cannot and will not attempt to understand anything outside the sphere of his own ego. The fact that this behavior will irreparably harm the country is of no consequence to him. We must understand that there will be much damage to repair after he leaves the White House. One can only hope, with investigations, that scenario will happen sooner rather than later.
8
You forgot to mention that in addition to the ignorance Trump repeatedly displays, and his multiple lies, he also seems unable to distinguish reality from delusion or conspiracy theories.
8
Trump is the reflection of his voters' interests, what they mean by "America First." They don't want to try to understand why people commit crimes so they can reduce crime, they just want to punish criminals. They don't want a gov't that provides any leadership or benefit, except for that which directly benefits them. They don't want diplomacy that takes time and effort and respect, they just want to wave guns, missiles and aircraft carriers at adversaries.
8
The Peter Principle has never been more evident...
2
Unfortunately, should one of the listed calamities occurs, perhaps the don will learn something the hard way although I doubt. All of us on the ground will be taking the brunt of the heat. the don only learns the hard way just as his father taught him. Of course, the don will not accept any responsibility for the consequences.
3
nonsense. when he knows he doesn't know something he switches the subject and goes into attack mode. it is a simple tactic.
5
Spanish philosopher, José Ortega y Gasset in his book, "The Revolt of the Masses" details with astonishing precision what is occurring in our country today. I recomendad Ortega's book highly.
Trump's ignorance on a wide variety of subjects is not his problem; it is the problem of all US citizens.
4
An old saying ends with, "the man who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool, shun him." Too late we are stuck with him despite what "originalists" will recognize our framers did to prevent such a candidate from ever holding office. The purpose of the electoral college was to prevent precisely what has happened, a populist, ill equipped and ill mannered for the office actually attaining it. The profound irony is he has been installed by the very institution the framers erected to prevent it happening. The framers knew a man (or woman) who knew not should never be the executive of the United States.
8
The more that Mr. Trump talks, the more it is frighteningly obvious that he has no clue what he is supposed to do as president. His speeches, commentaries, news conferences and Twitter runs continue to be simplistic and banal. I have zero confidence in this man and those around him.
5
In His mind, Trump is always a 'winner'; he never loses. Therefore he never learns from his mistakes. He has no bold vision for the future. Bold visions require hard work, failure, perseverance, and above personal accountability. Characteristics that Trump seems to lack. In his own delusional world everything is as it should be, no matter that reality--as most others see it--states otherwise. Is this because Trump is “ignorant of his own ignorance” or is it simply because he is intellectually lazy and--at his core--fearful of failure. There will be no “we will go to the moon” boldness from this little man.
4
By his own claim "he's a very smart man". He thinks very smart men don't have to read or discuss or absorb information from others. They just "think", come up with the "right" answer and then believe their own pondering.
All the great men of history, Einstein say, rose on the shoulders of their peers. Not to take away from their genius, nevertheless, the genius virtually always rises from an innovative environment of many minds at work. Einstein germinated his ideas as solutions to problems discussed many years by his peers.
Trump, as a man to make decisions, is a catastrophe. Claims made that he "listens" appear to be bogus. He indeed sits while sources of information talk, but judging from his decisions he either doesn't comprehend or ignores what he hears. He works from his "gut"; but "gut" solutions to complex problems only arise from people with extensive and comprehensive understandings of a huge breadth of topics.
Trump? He's a real estate scam artist. And that's the full breadth.
All the great men of history, Einstein say, rose on the shoulders of their peers. Not to take away from their genius, nevertheless, the genius virtually always rises from an innovative environment of many minds at work. Einstein germinated his ideas as solutions to problems discussed many years by his peers.
Trump, as a man to make decisions, is a catastrophe. Claims made that he "listens" appear to be bogus. He indeed sits while sources of information talk, but judging from his decisions he either doesn't comprehend or ignores what he hears. He works from his "gut"; but "gut" solutions to complex problems only arise from people with extensive and comprehensive understandings of a huge breadth of topics.
Trump? He's a real estate scam artist. And that's the full breadth.
11
I was very interested to learn there is actual research about this phenomena which is essentially: the ignorant mistakenly believe in their own competence.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
This explains SO MUCH about T-Rump
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
This explains SO MUCH about T-Rump
8
It's called the "Dunning-Kruger" effect named after the Cornell professors who studied it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
4
From this day on, it should be called "The Trump Effect," or "Trumpidity."
1
Y'all have heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect, right? It's a real thing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
3
Trump has legitimized it for all who are affected. The mystery to how to get elected president or CEO has been revealed.
2
Trump is does not know what he does not know and he does not care to learn anything. Who new healthcare was so complicated? Seemingly every other legislator and official in Washington, D.C. Many of his supporters have the same attitude. NOAA, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (the host university), other universities and the National Weather Service are starting a campaign to help educate residents about the threat of tornadoes. They found that 60-65% of Alabamans could not locate their homes on a map. So when the tornado warnings are shown for counties X, Y, Z, etc. they do not take shelter because they don't know where they live. (BTW, this education effort is funded at $10M through NOAA)
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/02/many_alabamians_cant...
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/02/many_alabamians_cant...
6
Apparently many people still don't travel more than 35 miles from their birthplaces in Trumpland.
1
It's called the "Dunning-Kruger" effect--when a person is too ignorant to question his own ignorance. We are in trouble.
8
"To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge."--Confucius
8
America should be more proactive about this situation. A mistake was made by the electors and then the electoral college, and Trump became president and everyone hoped for the best.
After 70 days in office, it's obvious this president is in over his head, and is not qualified. Congress and the Senate should be proactive and start making plans to have him remove while there is no crisis.
God forbid a crisis occurs with him at the helm. Actually him being at the helm invites a man made crisis.
The people should channel their frustrations into actions somehow. I think we have reached that critical mass of people now. The only thing missing is some direction for the people on how to channel frustration into action to have this president removed.
After 70 days in office, it's obvious this president is in over his head, and is not qualified. Congress and the Senate should be proactive and start making plans to have him remove while there is no crisis.
God forbid a crisis occurs with him at the helm. Actually him being at the helm invites a man made crisis.
The people should channel their frustrations into actions somehow. I think we have reached that critical mass of people now. The only thing missing is some direction for the people on how to channel frustration into action to have this president removed.
29
Don't expect the people who enabled Trump to pull the plug on him. They simply do not admit error, just like Trump himself.
1
What is meant by "pull the plug"? I'm amazed at these comments from people who apparently believe someone who has been elected and sworn in as POTUS can be swept out of office or impeached because they believe there is a Russia Connection between Trump or with his staff or his children, etc. All the hand wringing and disgust and channeling frustration will not remove Trump from office.
It is interesting to see all the concern but we must remember we have the military strength to crush anyone, anytime, anywhere. Climate and other things will muddle through. So, while everything everyone says about a totally unprepared, ignorant President are true, it will not be the end of the world.
This great military might has not kept the US from being tied down in numerous conflicts around the world. The only war the US military won since WWII was the invasion of Grenada, a tiny island in the Caribbean.
1
Trump probably would rather die than admit error.
2
You sure about that? And would you want to go,there? I definately do not. And um, where have we won in middle east? (remember viet nam...adjust for inflation).
2
I am weary of reading the unfortunate facts about President Trump's shortcomings. When is his presidency going to be called illegitimate and illegal and impeachment or other removal from office discussed and organized. People are frightened by the inability of so many government sources from taking over the reigns of office from a clearly ignorant mentally ill man and watching the nation being torn apart.
It is much too dangerous to permit this situation to continue any longer.
It is much too dangerous to permit this situation to continue any longer.
33
Look at the state department that he has turned over to Exxon executive with no experience of the world beyond making business deals and keep him from hiring deputies with diplomatic experience to guide him and throw in 30 percent budget cut. The sad part of this you can see this tragedy coming in the rear view mirror, with the increase in military spending and cut backs in the State Department. Has anybody seen Rex or heard from him on any of the multiple of serious problems we are confronting.
8
There may not be a professional US diplomat besides John Bolton who hasn't written what a disaster this grotesque man would become to US diplomacy.
1
I suppose each of us is in our own ways. But it's true that Trump is the most uncircumspect person to hold the office of the presidency since W.
11
Even before Trump's horrible budget proposal, Defense spending was more than all other discretionary spending combined. It's interesting to note that the programs slashed most egregiously, the EPA and State Department and "other development programs", are the ones best positioned to help prevent violent international conflicts. Our own military has acknowledged that climate change is a threat to international security, and the role of the State Department is vital to avoiding violent conflict. Spending a little on those things saves a lot in military needs. But ignorant Don would rather spend $52 billion more on an already bloated military than $13.5 billion to avoid war and help save our place on the planet.
9
The film "Idiocracy" appears more life like with each passing day in this administration.
13
Is it still correct to call Russian interference into the 2016 Presidential Election "alleged" when every US government agency tasked with examining the allegation has reported not only that in fact the crime occurred but also how it occurred, when it occurred, and the motivations for why it occurred. The only remaining allegation here has to do with whether or not Trump's campaign coordinated and refined Russian efforts, acting as "forward spotters" for Russian "air cover" from July to October.
8
I feel like Trump, the GOP and the people who voted for these people came into my home and looted, vandalized and stole tings I hold dear: the safety of my air and water, my privacy, voting rights, freedom from religion, consumer protections, and the access to my health insurance that covers necessary medical issues.
Everyday is worse since Trump and the GOP took control of my country. Trump knows how to scam people even though he appears not to understand NATO accounting, Lincoln's political history or even health care in America 2017.
Everyday is worse since Trump and the GOP took control of my country. Trump knows how to scam people even though he appears not to understand NATO accounting, Lincoln's political history or even health care in America 2017.
16
How did the Electoral College think this would be a good thing?
16
More disturbing than Trump's ignorance - of everything - is his childlike reliance on, and belief in a man, (Steve Bannon) for whom "playing at government" is a game. While I struggle with HOW this nation could put a spoiled, unintelligent, egotist, and grifter in charge of the nation - I struggle even more in the growing reality that it just may be Steve Bannon that is running the legislative show.
If the GOP does not figure out a way to stuff the Trump/Bannon genie back in the bottle we will all pay the price. Even worse if the "die hard" Trump supporters continue to believe Trump to be some kind of champion to their their causes we could be looking at eight years of this horror show.
With Russia running a cyber political war so well that we now have Brexit, Trump, (not to mention the rise of populism in Germany, and France) we will likely see things become far worse before correcting, and hope a correction is still possible by then. The impetus is on people in Democratic countries to have a better understanding of consequences to their votes - this does not give me a lot of hope. The internet has become a bias confirming hotbed for nationalism, and most do not care about the source of the story confirming their bias. A Democracy is only as strong as its informed voters, (or as weak as its misinformed voters).
If the GOP does not figure out a way to stuff the Trump/Bannon genie back in the bottle we will all pay the price. Even worse if the "die hard" Trump supporters continue to believe Trump to be some kind of champion to their their causes we could be looking at eight years of this horror show.
With Russia running a cyber political war so well that we now have Brexit, Trump, (not to mention the rise of populism in Germany, and France) we will likely see things become far worse before correcting, and hope a correction is still possible by then. The impetus is on people in Democratic countries to have a better understanding of consequences to their votes - this does not give me a lot of hope. The internet has become a bias confirming hotbed for nationalism, and most do not care about the source of the story confirming their bias. A Democracy is only as strong as its informed voters, (or as weak as its misinformed voters).
12
I totally agree with you; I've never been more frightened for our country in all of my 68 years on this planet. A man who thinks 120 word tweeting is a modern replacement for an education, common sense, and a sense of responsibility. He will never get it.
Mr. Trumps actions are driven by self interest, not national interest. If we throw out renewable energy for the entire country if it makes him popular with the coal lobby, then the latter is what he will pursue. Repeat for everything on that list.
7
Trump isn't interested in the esteem of anyone outside the Forbes billionaires list.
1
Our only hope is that world leaders understand Donald does not speak for America while we work assiduously to remove him from office.
11
Trump has finally made me yearn for Dubya's ignorance and Cheney's callus hubris. Remember those days when we thought it couldn't get any worse? Well, now I'm worried about how much worse it will get.
15
We are so desperate that now we consider stalemate a victory. Meanwhile other countries are making progress on big challenges, while China fills the vacuum we are leaving.
7
Much as I would be wary about their policies, I would understand if Trump had chosen from the many prepared, thoughtful and experienced conservative administrators available to him. Had he chosen them and had they come in with a program of reforming the Executive, we would have been sure that the changes would not have endangered either the country not the world. As it is, his ignorance is not moderated by the people he chose who are characterized more by their blind ideology than by knowledge or expertise. Perry as secretary of energy, DeVos at education, bomb throwers at environment, health. Clueless person at urban affairs. Trump has reproduced them according to his image, and all are on a runaway train that will derail on the first curve.
15
According to the leaks coming out after his meeting with Angela Merkel, Trump keeps Ivanka around because he can't follow discussions and changes the subject when he is ignorant of what's being spoken about. It was Ivanka who stepped in when Trump's mind wandered while talking with Merkel.
Now we know who will step in when a disaster hits the US. Trump won't be able to concentrate for more than a few minutes on any one thing, so it will be Ivanka calling the shots.
I'm all for women in power, but Ivanka didn't run for president and wasn't elected.
Now we know who will step in when a disaster hits the US. Trump won't be able to concentrate for more than a few minutes on any one thing, so it will be Ivanka calling the shots.
I'm all for women in power, but Ivanka didn't run for president and wasn't elected.
39
But let's at least hope she reads this article. At this point, her influence may be the best we can hope for -- "SAD."
1
There is a picture off Merkel, looking at Ivanka with an expression of disgusted disbelief.
1
This, my second post to this column, is to vent my increasing frustration and anger over the daily news emanating about and from the cabal that has taken over our government, and by no means do I use that term lightly or as an effort at hyperbole. Our nation, if we can still call it that, is now engaged in virtual indiscriminate bombing in Yemen and soon Somalia. This administration is laser-focused on destroying financial and environmental regulations, long-standing foreign policies, while insulting our closest allies and committing flagrant violations of our founding principles. All this while engaging in censorship within the government, strenuous efforts to undermine our free press, and putting forth constant propaganda consisting in large part of outright lies. It is engaging in nepotism, appointing family members to key positions for which they lack the slightest qualifications. Facts about the president's business transactions, past and present, point to deep seated contempt for honesty and transparency, and smack of influence peddling and corruption. Virtually every non-white, ethnic, non-Christian group has been subject to ridicule and discrimination. I for one have had enough, and unless this nation and its citizens promptly find a way to put a stop to this outrageousness I plan to emigrate. This is categorically absurd.
21
Even to his harshest critics, the extent of his lack of intellectual ability is shocking. Not so much a "mad genius" as a grand dufus. Trump apparently is exactly what he has always appeared to be.
14
A meme that might apply here: When you are dead, you don't know that you are dead. It is difficult only for the others.
It is the same when you are stupid. (Or oblivious or willfully ignorant....)
It is the same when you are stupid. (Or oblivious or willfully ignorant....)
11
A minority of Americans elected a man who really and truly does not read. His ignorance is staggering. Add to that the fact that he gloms onto every other crackpot theory floated on Fox News and you have a president who substitutes the implausible for the plausible. He is not fit to manage the daily duties of office let alone a crisis. He is a giant Dumb Bomb waiting to be detonated.
23
So, based on what I read, and the comments, up until now, we have had people in government with great knowledge, skill and high ethics. We should be afraid of the "ignorance" of Trump and his ego. Correct?
He was elected President to turn the country around from 20 Trillion of debt, ILLEGAL Aliens, bring our education up from 27 (we used to be #1), defend us from 7.0 Billion people who want what we have, and get our jobs back.
So, with Trump, will we have 30 Trillion of debt, #37 in Education, wide open borders, and N. Korea blowing us up? I don't think so.
Ask the same questions if Hillary had won!
He was elected President to turn the country around from 20 Trillion of debt, ILLEGAL Aliens, bring our education up from 27 (we used to be #1), defend us from 7.0 Billion people who want what we have, and get our jobs back.
So, with Trump, will we have 30 Trillion of debt, #37 in Education, wide open borders, and N. Korea blowing us up? I don't think so.
Ask the same questions if Hillary had won!
1
A very accurate and frightening summary of where America is today. The massive outpouring of people in town hall meetings help sink Trumpcare and an active citizenry will be a key to trying to keep the Trump crowd in check. For the time being, there is no mystery - we are screwed.
18
"crumbling infrastructure, second rate primary and secondary schools, outdated immigration policy and slow economic growth" are all problems that are and have been facing the country for several years including the eight years of Barak Obama who did nothing to address such issues. President Trump has been in office a little over two months and now, you are not only branding him a failure, but telling us through your liberal academia contacts, that he's unable to fix anything or even know what the problem is! Your rush to judgment on his presidency is indicative of the shallowness of your comments and frankly, your fear of his success. Also Tom, try surveying opinions from other than these egghead charlatans from U of Wisc, Georgetown and other such cloistered locales. These folks are so sheltered from American life as to be irrelevant when discussing public policy. You're losing credibility everywhere but the NYT.
9
Literally every single thing you wrote is wrong.
Barack (please check your spelling) Obama tried to pass a comprehensive infrastructure and stimulus bill that was decimated by the GOP. Obama worked with Republicans to pass immigration policy reform, which was killed by ultra right-wingers in the House. Economic growth was very sound under Obama, particularly as it related to employment.
In this article, those "branding him a failure" are not "liberal academia contacts" or "cloistered" "eggheads". These are people who have dedicated their lives to these issues, including retired military, who are not expressing fear of success, they are expressing legitimate fear. They are not sheltered from American life, because they live here in an America where many people look at Trump and see the worst of human nature for good reason. And quite frankly, given Trump's 37% approval rating, I think these experts are actually in the mainstream. You are not.
Now, could they all be wrong? Sure, I guess it is possible that all experts, in all fields, who have spent their lives studying all these issues, could all be wrong, and you, the right-wing, and Breitbart are all right. That's a chance most of us are not willing to take, because losing that bet could mean the end of civilization.
Barack (please check your spelling) Obama tried to pass a comprehensive infrastructure and stimulus bill that was decimated by the GOP. Obama worked with Republicans to pass immigration policy reform, which was killed by ultra right-wingers in the House. Economic growth was very sound under Obama, particularly as it related to employment.
In this article, those "branding him a failure" are not "liberal academia contacts" or "cloistered" "eggheads". These are people who have dedicated their lives to these issues, including retired military, who are not expressing fear of success, they are expressing legitimate fear. They are not sheltered from American life, because they live here in an America where many people look at Trump and see the worst of human nature for good reason. And quite frankly, given Trump's 37% approval rating, I think these experts are actually in the mainstream. You are not.
Now, could they all be wrong? Sure, I guess it is possible that all experts, in all fields, who have spent their lives studying all these issues, could all be wrong, and you, the right-wing, and Breitbart are all right. That's a chance most of us are not willing to take, because losing that bet could mean the end of civilization.
11
What have the Republicans done for the past 8 years to address those problems you mentioned above or was that entirely up to President Obama to fix? The Times doesn't have to tell you Trump is a failure, his policy proposals and his business history is enough to do that. You want to pretend that people who are educated are sheltered and eggheads and irrelevant but I would say that the uneducated that Trump loves so much have lost credibility after putting this disaster in office.
5
Why is it that when studious intellectuals and experts in their field voice an opinion you would brand them out of touch with the common folks but you think a spoiled, dishonest, selfish, billionaire narcissist knows or cares about the needs and feelings of the little people? You have to be running on optimism because common sense could not possibly fuel any hopeful opinion on this president.
We are being led by a moron without a shred of integrity or morals. Not only do we need to take names of those in power who support this so they can be exiled to the wilderness, but we need to start thinking of how to prevent this from ever happening again. For instance legislation that bans nepotism and conflict of interests for a president (the same as other elected officials). Trump has defaced the presidency to the point where we have to reign in some of the extraordinary powers conferred on the office.
14
He is such a fool.
Of Shakespearian proportions.
Can't we find some small gilded island? Far far away.
Of Shakespearian proportions.
Can't we find some small gilded island? Far far away.
6
I'm not sure I understand the point of an article like this, to state the obvious it is a grand exercise in stating the obvious. Any reasonably intelligent, emotionally mature person understands that Trump is a moron. I think it would help if people just understood he is going to be President for the next four years and actually come to terms with that. Perhaps the Dems could pivot back to their traditional base, the working class in the next four years so that next time, a dog whistling fool will not hoodwink less educated people that only responded to his message because their traditional party had long deserted them.
97
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain. No one knows more what just ain't so than Mr. Trump.
9
Mr. Edsall,
Ok and yes, but what can be done about this? I've called Senators, I've called Congressman, I've sent emails, and with the exception of Senator Graham and McCain everyone is in agreement shaking their heads up and down in agreement with everything Trump says and does minus the health care bill.
Our elected officials really don't care about We the People and if the truth be told, if a Woman, Latino, Black, Korean, Muslim, or any other non white with the same financial status sat in the presidency.....they would have been booted out weeks ago.
I love our President, I abhor his ways, but that doesn't negate my genuine concern for his well being. He shouldn't be in office, yet he is and it's painful to know that he is only there because he is a rich white male. Hypocrisy!!! The people didn't want another Bush, but it is ok for Trump to run the presidency like a family business. Unbelievable!!!!!!
If 44 conducted business like this......SMH. Shame on us America!
Ok and yes, but what can be done about this? I've called Senators, I've called Congressman, I've sent emails, and with the exception of Senator Graham and McCain everyone is in agreement shaking their heads up and down in agreement with everything Trump says and does minus the health care bill.
Our elected officials really don't care about We the People and if the truth be told, if a Woman, Latino, Black, Korean, Muslim, or any other non white with the same financial status sat in the presidency.....they would have been booted out weeks ago.
I love our President, I abhor his ways, but that doesn't negate my genuine concern for his well being. He shouldn't be in office, yet he is and it's painful to know that he is only there because he is a rich white male. Hypocrisy!!! The people didn't want another Bush, but it is ok for Trump to run the presidency like a family business. Unbelievable!!!!!!
If 44 conducted business like this......SMH. Shame on us America!
7
Ignorance is hiring your son-in law and your daughter. Does anyone on the Bannon team understanding the definition of nepotism.
nep·o·tism
ˈnepəˌtizəm/
noun
noun: nepotism
the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
synonyms: favoritism, preferential treatment, the old boy network, looking after one's own, bias, partiality, partisanship
"hiring my daughter was not nepotism—it was just good business"
antonyms: impartiality
Origin
nep·o·tism
ˈnepəˌtizəm/
noun
noun: nepotism
the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
synonyms: favoritism, preferential treatment, the old boy network, looking after one's own, bias, partiality, partisanship
"hiring my daughter was not nepotism—it was just good business"
antonyms: impartiality
Origin
10
I've said it before (since during the campaign) and I'll continue to say it:
Dangerously unqualified.
Dangerously unqualified.
13
Trump has weaponized ignorance. His preconceived notions are impervious to facts.
15
There is one aspect of Trump's makeup for which the world should be very grateful. He's a reported teetotaler. Imagine those 3:00 a.m. tweets if he drank.
6
He's probably what's known as a "Dry Drunk"
1
"David Bell, a historian at Princeton............"
"Trump himself is abysmally ignorant about both international and domestic affairs, and he is nearly always guided by a single principle: his own self interest."
And how can we not lump in to this equation, those who got him elected.
Many are as ignorant as Trump, but many are informed but are willing to go along with this maniacal situation his election has placed us in, due to their own self interest, which when boiled down to essentials is all about their selfishness and greed at any expense.
"Trump himself is abysmally ignorant about both international and domestic affairs, and he is nearly always guided by a single principle: his own self interest."
And how can we not lump in to this equation, those who got him elected.
Many are as ignorant as Trump, but many are informed but are willing to go along with this maniacal situation his election has placed us in, due to their own self interest, which when boiled down to essentials is all about their selfishness and greed at any expense.
15
Trump's daughter and son-in-law are there to try and keep the ever more obvious fact quiet. Donald Trump is not fit for the job! I guess they'll be running the government- no one voted for them. But then most Americans didn't vote for Donald Trump either.
16
"As the world knows", Trump lost the popular vote. As those who look more carefully also know, the margin is entirely accounted for by votes in Los Angeles County and four of the five boroughs of New York City (but not Staten Island, where much of the city's middle class resides).
And therein lies the problem.
And therein lies the problem.
1
Make no mistake, one of the main reasons Trump is decimating the existing federal agencies (like the EPA, State dept, etc) is to silence those who would speak out against Trump, his decisions and actions.
This is what autocrats do, they silence their critics thru threats, insults, lies (sound familiar?) and in other countries prison or worse.
This opinion piece does a very good job of highlighting the ignorance of the POTUS. We can only hope that he is either handcuffed (figuratively and/or literally) before he inflicts real, unrecoverable damage to our republic.
This is what autocrats do, they silence their critics thru threats, insults, lies (sound familiar?) and in other countries prison or worse.
This opinion piece does a very good job of highlighting the ignorance of the POTUS. We can only hope that he is either handcuffed (figuratively and/or literally) before he inflicts real, unrecoverable damage to our republic.
Vast ignorance and limitless hubris combined in one compulsively narcissistic individual. What could possibly go wrong?
14
The danger to this country, and the world, does not arise primarily from what Mr Trump does not know, but from what most voters did know about him, yet some chose perversely to set aside and vote for him, anyway. These people knew that they were "headed for an iceberg" but, for their own reasons, convinced themselves that it would be "soft and bouncy". The result is grief all around, unless you are like Mr Trump - rich, male and white.
8
Nothing surprising here, even if it is dismaying and discouraging in the implications for the USA actually to become the banana republic Trump stands for.
Given that Trump apparently cannot read serious analyses or briefing books about the pressing issues and the possible consequences of his actions, we can only hope that somewhere in his administration are people who can sort out the truth and protect us against the worst of the possible outcomes of Trump's actions.
Right now, of course, the most Trump wants to do is get out of Dodge (aka the White House) and go play golf at one of his properties--all at our/taxpayer expense. But perhaps that's been the goal all along -- a four-year vacation at the expense of the American people, unless of course he sets off wars the Americans have to send their sons and daughters but, thankfully, none of his children. Not that they would give a hoot either for science or technology.
Given that Trump apparently cannot read serious analyses or briefing books about the pressing issues and the possible consequences of his actions, we can only hope that somewhere in his administration are people who can sort out the truth and protect us against the worst of the possible outcomes of Trump's actions.
Right now, of course, the most Trump wants to do is get out of Dodge (aka the White House) and go play golf at one of his properties--all at our/taxpayer expense. But perhaps that's been the goal all along -- a four-year vacation at the expense of the American people, unless of course he sets off wars the Americans have to send their sons and daughters but, thankfully, none of his children. Not that they would give a hoot either for science or technology.
Oh, I thought Jared kushner had all of the answers to the middle East's problems? He can bring peace, right?
5
How to make any empire fall: isolate yourself from the rest of the world. I don't remember who stated: "Not communicating doesn't work for marriage, and it doesn't work for government", but that communication is the cornerstone of our human connection. With Trump at the helm, it's rapidly being decimated with the rest of the globe.
3
As always, an excellent, thought-provoking piece. But just as we Americans are absurdly obsessed with British royalty, so with our Presidents, even those less colorful than Trump. Meanwhile, we ignore the many other seats of power that in combination with the President formulate and implement policy. Although Trump ran a brilliant campaign and was elected largely to help workers, his policy initiatives and domestic cabinet appointments have been those of the selfish billionaire class, the radical right wing, or the fundamentalist social warriors. As to his foreign policies, one could only wish that he were in Putin's pocket, because even Putin could hardly wish for the disasters Trump seems to be favoring. Trump is no Putin; more like a Yeltsin.
This is the clear result of ''electing'' ( albeit with a clear minority ) an inexperienced ideologue that surrounds himself with even more inexperienced ideologues.
Besides, you cannot learn much if you are going to watch only a certain ''news'' channel every waking moment of every day. Not only do you starting speaking in 140 characters, but you are limited to thinking in only as much.
Besides, you cannot learn much if you are going to watch only a certain ''news'' channel every waking moment of every day. Not only do you starting speaking in 140 characters, but you are limited to thinking in only as much.
8
Trump's ignorance of his ignorance is a windfall for the people who are actually making policy now: Steve Bannon, Steve Miller, Mike Pence et al. Because Trump doesn't actually know anything, he is highly malleable in terms of his views. His politics are easily manipulated by smarter people who've spent years envisioning, articulating and preparing for their far-right agenda. Just look at the billionaires now running federal agencies who have vested interests in destroying said agencies. Could it be any clearer?
Wouldn't it be great if there was a dummy's guide for understanding the world? You know the kind of guide that explains it to us in the lingo of 'the man on the street'. User-friendly, something we can wrap our heads around. A guide that explains to us how healthcare works, or diplomacy, or how economy works, even better what is the cause of terrorism, the list goes on. In truth, as we all know the world is so complex that no single person can grasp even a fraction of it. Isn't that a great opportunity for people who tell you they know how the world works. Not only that but they irritate us in telling us that any other explanation than theirs, any other view than theirs, is fake and that there exist alternative truths. So, they want to leave us confused. Too much confusion, leads to frustration and then letting go. We slip into a crisis of belief. And then they promise us again that they are the ones we should believe in, they have it all figured out, we shouldn't worry 'daddy will take care of it'. Trump, Bannon, Wilders, Le Pen, Orban and others of their way of thinking all have the patriarchic complex of they 'know' how to fix things. It's so easy according to them. Throw your science away, and follow me! That seems to be their simplistic belief. Sometimes I can't help thinking that they have all read Nostradamus prophecy of the fair complexioned savior, which they think they are, who will rid us of the anti-christ. And guess who they have cast into that role?
1
Maybe Trump is an evil genius, or maybe he's a delusional child manipulated by anti-government isolationist zealots. Whichever is the case, a venal, craven Congress is not reigning him in.
Maybe if congressional representatives met the same vehement town hall opposition over Trump that they see over the AHCA, they'd develop a little backbone?
Maybe if congressional representatives met the same vehement town hall opposition over Trump that they see over the AHCA, they'd develop a little backbone?
3
The question is will Trump, like Nero, fiddle while America burns, or will he just let the EPA do his dirty work for him?
6
Benedict Donald is a lackey of Russia just doing what he's told to do. We on the other hand need to prosecute RUSSIAGATE with all due vigor!
2
People of reason agree; he's unfit. What do we do? Detailing the ways in which he's unfit increase anxiety but don't offer any ways out. Is the next congressional election the first chance we have to begin a proper anti-Trump movement?
Trump doesn't even know what he said he knew.
• He said "I got to know [Putin] very well", then said "I don't know Putin".
• He forgot saying "I have the world's greatest memory. It's one thing everyone agrees on."
• He said "Nobody knows the system better than me ... which is why I alone can fix it", then referred us to Judge Jeanine on Fox to refute that: "No one expected a businessman to completely understand the nuances, the complicated ins and outs of Washington and its legislative process".
• He said endlessly that he would repeal and replace Obamacare "IMMEDIATELY", then said " I never said repeal it and replace it within 64 days".
Feel free to add to the list.
• He said "I got to know [Putin] very well", then said "I don't know Putin".
• He forgot saying "I have the world's greatest memory. It's one thing everyone agrees on."
• He said "Nobody knows the system better than me ... which is why I alone can fix it", then referred us to Judge Jeanine on Fox to refute that: "No one expected a businessman to completely understand the nuances, the complicated ins and outs of Washington and its legislative process".
• He said endlessly that he would repeal and replace Obamacare "IMMEDIATELY", then said " I never said repeal it and replace it within 64 days".
Feel free to add to the list.
9
Ignorance defines our nation.
5
The Republicans in Congress know all this. So what is an regular person supposed to think as they allow this situation to continue? What are we supposed to think about the Republican Party who allowed this man to become president by giving him their imprimatur? I wish someone would go around and interview people about how they make sense to themselves about what is happening to their country right now? Denial, anger, resignation, hope, rationalization, grief? I find it to be a cognitive and emotional task such as I have never been faced with before to daily get my mind around how we've been thrown under the bus. I also realize how much I love my country.
4
Bravo!
1
Donald Trump: his only tool is a hammer, and every issue is a thumb.
1
Or, when Americans are ignorant of their own ignorance, dark money plays on that dangerous state of affairs and elects a pawn. The ignorant are easily duped with pandering and false promise. Trump is a mirror of our times and it aint pretty.
1
Prediction is difficult. Especially about the future. Reality is absurd enough to reward America's absurdity.
It is increasingly looking like our main hope to survive Trump is to see the invocation of the 25th Amendment, but that would require a degree of civic responsibility from the people surrounding Trump that is so far completely lacking. It would also precipitate a constitutional crisis. But: constitutional crisis, or nuclear exchange with North Korea? We report, you decide.
2
No offense to children with impaired immunity, but our so-called president is our Bubble Boy. Nothing can penetrate his defensive shield.
Shame on us for electing him--and shame on those traitors and criminals who hacked into enough voting machines to give him his improbable Electoral College win.
Shame on us for electing him--and shame on those traitors and criminals who hacked into enough voting machines to give him his improbable Electoral College win.
Trump's guiding light is his advisor and source of wisdom, Steve Bannon.
2
I see him as a person who hasn't kept up with the times. He probably doesn't know or care about how to use a computer, watched a single science documentary, or had a personal experience with nature, preferring to spend his time scheeming about how he can rip people off in order to make more money.
3
317 lies in 63 days....hmmm, over 4 years that works out to 7351 lies. I knew he was a pathological liar shortly after he announced in 2015. How long is it going to take for the rest of the country to fathom this basic fact?
3
Tell me something I don't know about Trump? All of these moral and knowledge deficiencies were glaring during the election campaign---Trump let them all hang out---He remained a candidate within his own party, was elected, and continues to get support from Republicans in Congress and 40% of the American public. I do believe the pendulum will swing back to some semblance of sanity, probably in 2018, but, by then, if Trump doesn't get us blown up, there will be a lot of damage to this country.
1
The added concern are the republican controlled congress. We have real issues
3
The most dangerous combination of characteristics in a leader is the combination of ignorance and arrogance.
3
Come on, patriotic Republicans, impeach Trump which will give him an excuse to resign. Most of you must loathe him as much as the majority of Americans.
4
Quite a few years ago Bertrand Russell said something like "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." Wonder which camp Trump is in?
2
What could really go wrong?
Trump will be able to tune into his favorite Fox shows for instructions as to proceed in any crisis.
What could go wrong!?
Trump will be able to tune into his favorite Fox shows for instructions as to proceed in any crisis.
What could go wrong!?
2
Not only is he ignorant, but his only real instincts seem to be an ability to profit while leaving others holding the bag. And he has done it in stunning fashion by convincing the displaced working class in middle America that he was going to be their representative, but has now fully embraced the anti-working class (and anti-99% of Americans) agenda of the Republican Congress.
Let that be an advance warning to Mitch McConnell as he contemplates "going nuclear" over the Gorsuch confirmation is worth it, as Trump is encouraging. Many many a businessman and politician have seen their fortunes, business and political careers destroyed (e.g., Christie) or irreparably damaged (e.g. Nunes) after throwing their hat in the ring with this guy. And today he is going after you conservative Republican brethren, the Freedom Caucus.
So, a compelling reason not to "blow up" your home in the Senate and put your political career at risk of going down in flames over delivering Trump his "win" with Gorsuch is that Trump is advocating you do so.
Let that be an advance warning to Mitch McConnell as he contemplates "going nuclear" over the Gorsuch confirmation is worth it, as Trump is encouraging. Many many a businessman and politician have seen their fortunes, business and political careers destroyed (e.g., Christie) or irreparably damaged (e.g. Nunes) after throwing their hat in the ring with this guy. And today he is going after you conservative Republican brethren, the Freedom Caucus.
So, a compelling reason not to "blow up" your home in the Senate and put your political career at risk of going down in flames over delivering Trump his "win" with Gorsuch is that Trump is advocating you do so.
Mr. Edsall lays out an important and critical “condition” of our president.
Mr. Trump (too painful to use the word “president”) is clearly even less curious than George W. Bush . . . and I did not think this was possible!
Trumps campaign team of hucksters and conmen DID their homework.
They looked at the electorate and “harvested” the wants and needs of what is now “the Trump base” – They looked at Democratic unrest in Europe and of course they looked at Brexit.
The campaign then packaged the perfect solution and SOLD IT.
Of course these were all hollow lies – as the master of conmen went to work on what could take him down – the REAL media.
So, during the campaign, the transition, and now the presidency – “they” work tirelessly eroding and discrediting the media.
Just how does this apply to the mass quantities of Unknown-Unknowns with Trump –
Simple – we know he knows very little about the world beyond bullying his way through “a deal” and “some” of us understand – that not only does he not “know” – more importantly, he does NOT CARE !
The Global issues now in play ARE a threat to democracy, not just here in America, but in democracies all over the world.
Trump and his base “is our petri dish” to work on and fix – more importantly, get actual facts to his “thick-headed and determined base” . . .
The xenophobic plan Trump has for our country presents the fact – that for us to return to being a beacon of democracy in the world, we have to fix it HERE – first.
Mr. Trump (too painful to use the word “president”) is clearly even less curious than George W. Bush . . . and I did not think this was possible!
Trumps campaign team of hucksters and conmen DID their homework.
They looked at the electorate and “harvested” the wants and needs of what is now “the Trump base” – They looked at Democratic unrest in Europe and of course they looked at Brexit.
The campaign then packaged the perfect solution and SOLD IT.
Of course these were all hollow lies – as the master of conmen went to work on what could take him down – the REAL media.
So, during the campaign, the transition, and now the presidency – “they” work tirelessly eroding and discrediting the media.
Just how does this apply to the mass quantities of Unknown-Unknowns with Trump –
Simple – we know he knows very little about the world beyond bullying his way through “a deal” and “some” of us understand – that not only does he not “know” – more importantly, he does NOT CARE !
The Global issues now in play ARE a threat to democracy, not just here in America, but in democracies all over the world.
Trump and his base “is our petri dish” to work on and fix – more importantly, get actual facts to his “thick-headed and determined base” . . .
The xenophobic plan Trump has for our country presents the fact – that for us to return to being a beacon of democracy in the world, we have to fix it HERE – first.
1
How prepared is Trump in a crisis? He is extremely well prepared - ready to blame others in a single tweet. Other than that, his behavior and reactions are "unknown unknowns." Like Putin, Trump wants to play by his own rules and not constraint by international norms of behavior and decency.
Trump must know the damage he is causing the country - he just does not care as long as he thinks he is "winning" - whatever that means.
Cuts in essential government institutions are out of spite, not in spite of.
Trump's knowledge and view of foreign countries is what he sees from his plane, his limo, the top of his buildings, golf greens and what is on cable new shows. The world looks like his oyster from Mar-a-Lago.
Trump must know the damage he is causing the country - he just does not care as long as he thinks he is "winning" - whatever that means.
Cuts in essential government institutions are out of spite, not in spite of.
Trump's knowledge and view of foreign countries is what he sees from his plane, his limo, the top of his buildings, golf greens and what is on cable new shows. The world looks like his oyster from Mar-a-Lago.
1
...and no cabinet position for 'Joe the Plumber'?
1
This is why the GOP is doing a deriliction of duty in not holding Trump to account on the constitution, his conflict of interests, even a hint of treason and many of the growing list of impeachable offenses. Many of them would like to call themselves patriots well they are not being patriots when they have put the party before the country. So they should be held accountable at the ballot box when we have a cataclysmic event and the clown in office goes MIA on and no one at the helm.
1
Hmmm no female policy analysts on this list? Even Melania Trump turned up for International Women of Courage
This really is frightening. It brings back the memories of Nancy Reagan and her "oversight" of Reagan. Now Ivanka is in that role. Something is very wrong here. Who's in charge? Who can right this ship?
4
Mr. Trump lies with the frequency of breathing.
How long will the opioid effect of Trump's words keep their hold on a large minority of Americans who see him as their savior and protector?
How long will the opioid effect of Trump's words keep their hold on a large minority of Americans who see him as their savior and protector?
1
If only he were cutting Defense and DHS as well.
1
What is equally frightening is that his supporters either do not know that he doesn't know or don't care that he doesn't know. The first group don't know that he doesn't know because they don't know.
The second, and here I include the republican party, thinks he is a useful tool in their attack on the past 100 years of progress.
The second, and here I include the republican party, thinks he is a useful tool in their attack on the past 100 years of progress.
5
I feel I must disagree with Mr. Leonard, by extension, Mr. Edsall when they claim that the post-Soviet world order was based upon an internationally agreed set of rules.
Yes, China and Russia, being closed, non-democratic systems, balked at ceding real political power to international rule enforcers like the UN or the WTO but all western governments took the opposite extreme. They effectively handed the reins of power to their respective corporate sectors, which, being amorally single-minded in their pursuit of markets and profits, quickly dropped any pretense of attachment of "western" values to trade and commerce.
This has predictably resulted in what we are seeing now in reactionary populism.
Yes, China and Russia, being closed, non-democratic systems, balked at ceding real political power to international rule enforcers like the UN or the WTO but all western governments took the opposite extreme. They effectively handed the reins of power to their respective corporate sectors, which, being amorally single-minded in their pursuit of markets and profits, quickly dropped any pretense of attachment of "western" values to trade and commerce.
This has predictably resulted in what we are seeing now in reactionary populism.
It is easy to be a critic ... but does anyone have ideas on how to have a positive impact upon "our leader," the one we are stuck with because those that might take his place are no better and might well be worse.
How can we have a positive impact?
How can we bend this person toward that long arch toward justice and concern about improving conditions for our people?
How can we have a positive impact?
How can we bend this person toward that long arch toward justice and concern about improving conditions for our people?
He would need to have a diverse team of thought around him. He only listens to like minded people and family. You can't change when you're against diverse thought. If he would be willing to hire people outside of his circle irrespective of political affiliation or prior criticism, it could help. Other than that, he should sell all that he owns and give it to the poor like Jesus suggested.
I take issue not with the general tenor of your remarks, but what I see as an inappropriate reference to "known unknowns and unknown unknowns." These really are technically terms referrring to different quadrants of the probability distributions. "Known unknowns being in the realm of the possible but only remotely probable." "Unknown unknowns refer to that part of a probability analysis where nothing in the past can even remotely predict its future occurrence." People who use these terms and about whom these terms are used are usually reasonably well educated in the realm of probability theory. President Trump seems only to be well educated in the art of lying, bombast, greed, denial and idiotic cruelty. Sometimes he doesn't even know he is being cruel. So I suggest Rumsfeld's terms have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Trump. He simply does not know much, but he is sure he knows more than everyone else about everything.
3
Unfortunately it seems as though many of trumps followers regard ignorance as some sort of badge of honor.
I disagree that he is ignorant of his ignorance.If anything he knows he is over his head, that is why he has brought in his daughter Ivanka to aid him in the multitude of decisions that a President must make make each day.Bush had Cheney, Reagan had Baker, Nixon, Kissinger.When you compare Ivanka against these Giants of international & National Affairs, you really start to get nervous, no nervous is too mild a word, how about it’s time to panic.At a recent meeting with Merkel, the Times reported Ivanka was more informed than her Father, somehow this news doesn’t seem to comfort me.
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Worse than ignorance is the illusion of knowledge. This administration replaces experts who study, learn, and can share their knowledge with obsequious sycophants pandering to the extremely rich. The GOP and White House promotes plutocracy, not democracy, under a twisted concept of capitalism.
Why is everyone blaming Trump for being incompetent? He certainly did not hide who he was from the voters. The incredible thing is not that one man is loony, but that tens of millions of Americans didn't care, and elected him anyway.
8
Unfortunately, Comet Trump is not one dodgeball, where we say “whew, missed me”. Comet Trump is an ongoing onslaught of immeasurable undermining to the underpinnings of our security. First, one section of actual security structure will collapse, and a resulting wave of instability will rise. Then another and another. Those waves will converge in amplitude upon our nation's bow and our allies' bows.
America’s security and leadership are paramount to all security.
Comet Trump’s stupid forays into the so-called “travel” ban and the wall that Mexico must pay for and that 50% of the illegal immigration would fly over anyway are so counterproductive, it is the source of endless division. While those comic tragedies dominate the discourse, the real rising dangers that these experts exhort go unnoticed and unheeded.
We need more honest expert opinions, more coverage, more sticking of our representatives’ noses in it. The sooner these politicians in power cannot abide the smell of real destruction, then the sooner they will converge at the airport of Fantasy Island. “Next departing flight, please.”