One of John le Carrè's later novels, /Single and Single/, has a character nicknamed Tiger who is maybe not quite as vulgar as Trump but otherwise a quite Trump-like bully and crook. For most of the story, Tiger is unstoppable. Opposing him in any way is dangerous, and his iron grip on power se…
One of John le Carrè's later novels, /Single and Single/, has a character nicknamed Tiger who is maybe not quite as vulgar as Trump but otherwise a quite Trump-like bully and crook. For most of the story, Tiger is unstoppable. Opposing him in any way is dangerous, and his iron grip on power seems mysterious and frightening. In the end, though, he is reduced to a total weiner. And one of the good guys muses, "Tiger's secret is that he has no secret." IOW there was no genius behind it, just a huge arrogant bluff that worked -- until it didn't -- because he had no scruples.
I think that line applies perfectly to Trump. Yes, he's dangerous, and he's got skills (or lizard cunning) and charisma (well, it works for some people), but it's hollow, and hollow doesn't work forever. That's not a reason for complacency, but it is a good reminder to keep the man's essential smallness in mind and respond to him accordingly. Trump's secret is that he has no secret. Kinzinger is right.
This made me look up T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men." That's the poem that ends "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper." Or, in the present case, a whine.
Your use of the word "hollow" brought back an old memory of a phrase I read in a 100 year old book about philosophical movements in Germany at the time, that I always thought applies equally well to the Trump phenomenon: Hollow and aggressive.
Totalitarians are always all powerful and unstoppable, until all of a sudden, they aren't. Let's hope that day comes before any more damage is done to our nation.
As long as there are enough people out their who secretly long to grovel in the dirt to the bully. I believe it's truly a psycho sexual inherent trait in a large section of humanity. I say that because they have always existed.
To be serious: The one place where Trump's supporters thing he is "large" is in the faith that he is a great patriot. See Tim Alberta's book with the central theme that Evangelicals have made an idol out of "America" and that Trump is seen as the leader of this pseudo-religion. One rule of politics is the need to attack your opponents strength. The most damning evidence that reveals Trump's "smallness" on the subject of patriotism is in the famous Atlantic piece, later confirmed by John Kelly, that Trump thinks our war casualties are "losers" and "suckers." The message that Trump's flag-hugging is nothing but a con needs to be repeated a million times.
Taking millions from the government of China while the sitting US president, and fawning over their dictator, yet proclaiming to be tough on China, should challenge his America First credentials. Yet, it doesn't.
Zach Beauchamp of Vox said it well on today's Beg to Differ: How do you break the fever of a people who refuse to even believe that medicine exists, let alone take it? In other words, what facts can be presented to change anyone's mind when their mind is already made up that those aren't the facts?
Trump’s flag-hugging was viscerally revolting to me, especially with the self-satisfied, smarmy grin that accompanied it. Imagine, just imagine a Democratic president doing that, without provoking outrage. The double standard is glaring; goes along with hypocrisy.
How does he get away with it? Easy. Republicans are inherently the most pro-military people alive. Voting records and statements can't change this basic fact. It all goes back to at least the Vietnam vet spitting incidents.
I saw an academic who looked into spitting on Vietnam Vets. He found ZERO contemporary news accounts of this happening. His conclusion is that the spitting was an urban legend that took on its own life and became conventional wisdom. I attended a tour at a cool historical site and one of the tour guides was a Vietnam Vet who still has a grudge about those spitters. I've decided that in my heart of hearts to be skeptical about the whole business, but outwardly I certainly won't challenge the conventional wisdom. The only thing that would have come from me confronting my tour guide was more anger and hatred. In public venues (except this one, I guess), I bite my tongue and pretend this great outrage occured.
Yes, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the serial liar, was sent out to knock the story down, during which she concocted another lie, claiming Trump personally called military families to let them know their family member had been killed. Here we have another feature of the Trumpist faithful. They don't just make up lies. They make up exceptionally dumb lies.
Democrats are suckers for letting her and her ilk have the last word. When will Dems realize that you can't say is just once? It needs to be a talking point that is repeated ad nauseum. Otherwise, people will forget about it, and just listen to the loudest most obnoxious voice (aka Trump and his surrogates)
Yes! This! Republicans have mastered the short, memorable, easily repeated (ad nauseum) political message. That’s what MAGA started as, and now it’s a movement that will be in the history books. Same with “Stop The Steal”. I will give Dems credit for “The Big Lie” in response. We need more of this.
Re the "weak, small, self absorbed weiner" --
One of John le Carrè's later novels, /Single and Single/, has a character nicknamed Tiger who is maybe not quite as vulgar as Trump but otherwise a quite Trump-like bully and crook. For most of the story, Tiger is unstoppable. Opposing him in any way is dangerous, and his iron grip on power seems mysterious and frightening. In the end, though, he is reduced to a total weiner. And one of the good guys muses, "Tiger's secret is that he has no secret." IOW there was no genius behind it, just a huge arrogant bluff that worked -- until it didn't -- because he had no scruples.
I think that line applies perfectly to Trump. Yes, he's dangerous, and he's got skills (or lizard cunning) and charisma (well, it works for some people), but it's hollow, and hollow doesn't work forever. That's not a reason for complacency, but it is a good reminder to keep the man's essential smallness in mind and respond to him accordingly. Trump's secret is that he has no secret. Kinzinger is right.
This made me look up T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men." That's the poem that ends "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper." Or, in the present case, a whine.
an orange Tiger at that
Your use of the word "hollow" brought back an old memory of a phrase I read in a 100 year old book about philosophical movements in Germany at the time, that I always thought applies equally well to the Trump phenomenon: Hollow and aggressive.
Totalitarians are always all powerful and unstoppable, until all of a sudden, they aren't. Let's hope that day comes before any more damage is done to our nation.
As long as there are enough people out their who secretly long to grovel in the dirt to the bully. I believe it's truly a psycho sexual inherent trait in a large section of humanity. I say that because they have always existed.
Amen.
"hollow doesn't work forever"
I'm not going to live forever either.
To be serious: The one place where Trump's supporters thing he is "large" is in the faith that he is a great patriot. See Tim Alberta's book with the central theme that Evangelicals have made an idol out of "America" and that Trump is seen as the leader of this pseudo-religion. One rule of politics is the need to attack your opponents strength. The most damning evidence that reveals Trump's "smallness" on the subject of patriotism is in the famous Atlantic piece, later confirmed by John Kelly, that Trump thinks our war casualties are "losers" and "suckers." The message that Trump's flag-hugging is nothing but a con needs to be repeated a million times.
Taking millions from the government of China while the sitting US president, and fawning over their dictator, yet proclaiming to be tough on China, should challenge his America First credentials. Yet, it doesn't.
Zach Beauchamp of Vox said it well on today's Beg to Differ: How do you break the fever of a people who refuse to even believe that medicine exists, let alone take it? In other words, what facts can be presented to change anyone's mind when their mind is already made up that those aren't the facts?
Trump’s flag-hugging was viscerally revolting to me, especially with the self-satisfied, smarmy grin that accompanied it. Imagine, just imagine a Democratic president doing that, without provoking outrage. The double standard is glaring; goes along with hypocrisy.
Yes, I always wondered how he has gotten away with disrespecting the military. Even much of the military gives him a pass.
How does he get away with it? Easy. Republicans are inherently the most pro-military people alive. Voting records and statements can't change this basic fact. It all goes back to at least the Vietnam vet spitting incidents.
Spitting incidents that have come under question. They always win the PR battles, even with lies. Especially with lies.
I saw an academic who looked into spitting on Vietnam Vets. He found ZERO contemporary news accounts of this happening. His conclusion is that the spitting was an urban legend that took on its own life and became conventional wisdom. I attended a tour at a cool historical site and one of the tour guides was a Vietnam Vet who still has a grudge about those spitters. I've decided that in my heart of hearts to be skeptical about the whole business, but outwardly I certainly won't challenge the conventional wisdom. The only thing that would have come from me confronting my tour guide was more anger and hatred. In public venues (except this one, I guess), I bite my tongue and pretend this great outrage occured.
I don't disagree with a single thing you said, but conventional wisdom has a stranglehold on people's opinions.
I doubt those comments were reported on Fox News and Alex Jones. And if they were, I'm sure it was dismissed as "fake news".
Yes, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the serial liar, was sent out to knock the story down, during which she concocted another lie, claiming Trump personally called military families to let them know their family member had been killed. Here we have another feature of the Trumpist faithful. They don't just make up lies. They make up exceptionally dumb lies.
Democrats are suckers for letting her and her ilk have the last word. When will Dems realize that you can't say is just once? It needs to be a talking point that is repeated ad nauseum. Otherwise, people will forget about it, and just listen to the loudest most obnoxious voice (aka Trump and his surrogates)
Yes! This! Republicans have mastered the short, memorable, easily repeated (ad nauseum) political message. That’s what MAGA started as, and now it’s a movement that will be in the history books. Same with “Stop The Steal”. I will give Dems credit for “The Big Lie” in response. We need more of this.