Specifically Crisp Accountant, Journalist, USAF vet, Atheist & Ordained Minister. Amateur musician. #NeverTrump
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even it means making stuff up. 2) As to Malignant Narcissism in particular, Trump is an uncommonly spectacular example. Just as one need not be a doctor to notice that someone is limping, or that it doesn't take a zoologist to recognize a giraffe, Trump's megalomania can be assessed at distance.
"I realize this makes me no fun." Geez, Tom. A little wild speculation never hurt no one. Two quick observations: 1) The secrecy around Trump's health invites speculation, and this is human nature. We are pattern-seeking animals with a strong tendency to fill gaps in our narratives
They sound great. I had no idea they were a thing.
I readily believe what he's saying, but I kinda wish it was someone other than Lev saying it.
Nothing is true and everything is possible.
One of the best songs on the album.
To impress his Russian "business associates."
It is definitely a Russian aesthetic. It's medieval and reeks of empire.
Vance: "Hey guys, I need a moment alone with him."
Let's all say a little prayer tonight.
Translation: I've never felt this bad in my life!
Mine: youtu.be/GwCPFwGkcMc?...
Is he going gently into that good night?
With a valium IV?
Elvis?
NOTHING CAN STOP WHAT IS COMING
This is inspirational.
Or by accidentally making him seem smart.
Who wants to play Wild Speculation with me? a) He fell and has a conspicuous mark on his head or face. b) He had a non-fatal heart attack or stroke. c) He's ill and his doctor told him he has a short time to live. Pick one or submit your own list!
I wrote this earlier today, in reference to Trump's sycophants: Can anyone imagine this level of leader-worship being suddenly transferred to Vance? No. You can't. The whole dynamic of the infallible, invincible, all-knowing god-man will vanish. MAGA will be headless.
I'm a cult survivor who has studied the phenomenon carefully over the years since my experience. Jack is right. MAGA is built entirely upon lies and illusions sold by one man, and his followers don't want anyone else. Trump alone is the animating force of MAGA. When he's gone, it all unravels.
www.jackhopkinsnow.com
The celebrations will be seen from space. The dancing in the streets will register as seismic activity. Millions of champagne corks will pop, church bells will ring and white doves will be loosed. All nations shall rejoice.
He is now confronted by his mortality, and the prospect of a world without him. He knows he cannot cheat death. He is utterly powerless. I love this for him, honestly.
This, from the guy who claims "the world respects us again."
"What happens next" is the million-dollar question. I don't know. We will have to find a new and better way forward, because there is no going back. Dissolving the Union means state lines will become international borders, which I see as highly problematic. Think it all the way through.
Tangential, but related: Can anyone imagine this level of leader-worship being suddenly transferred to Vance? No. You can't. The whole dynamic of the infallible, invincible, all-knowing god-man will vanish. MAGA will be headless.
Nothing even needs to be said.
This is a highly effective way of messaging. 1. It's clear and concise, i.e. Memorable. 2. It's artistically beautiful. 3. It personalizes the struggle, 4. without going Ad Hominem, because it's framed as a question, a plea, a prayer. I think America needs more of this.
I can already hear the talking heads on Fox deriding the joyful as ghouls who hate America and celebrate death.
When and where was this pic taken?
A SINGLE BLURRY PHOTO WILL NOT CRUSH OUR HOPE.
THOSE DAMN CRIMINAL FREELOADERS
He won't release his tax returns. He won't release his college transcripts. He won't release his medical records. He won't release the Epstein files. Yet we all know: Innocent people don't hide exonerating evidence. Legitimate people don't hide their credentials.
Did you make that?
That's fucking awesome.
THEN he says the rush to blame GUNS is sad and pathetic. He's just a freewheeling bullshitter who counts on an audience incapable of independent thought. He'll say anything to confirm their bias because there's lots of money in it. Hannity is not stupid, he simply has no use for the truth.
Metal detectors don't detect crazy people. They detect metal objects and alert when the mass meets or surpasses a certain threshold. So, what Hannity proposes is identifying GUNS. That is the sole indicator of a threat, because you don't know anything else about the person being screened.
Insecurity, fear and anxiety almost always behind overtly controlling behavior.
I don't think he'll be around that long.
Whenever he mentions Biden or Obama, his words should be thrown back in his face. "But as President, they had the right to do whatever they wanted. You said it yourself."
He's a delusional bullshitter, constantly feigning expertise and insight he doesn't have. Just like Trump.
You mean it's not enough to be right?
Anybody seen Mitch McConnell lately?
He saw a conflict and had to make it all about himself. As always. No matter what the issue, if he weighs in it becomes a de facto Trump story. He doesn't just chase the spotlight, he hijacks it.
youtu.be/VonEMYVIi1U?...
I choose to believe cats are also attracted to high IQ humans. Because they seem to love me especially.
not to do something, that thing goes straight to the top of their priority list. Give them unsolicited advice and they do the opposite. I think this explains a lot of his stupid, seemingly inexplicable behavior.
Maybe so. There's another possibility, too, namely that he keeps repeating it precisely because someone tried to correct him. I raised a son diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. I've seen it and lived with it. And I see that behavior in Trump every day. When asked, told or warned
Not one person in the room points out that it's impossible to reduce the price of anything by 1500%.
Leprosy?
It's the arrogance of a man who thinks he's untouchable. The whole administration is diseased with it.
I agree. Above all else, Trump needs to "win."
I think you're onto something
Maybe we're all the same person at different stages.
They are waging war against truth itself.
Our negotiation with Japan consisted of a mushroom cloud over Hiroshima, a demand for unconditional surrender, then a second mushroom cloud over Nagasaki to prod them along because they were dragging their feet.
Accomplice #1 says accomplice #2 didn't do anything wrong. Accomplice #2 claims exoneration, and will twist that into an argument that accomplice #1 must also be innocent, since it's now been proven that everything was a hoax and a witch-hunt.
If anything, the Epstein files are distracting us from troops in our streets.
Pushing relentlessly in all directions at once is not distraction. It's what tyrants do. The strategy is to overwhelm, not distract. It works. Doing all the crimes at once IS overwhelming.
A history professor in college told our class that it was a crime to educate slaves in the US. He also said this was typical of slave economies throughout history. "But wait," one may object, "we're not slaves." Not yet. Think it all the way through.
I think America is going to get President Vance for Christmas.
If Cracker Barrel is your "culture and heritage," you really need to get out more.
It's puzzling. There's nothing unusual about a restaurant chain updating its logo, signage and aesthetic. It happens all the time. Where is the offense? The new logo looks less cluttered. The only thing I can think of is that the image of the old white dude is gone. Is that it?
I thought the solar didn't work at night?
I think we're getting close to that actually happening.
You know what's maddening? MAGA won't see this.
Anyone with a moral compass and a modicum of intelligence should feel the same. He's repulsive.
The thing about John Bolton is Donald Trump is all over the Epstein files.
He's just bullshiting his way through another press session. He speaks in vague generalities, offers nothing concrete, and commits to nothing. It's all empty bluster. I swear, Trump can talk for hours without saying a damn thing.
TWO WEEKS! Erbody drink!
The craziest thing about the raid is that Trump raped young girls with Epstein.
As if giving one's life to Christ happens in a moment, when you say the magic prayer and the angels in heaven's accounting dept make an entry in the books. That's Cracker Barrel religion.
Give a Malignant Narcissist power, and the god complex kicks in. Ironically, this is also the mechanism of self-destruction. Dementia only compounds the problem.
Those abroad don't watch Fox News. They see the reality of the madness that has enthralled our nation.
In the top photo, Trump is pointing out something on Putin's attire. The man on his left is leaning in to get a closer look. At first glance, it appears Trump is being stern with Putin. But look closer, it seems more likely he's complimenting Putin's tie, or something.
I often wonder who and what I would be today if I had taken the path of least resistance by simply carrying on. That may be the point at which the environment turned me into a truly horrible human.
I was in my 30s when it began to fall apart in my mind. I gained distance and objectivity, I got an education, and events in my life taught me - finally! - to trust my own judgement. Let me tell you: Disillusionment can be devastating. But in my case, it ultimately freed my mind.
Could it be both? I fell into that scene when I was about 19. It's clear in retrospect that I needed somewhere to belong. Joining a church provided instant community. It also kept me out of jail when my friends turned to crime. It took a while for me to see the toxicity beneath the surface.
Medieval treachery and mafia tactics define his government, yet he whines about not being taken seriously by the western world. That bears a resemblance to a sociopathic criminal complaining that he is being unfairly targeted for disciplinary measures.
Hey guys, don't forget "...at levels never seen before!"
I think it's just another shakedown. He's telling the cartels, "Nice establishment you got there. Be a shame if something happened to it. Lucky for you, I happen to be in a position to ensure your protection. For a reasonable fee." It's an offer they can't refuse.
I'm a 58-year-old middle-class white guy. I think the nation needs more women in office at all levels.
So clueless, he's attracting attention to it. Barbara Streisand effect.
It's the malicious intent that matters.
Trump rolled out a literal red carpet on the tarmac for Putin in Alaska. Lunch was to be held for "His Excellency" Vladimir Putin. A title of royalty. Remember? The only thing historic about Trump's involvement is his utter betrayal of longstanding allies, in order to appease Putin.
During his second campaign, he said on national TV that he would encourage Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" in Ukraine. Remember? Trump has repeatedly blamed the conflict on Ukraine. He has implied many times that Ukraine should have surrendered at the outset.
"Historic success?" Trump has done nothing but run cover for Putin and embolden him. His first comment to the press was that Putin's invasion was "brilliant." He tried to pressure Zelenski into announcing an investigation of Hunter Biden, by making military aid contingent upon it. Remember?
A lunatic with nukes is no joke, yet I had to laugh. It's surreal, isn't it?
Again, Trump deflects blame away from Russia by ignoring the clear context of her remarks and reframing the issue as a "worldwide problem of missing children." She's addressing "this war," Russia and Ukranian children specifically. Feigning solidarity, he removes Russia from the equation.
It means nothing. Wait to see what actually happens. Trump and his minions lie constantly about everything.
The core of Jack Smith's argument was that the President has NO ROLE in elections, therefore none of Trump's election interference schemes fall under "official acts." The President has no authority over state elections. None. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Now would be a good time to review what Jack Smith wrote about the President's role in elections (none) and how it relates to immunity for "offical acts." www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Now would be a good time to review what Jack Smith wrote about the President's role in elections (none) and how it relates to immunity for "offical acts." www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Shiny objects and toys. That's our President.
Notice he deflects blame from Russia by framing it as a "worldwide problem."