“Because in his mind, if it wasn’t said on TV while he was watching, it didn’t happen.” This is so very true.
“Trump seems to almost thrive on feeling disrespected.” He has been treated like dirt by the New York elite all his life not because he is “new money” but more because he’s a turd that no amount of polish can shine up and make tolerable. He’s hated that fact all his life but has done nothing to change their opinion of him.
“Winning and/or defiance is innocence; guilty verdicts or admitting mistakes are for losers.” This is why Trump is so very dangerous. Eventually his luck will run out, but it will be the rest of us that pay his bill.
“Trump grabbed a political opportunity hiding in plain sight: to protect Social Security and Medicare.” This will be the GOP’s undoing as without boosting revenues (i.e., tax the rich), there is no financial way to keep this going.
“Trump made bipartisanship look like betrayal.” Very true!
“Whatever one thinks of Trump, the fact that he has more of the country engaged daily should ultimately serve us well.” Yes, but … I am tired of the daily reality shit show. I have never liked reality TV and this show positively sucks just like his first show ‘The Apprentice’ (which I never watched). Unfortunately, I cannot change the channel to get rid of it.
The staying power of Trump would not at all have been possible without a growing right-wing media apparatus that fails to hold anything Trump or the GOP do to account. In fact, they've collectively been so effective in polishing a turd that millions upon millions of people are truly incapable of believing their Dear Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Naked though he is, they'll claim he's wearing the finest threads until their last day on Earth. This cult cannot be broken.
So I agree with this observation. I think one of the big mistakes “we” collectively made in the media and political ecosystem was trying to “deplatform” trump… (i was a minority voice arguing against banning him), there was this mistaken belief that denying him or Jan 6 supporters traditional media access, it would starve the movement. All it did was inspire the creation of an alt eco system that is arguably more destructive to our collective info eco system than the amount of time we mistakenly spent “gawking” at Trump in the earlier part of the last decade
Agree 100%. The real question now is how to fix it… or at least how to move things in a more positive direction. I’d hate to think that we’re all confined to a post-truth world where more than half of us are being fed a perpetual diet of misinformation.
Chuck, excellent piece. I think you capture the essence but if I could just add. Our President saw how every politician lies to his voters in one way or another and our President determine, like you stated to a lesser extent, it does not matter. IMHO most Americans want to be left alone and they could care less about the marketing opportunities that our President has utilized. Just look at Congress, and this is not “what about issue” seems every member of Congress comes to DC and leaves a lot, and I mean a lot richer. Look at the media. Brent Hume sold his house for $23M, Sam Donaldson’s place sold for $8M. Seems like the media gate keepers are doing the same thing, enriching themselves. Present company included as homes in North Arlington sell for seven and eight figures and those private secondary schools are $50K a year are they not. Do you see that our President on to something or what….
This account is fine, so far as it goes. The big piece missing here is the failure of the media (I would argue even still today) to accurately document and react what the Trump movement is actually doing and seeks to do.
“Because in his mind, if it wasn’t said on TV while he was watching, it didn’t happen.” This is so very true.
“Trump seems to almost thrive on feeling disrespected.” He has been treated like dirt by the New York elite all his life not because he is “new money” but more because he’s a turd that no amount of polish can shine up and make tolerable. He’s hated that fact all his life but has done nothing to change their opinion of him.
“Winning and/or defiance is innocence; guilty verdicts or admitting mistakes are for losers.” This is why Trump is so very dangerous. Eventually his luck will run out, but it will be the rest of us that pay his bill.
“Trump grabbed a political opportunity hiding in plain sight: to protect Social Security and Medicare.” This will be the GOP’s undoing as without boosting revenues (i.e., tax the rich), there is no financial way to keep this going.
“Trump made bipartisanship look like betrayal.” Very true!
“Whatever one thinks of Trump, the fact that he has more of the country engaged daily should ultimately serve us well.” Yes, but … I am tired of the daily reality shit show. I have never liked reality TV and this show positively sucks just like his first show ‘The Apprentice’ (which I never watched). Unfortunately, I cannot change the channel to get rid of it.
The staying power of Trump would not at all have been possible without a growing right-wing media apparatus that fails to hold anything Trump or the GOP do to account. In fact, they've collectively been so effective in polishing a turd that millions upon millions of people are truly incapable of believing their Dear Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Naked though he is, they'll claim he's wearing the finest threads until their last day on Earth. This cult cannot be broken.
So I agree with this observation. I think one of the big mistakes “we” collectively made in the media and political ecosystem was trying to “deplatform” trump… (i was a minority voice arguing against banning him), there was this mistaken belief that denying him or Jan 6 supporters traditional media access, it would starve the movement. All it did was inspire the creation of an alt eco system that is arguably more destructive to our collective info eco system than the amount of time we mistakenly spent “gawking” at Trump in the earlier part of the last decade
Agree 100%. The real question now is how to fix it… or at least how to move things in a more positive direction. I’d hate to think that we’re all confined to a post-truth world where more than half of us are being fed a perpetual diet of misinformation.
Nope, I do not listen to the complicit Chuck Todd
Chuck, excellent piece. I think you capture the essence but if I could just add. Our President saw how every politician lies to his voters in one way or another and our President determine, like you stated to a lesser extent, it does not matter. IMHO most Americans want to be left alone and they could care less about the marketing opportunities that our President has utilized. Just look at Congress, and this is not “what about issue” seems every member of Congress comes to DC and leaves a lot, and I mean a lot richer. Look at the media. Brent Hume sold his house for $23M, Sam Donaldson’s place sold for $8M. Seems like the media gate keepers are doing the same thing, enriching themselves. Present company included as homes in North Arlington sell for seven and eight figures and those private secondary schools are $50K a year are they not. Do you see that our President on to something or what….
Best
Lynn
This account is fine, so far as it goes. The big piece missing here is the failure of the media (I would argue even still today) to accurately document and react what the Trump movement is actually doing and seeks to do.