I find worrysome the long (longer and longer) list of caveat that must be prefaced to what Trump does and say every time one has to explain Trump. Hopefully this longer and longer list won’t end up including things related to fundamental rights and personal dignity. I hope that eventually it won’t prove we are all telling ourselves a story, because normally, in human nature, the disconnect between what one is and what one does, doesn’t last long.
This is always the tension, Simone. Because at once, we are forced to listen to the bombast, and yet appreciate that what is happening without the bombast is not bad. That's not to whitewash everything, but I think we can recognize that actually, NATO does need to man up, Greenland is important, etc etc. But I couldn't agree more that I would be grateful for a little less talk. And a little more empathy.
You want personal dignity — stay away from NYC real estate developers. They play tough, act tough, … and are rude. After a hitch in government where people speak in such modest tones, I worked on a bankruptcy with a bunch of NYC investment bankers and lawyers. That was an education in “peckers on the table” — which was the first thing I heard in one of my first meetings.
I learned that people (men and women), who play nice and talk in modulation rarely move things in the real world. Jamie Dimon may be polished, but he is a shark. Obama had a sonorous voice and nice cadence, but he was more or less a figure head sitting over some pretty rough people (David Axelrod) who seemed nice enough and carried Ka-bars. Hillary is more the model I saw. She worked on Capitol Hill on the Watergate investigation and learned from a friend how she became and acted rough and tumble to cover up her diminutive presence. You think Justice Sotomayor is dignified?
Dignity checks out where the action is hot and hot is where things happen — good or bad.
Over ten years ago, on August 21, 2015, a brash, twice-divorced, salty-mouthed New York real estate developer and low-TV celebrity landed in the heart of the Bible Belt in Mobile, Alabama for what would become the defining moment in his political rise. Alabama’s Senator Jeff Sessions vacillated on whether to attend the rally, but when he heard the size of crowd, he made a showing but no endorsement. I happened to turn on my computer and watched Trump’s delivery. It was horrid — but surprisingly, better than he sounded this week at Davos (he’s gotten sloppier, less disciplined, and more talkative with time). He seemed nervous that day in Alabama. The rally was to be at the Holiday Inn and at the last moment was moved to an open stadium — high school maybe? And it was packed. He arrived by Trump #1, in its brilliant colors. He rolled up in a Cadillac Escalade motorcade. He walked onto the stage and before he said a word, the crowd loved him. I was impressed with his ability to communicate simple ideas inside complex wanderings. Some how it worked and lit people up.
CNN and the media muppets could not take their eyes off him, but his possible presence in the Republican primary was not to be taken seriously. For the media and intellectual circles, Trump was a thorn in the paw of the Republicans who would weaken their prospects against their beloved Hillary, a candidate only a mother could love. Trump was a fool and if they gave him air-time, they could prove it. And, he drew audiences which justified advertising fees. So promote his candidacy, make it sound real, and cash the checks from the advertisers — there was a war on between and amongst cable and traditional news.
Since Alabama, I have rarely listened to Trump speak. I can’t stand his loquacious verbiage, and incessant repetition. It’s a cross between NY Taxi driver and New York $10 million condo salesman. Awful. Punctuated with “huuuge,” “you’re gonna like it,” and “better than you have ever seen, better than ever occurred before.” He is the P.T. Barnum of Queens. One would think he never went to college or had to write a paper. I am sure he took rhetoric from the guys who sold the Ginzu knife, Sham-wow, Chia Pet, and Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman. His thoughts (and dreadful speeches) are full of u-turns, diversions, promises, claims, exaggerations, and constant jabs Joe Biden, some inconsequential political critic, the rigged election, or Green New Deal.
But he and Eldridge Colby/Steven Miller (who is more domestic focused)/Marco Rubio/Pete Hegseth seem to be redefining American foreign policy by seizing the IDF’s latest triumph and the impact of the SUCCESSFUL (so far) Trump Economic Tariff War to yield up the first AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY since the Cold War Ended. That strategy is Box China, rip clients from it, grind down Russia and separate it from China(Kissinger part II), preemptively remove all threats near and far to the US and Europe, force Europe to face-up and man-up, neutralize trouble spots, gain critical base rights and critical mineral rights, and slowly restore American influence and control over its destiny. This supports CINCPAC’s (Adm.’s Davidson/Paparo) foresight regarding the First Chain. And if they can hold the course (and keep the Democrats form interfering it will work.
On the home front, his adversary is Globalization, which I can attest from living and working in Asia and Europe, has done America few favors except to buy cheap stuff at Wall Mart. But cheap is not a good life, just a life with packed garages and many trips to the garbage cans to get rid of the junk. Disposable is not meaningful. Bessent, who I absolutely love as a candidate for VP in 2028, laid it out best. Globalization strengthens adversaries, makes us dependent upon them, and undermines our civil society. Lutnick also drilled the point. A key element of the war on Globalization is erecting borders and getting rid of illegal immigrant gangs and criminals — and wow, are there so many. The ICE raids are dividing the country, but expect the most headline grabbing raids will be over by around March to calm things down before the fall elections.
Some, … many walked out of Bessent’s and Lutnick’s speeches at Davos — and they looked petty, guilty, and intolerant. Europeans, working in similar jobs to the Americans, earn 30% or more less than Americans. How and why did that happen? Tax, regulation, faux environmentalism that moves manufacturing to mostly coal powered China, and the silly idea that building a VW plant in China is a sustainable business strategy. While humans and the world have evolved, the Chinese will eventually learn and steal and consume American, Japanese, or European technology, do it almost as well, maybe improve it, and then push the American and Chinese companies out. And that is what is happening — I saw and lived it first hand. And I kept my ventures in China to a minimum and disguised the technology to fool them. But, our competitors did not — and they were slayed first. So, the accounting wealth VW, Bayer and others think they are creating is a mirage. Yes, Porsche sold boatloads of cars in China, … and now its sales are down 40%. In fact, China just got a wonderful deal to export cheap electric vehicles to Canada — Prime Minister Carney spent too much time in Britain as an elite thinking of ways to make Britain serfs — and that is exactly what they are becoming.
I have to say, turn Trump off, read what is happening, watch. If you listen, turn up the heat on the fire to render down Trump’s talk to a few, confused, poorly worded statements. And then you will get the gist.
(BTW, who ever thought a guy who talks like he does could get elected, twice, … and maybe nearly three times.). His speaking style is the exact opposite of the Christine Laguade/Barack Obama condescending Davoisie political millionaires. He talks like he is drinking a beer at a tavern with the Johnstown hockey farm team playing on the TV in the background. It connects!!!
I find worrysome the long (longer and longer) list of caveat that must be prefaced to what Trump does and say every time one has to explain Trump. Hopefully this longer and longer list won’t end up including things related to fundamental rights and personal dignity. I hope that eventually it won’t prove we are all telling ourselves a story, because normally, in human nature, the disconnect between what one is and what one does, doesn’t last long.
This is always the tension, Simone. Because at once, we are forced to listen to the bombast, and yet appreciate that what is happening without the bombast is not bad. That's not to whitewash everything, but I think we can recognize that actually, NATO does need to man up, Greenland is important, etc etc. But I couldn't agree more that I would be grateful for a little less talk. And a little more empathy.
You want personal dignity — stay away from NYC real estate developers. They play tough, act tough, … and are rude. After a hitch in government where people speak in such modest tones, I worked on a bankruptcy with a bunch of NYC investment bankers and lawyers. That was an education in “peckers on the table” — which was the first thing I heard in one of my first meetings.
I learned that people (men and women), who play nice and talk in modulation rarely move things in the real world. Jamie Dimon may be polished, but he is a shark. Obama had a sonorous voice and nice cadence, but he was more or less a figure head sitting over some pretty rough people (David Axelrod) who seemed nice enough and carried Ka-bars. Hillary is more the model I saw. She worked on Capitol Hill on the Watergate investigation and learned from a friend how she became and acted rough and tumble to cover up her diminutive presence. You think Justice Sotomayor is dignified?
Dignity checks out where the action is hot and hot is where things happen — good or bad.
Over ten years ago, on August 21, 2015, a brash, twice-divorced, salty-mouthed New York real estate developer and low-TV celebrity landed in the heart of the Bible Belt in Mobile, Alabama for what would become the defining moment in his political rise. Alabama’s Senator Jeff Sessions vacillated on whether to attend the rally, but when he heard the size of crowd, he made a showing but no endorsement. I happened to turn on my computer and watched Trump’s delivery. It was horrid — but surprisingly, better than he sounded this week at Davos (he’s gotten sloppier, less disciplined, and more talkative with time). He seemed nervous that day in Alabama. The rally was to be at the Holiday Inn and at the last moment was moved to an open stadium — high school maybe? And it was packed. He arrived by Trump #1, in its brilliant colors. He rolled up in a Cadillac Escalade motorcade. He walked onto the stage and before he said a word, the crowd loved him. I was impressed with his ability to communicate simple ideas inside complex wanderings. Some how it worked and lit people up.
CNN and the media muppets could not take their eyes off him, but his possible presence in the Republican primary was not to be taken seriously. For the media and intellectual circles, Trump was a thorn in the paw of the Republicans who would weaken their prospects against their beloved Hillary, a candidate only a mother could love. Trump was a fool and if they gave him air-time, they could prove it. And, he drew audiences which justified advertising fees. So promote his candidacy, make it sound real, and cash the checks from the advertisers — there was a war on between and amongst cable and traditional news.
Since Alabama, I have rarely listened to Trump speak. I can’t stand his loquacious verbiage, and incessant repetition. It’s a cross between NY Taxi driver and New York $10 million condo salesman. Awful. Punctuated with “huuuge,” “you’re gonna like it,” and “better than you have ever seen, better than ever occurred before.” He is the P.T. Barnum of Queens. One would think he never went to college or had to write a paper. I am sure he took rhetoric from the guys who sold the Ginzu knife, Sham-wow, Chia Pet, and Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman. His thoughts (and dreadful speeches) are full of u-turns, diversions, promises, claims, exaggerations, and constant jabs Joe Biden, some inconsequential political critic, the rigged election, or Green New Deal.
But he and Eldridge Colby/Steven Miller (who is more domestic focused)/Marco Rubio/Pete Hegseth seem to be redefining American foreign policy by seizing the IDF’s latest triumph and the impact of the SUCCESSFUL (so far) Trump Economic Tariff War to yield up the first AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY since the Cold War Ended. That strategy is Box China, rip clients from it, grind down Russia and separate it from China(Kissinger part II), preemptively remove all threats near and far to the US and Europe, force Europe to face-up and man-up, neutralize trouble spots, gain critical base rights and critical mineral rights, and slowly restore American influence and control over its destiny. This supports CINCPAC’s (Adm.’s Davidson/Paparo) foresight regarding the First Chain. And if they can hold the course (and keep the Democrats form interfering it will work.
On the home front, his adversary is Globalization, which I can attest from living and working in Asia and Europe, has done America few favors except to buy cheap stuff at Wall Mart. But cheap is not a good life, just a life with packed garages and many trips to the garbage cans to get rid of the junk. Disposable is not meaningful. Bessent, who I absolutely love as a candidate for VP in 2028, laid it out best. Globalization strengthens adversaries, makes us dependent upon them, and undermines our civil society. Lutnick also drilled the point. A key element of the war on Globalization is erecting borders and getting rid of illegal immigrant gangs and criminals — and wow, are there so many. The ICE raids are dividing the country, but expect the most headline grabbing raids will be over by around March to calm things down before the fall elections.
Some, … many walked out of Bessent’s and Lutnick’s speeches at Davos — and they looked petty, guilty, and intolerant. Europeans, working in similar jobs to the Americans, earn 30% or more less than Americans. How and why did that happen? Tax, regulation, faux environmentalism that moves manufacturing to mostly coal powered China, and the silly idea that building a VW plant in China is a sustainable business strategy. While humans and the world have evolved, the Chinese will eventually learn and steal and consume American, Japanese, or European technology, do it almost as well, maybe improve it, and then push the American and Chinese companies out. And that is what is happening — I saw and lived it first hand. And I kept my ventures in China to a minimum and disguised the technology to fool them. But, our competitors did not — and they were slayed first. So, the accounting wealth VW, Bayer and others think they are creating is a mirage. Yes, Porsche sold boatloads of cars in China, … and now its sales are down 40%. In fact, China just got a wonderful deal to export cheap electric vehicles to Canada — Prime Minister Carney spent too much time in Britain as an elite thinking of ways to make Britain serfs — and that is exactly what they are becoming.
I have to say, turn Trump off, read what is happening, watch. If you listen, turn up the heat on the fire to render down Trump’s talk to a few, confused, poorly worded statements. And then you will get the gist.
(BTW, who ever thought a guy who talks like he does could get elected, twice, … and maybe nearly three times.). His speaking style is the exact opposite of the Christine Laguade/Barack Obama condescending Davoisie political millionaires. He talks like he is drinking a beer at a tavern with the Johnstown hockey farm team playing on the TV in the background. It connects!!!