Summations Only

This is the best reaction I've seen yet to Trump's appalling Thursday press conference: Donald Trump Will Leave You Numb. Some excerpts:

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Almost every day of his administration so far contains sufficient grandiosity and delusion to be the end of a normal president’s productive relationship with Congress and support from all but the most stubbornly blind voters.

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And if you rewind to his campaign, you see the same pattern, with each rally, interview and debate packing in more petulance and vulgarity than an adult in a civilized society is supposed to get away with.
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He forces you to process and react to so many different outrages at such a dizzying velocity that no one of them has the staying power that it ought to or gets the scrutiny it deserves.

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...hurling insults, flinging lies, marinating in self-pity, luxuriating in self-love...

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...utterly fictitious claim that he’d done better in the Electoral College than any president since Ronald Reagan.
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It’s the appall-and-anesthetize political strategy.

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--Percy

You do have some serious mood swings, don't you?

There is no need to trash Trump; he is doing a great job at just that. All that is necessary is to honestly report what he does and says and what his henchmen do and say.

At least some of the complaints about Trump are surely due to one side, say the left, disagreeing with Trump policies, even though other parts deal with Trump acting like an idiot regardless of what his policies are. I put the lies and clear falsehoods in Trump's rant at the press during his press conference in the latter category.I have yet to see any of you righties take a stab at explaining Trump in any way that does not involve stupid conspiracy theories or juvenile attacks on Trump's critics. Perhaps you can change that impression?

Here's a transcript of Thursday's Trump press conference: Trump Press Conference 2/16/2017: Transcript. If you have a claim about Trump's performance that you'd like to challenge please refer to it. I would describe the press conference generally as unprecedentedly appalling in the history of presidential press conferences going back to Nixon. Here are some choice quotes supporting that characterization:

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...much of the media doesn't get it. They actually get it, but they don't write it.
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...many of our nation's reporters and folks will not tell you the truth...
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The press has become so dishonest...
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...the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.
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I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan.
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This administration is running like a fine- tuned machine,...
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In fact, we had to go quicker than we thought because of the bad decision we received from a circuit [the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals] that has been overturned at a record number. I have heard 80 percent, I find that hard to believe, that is just a number I heard, that they are overturned 80 percent of the time. I think that circuit is -- that circuit is in chaos and that circuit is frankly in turmoil.
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And, you know, you can talk all you want about Russia, which was all a, you know, fake news, fabricated deal, to try and make up for the loss of the Democrats and the press plays right into it.
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The failing New York Times...
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Russia is fake news.
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Wall Street Journal did a story today that was almost as disgraceful as the failing New York Time's story, yesterday.
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I've never seen more dishonest media than frankly, the political media.
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...the leaks are real...the news is fake...
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Tomorrow, they will say, "Donald Trump rants and raves at the press." I'm not ranting and raving. I'm just telling you. You know, you're dishonest people. But -- but I'm not ranting and raving. I love this. I'm having a good time doing it.

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There's much more, but that's enough of Trump, in his own words, demonstrating why his press conference was appalling.Here's one comment I loved from the press conference. I agree that there's too much lobbying. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to congress:

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To drain the swamp of corruption in Washington, D.C., I've started by imposing a five-year lobbying ban on White House officials and a lifetime ban on lobbying for a foreign government.

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--Percy

I understand that you don't like him and that's what invokes the name-calling, but I think I can possibly unlock what could be going on in your subconscious, that could help you better understand why you don't like him, and why it's not really very rational.Since the beginning of U.S. history, its presidents have always (until 8 years ago) been ~older white men~. Most of them, all but 9, have been over 50 years old. It's simple human nature for many people in their teens, twenties, and thirties to not be very interested in men over 50. Even as a little kid, in the days during and after the JFK presidency, I could see an excitement concerning Kennedy that was GONE when old-guy Lyndon Johnson took over. Then came old guy Nixon, old guy Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 41. A new excitement comparable to Kennedy was re-kindled somewhat with the studly Clinton, even though he was border-line old.But Obama!! A 40 something black guy! We had 8 years of a brand new, deep rooted satisfaction that was popular with liberals, with most black people, with horny young white ladies who increasingly like black guys, with younger university indoctrinated young people, with environmentalists, with most of the news media. It was embedded in so many people that we no longer had an old white guy as president, and even with the presidential term limits that they're all aware of, they simply didn't prepare themselves for the day it was going to be gone. They were somewhat prepared to make the transition to a woman president, but since Trump was so laughed at and ridiculed in the news, it just turned out to be too much of a jolt when Trump, another old white guy, actually became president.Many people didn't even realize until after he was president that he had a clock-stopping gorgeous daughter. Or that all his children are successful and disciplined. It wasn't until after he became president that it became obvious that he is just as passionate about his campaign promises now as he was during his campaign.Presidential campaigns are very expensive, and have been for a long time. I'd guess he's the first in 50 years, maybe even 100 years, who doesn't owe a special interest anything now that he's president. You say he acts like an idiot largely because you simply don't like him personally. During his news conference he showed wit and humor like no past president. And like no past president, he shows no fear of the partisan news media. The news media is finally being policed, and it's going to work.He's made mistakes, like the "more electoral votes than anyone" line, etc. It gets harped on a lot, unlike Obama's reference to "57 states". I can explain him this way, he's 70 years old, and seems to have the enthusiasm of a 30 year old. This, his children, his past business successes make his opponents BURN with jealousy. There's nothing more juvenile than the mainstream media attacks on him for the past year and a half. He's only human, he's going to get a little bit blustery in the face of that much hate. There are a few things about him personally that I don't like. I don't have to like them, I want a LEADER. That's what he is.

Why do they all have to be the same? He's the only president all the way back to Nixon and beyond who doesn't have to answer to any special interest organization that helped elect him. If it makes him a little more quick witted and unafraid of biased news reporters, what's wrong with that?

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...much of the media doesn't get it. They actually get it, but they don't write it.
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...many of our nation's reporters and folks will not tell you the truth...
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The press has become so dishonest...
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...the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.

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Many people believe these things to be true. Did you hear the knee-jerk news report that Trump removed the MLK statue from the oval office? This lie was a few weeks ago, it did get more attention than countless other lies the news media slips in to their reports.

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I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan

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He's made a few stupid mistakes, as did Obama. It's only appalling if you hate him. I've seen comments like "I think I'm beginning to like this guy" on the net, after that press conference. He has a personality, he doesn't have the deer-in-the-headlights look like so many past presidents who couldn't wait for it to be over, so they can go back to the White House and do nothing, or go on vacation. As he said, he enjoyed it. He's been doing that kind of thing all his life and he thrives on it. He's a leader. I'm honestly not sure what you mean when you say you "loved" it. Was it sarcasm, you believe he can't do anything about lobbying or corruption, and should give up on it, or you believe it's a good idea for him to address it? If it's the latter, I would hope it would counteract some of your personal dislike of him.

Donald Trump obviously defines "honesty" as saying what he wants - even if it is false, and not saying things he doesn't want even if they are true.Do you really think that the President should be dictating what the media do and do not say ? Or do you regard the idea as an attack on liberty ?

Read some Wilde.Or some of Churchill's stuff. Compare the following:"we have some bad hombres here and we're going to get them out.""Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."When it comes to wit, I'm afraid your hero's wit would shame a sloth.

And there are those of us who believe the news media defines honesty as saying anything it wants, and not saying things that favor Trump even if they are true. How is he "dictating"? Doesn't he have the right to say what he thinks? Having a free press goes both ways. They're not constitutionally protected from criticism. From anyone, including the president.

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And there are those of us who believe the news media defines honesty as saying anything it wants, and not saying things that favor Trump even if they are true.

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Which is hardly relevant to my point, even if it is true.

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How is he "dictating"? Doesn't he have the right to say what he thinks

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I didn't say that we was dictating, but it seems he would like to. And I don't think "he's not lying, he's delusional!" is a really good defence of a President if the United States.

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Having a free press goes both ways. They're not constitutionally protected from criticism. From anyone, including the president.

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So you see nothing wrong with a President who wants the press to be his personal propaganda machine. I somehow doubt that would be true if the President wasn't a Republican. And there are plenty here who would be appalled by the same behaviour from any political of any party.When someone complains because the media are too honest I am not likely to sympathise with them.

There's nothing wrong with that. I find his style and openness refreshing, but what he actually says is deplorable.This is the leader of the free world calling the press dishonest and liars and reporters of fake news. This is an unprecedented attack on a free press, not to mention untrue. If you have any good examples (the MLK bust report was retracted with an apology in a very short time) of the press making up news or lying, let us know. Perfection isn't one of the qualities we're looking for, but he keeps repeating this mistake about the electoral college, as well as a number of other mistakes. Besides being error-prone he's egomaniacal, misogynistic and incredibly thin-skinned. He has the wrong temperament and experience for the job of president, already demonstrated by his many missteps and miscues, all accomplished in less than a month. Instead of reaching out to unify the country he's encouraging divisiveness. Instead of enjoying an early-in-his-term honeymoon month he's putting on a horror show. But I don't hate him. I just don't think he has the necessary qualities to be president. He's a wheeler-dealer with a heaping portion of the shyster about him ("It'll be fabulous, the best ever!"). I made my position clear earlier in this thread when I said that a big problem with our political system is the value of political influence. One of the symptoms is rampant lobbying, fed by the revolving door of government where legislators and other government employees serve time in Washington then roll back into town as lobbyists.--Percy

Translation: "No I [marc9000] cannot take a stab at explaining Trump in any way that does not involve stupid conspiracy theories or juvenile attacks on Trump's critics.Your message contained a lot of comments, and I can tell that they are heart-felt. But you also proved my point. Quite frankly, I think I do understand the appeal of Trump, and I could explain it in terms that don't make folks look/sound like idiots to folks like me. Apparently, such a task is nigh impossible for most of the Trump supporters who post here. It's also apparent that from this thread that at least some Trump supporters (I definitely do not consider you in this insult) are idiots who believe just about every right wing conspiracy theory I they've ever heard. Well, no. I say that because of the ridiculous things he says that are clearly not facts. There are also some of his policies that I don't consider merely wrong, but also unconstitutional and racist/xenophobic. I don't know Trump personally, but he has a reputation for treating the folks he does business with poorly.Example. That nonsense he spouted about his electoral victory of 306 votes, which by the way was actually 304, being the greatest margin since Reagan was idiotic. His defense when called on that statement was equally idiotic. I'd make the same comment if Obama said the same thing.

that's just silly. Sure, I don't doubt there are people out there that hate Trump but personally my reaction is far from hate, it's far more incredulity. My reaction is constantly "Can you believe he actually said something that stupid?" or "Can you believe he actually did something that stupid?" or "Is it really possible that he is really as clueless of legality and morality as he seems?" or 'Isn't there anyone around him that can point out that he is wearing no clothes?"Is he really simply surrounding himself with nothing but gutless sycophants?

How absolutely true it is is subjective, I and many others find it to be more true than completely false. It's his style to be blunt to forcefully get his point across. Some people require bluntness to understand something. It's who the people elected. A retraction with an apology doesn't heal all the damage. Some casual viewers of any little bits of news don't always get the message. There are still a number of people who believe he removed it. I believe the news media sometimes does that intentionally, for sensationalism purposes. Tell a lie, then quietly retract it when caught, knowing that a certain number of people don't hear the retraction. Why should they be afraid to do it, there's no law against it. It only takes a small spark to irreversibly outrage black racists, which makes for great ratings. And yes, I'll readily admit that Fox News is just as guilty, but no more guilty, than the rest.My earlier reference to ABC World News Tonight using a skit from Saturday Night Live's use of clowns to portray Sean Spicer and others, as objective news reporting, is enough for them and others to try to understand Trump's blunt words about the press. Another is from back in 1994, when I distinctly remember then World News Tonight's Peter Jennings claiming that (the 1994 Republican House and Senate victories) was a result of "the voters had a temper tantrum".These things can't be labeled as pure lies, but today's mainstream news reporting is loaded with these types of distortions. It's easy to mislead people who aren't paying too much attention, today's news reporters are masters at it. He couldn't have become a billionaire if he had all those problems. Thin skinned?? He's actually incredibly thick skinned, considering all the hate he's been fielding from the left ever since he announced his candidacy. He's able to remain focused on his campaign promises in spite of it all, at age 70. Unify the country? Do you think those who laughed at him and mocked him and ridiculed the thought of him becoming president for 18 months are going to be unified? Did Obama set a good example for him to unify, considering Obama was out golfing when there were race riots going on in Baltimore and other places? The U.S. is almost $20 trillion in debt. I can guarantee you that his voters didn't vote for a honeymoon. And you believe Trump is less capable of addressing that than the alternative, Hillary Clinton, or Sanders?