Donald Trump Presidency discussion Thread VI

duploelabs

Itssoeasy wrote: »

That doctoring of the NHC map of the hurricane will be an SNL sketch next season.

I'm just surprised that there isn't a scrawled 'happy mister Sun' wearing sunglasses at the top with DJT etched in the bottom right corner

everlast75

antix80 wrote: »

Neither.

It wasn't a slip of the tongue. I think he was mistaken, which he put down to info he had being out-of-date.

I don't think his ego is the reason he didnt correct himself. I think he makes a conscious decision not to apologise or admit to mistakes. Whether it's what his supporters want, or it's good for his brand, or because he doesn't want his enemies to appear more intelligent, or give news channels a sound bite.. it doesn't really matter.

Here's an example..
http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-if-hell-find-an-excuse-if-hes-wrong-about-kim-jong-un-2018-6



Now i don't know if he clarified those remarks, or they were meant as a joke, or if he denied making them.

But now you know this is how he speaks and how he acts, maybe you'll learn to accept it's just his way.

Another one for the "mop and bucket" bridage.

It's embarrassing at this stage.

The truth (yes, that still exists!) is that he made a mistake and he is too much of a narcissist to admit a mistake. He always doubles down, even when it is cringeworthy to all who see it.

PS - isn't it hilarious. When Biden makes a gaff, he's too senile to run the Country. When Trump makes a gaff, he's joking, or its how he speaks, "maybe you'll learn to accept it's just his way". Utter nonsense

antix80

everlast75 wrote: »

Another one for the "mop and bucket" bridage.

It's embarrassing at this stage.

The truth (yes, that still exists!) is that he made a mistake and he is too much of a narcissist to admit a mistake . He always doubles down, even when it is cringeworthy to all who see it.

PS - isn't it hilarious. When Biden makes a gaff, he's too senile to run the Country. When Trump makes a gaff, he's joking, or its how he speaks, "maybe you'll learn to accept it's just his way". Utter nonsense

The bit in bold.. Yes, he made a mistake. You can only assume the reason he won't admit it is because he's a narcissist. Why not a psychopath? Why not a pathological liar? All different disorders, what qualifies you to say narcissist?
My view, he knows what he's doing when he double downs and launches attacks. Not saying it's socially acceptable in all cases but it works for his agenda.

As for Biden.. Remains to be seen if he has the stamina til election day, let alone a term in office.

listermint

antix80 wrote: »

The bit in bold.. Yes, he made a mistake. You can only assume the reason he won't admit it is because he's a narcissist. Why not a psychopath? Why not a pathological liar? All different disorders, what qualifies you to say narcissist?
My view, he knows what he's doing when he double downs and launches attacks. Not saying it's socially acceptable in all cases but it works for his agenda.

As for Biden.. Remains to be seen if he has the stamina til election day, let alone a term in office.

Are you honestly asking after 4 years, how Trump is considered a narcissist?

Genuine question.

duploelabs

antix80 wrote: »

The bit in bold.. Yes, he made a mistake. You can only assume the reason he won't admit it is because he's a narcissist. Why not a psychopath? Why not a pathological liar? All different disorders, what qualifies you to say narcissist?
My view, he knows what he's doing when he double downs and launches attacks. Not saying it's socially acceptable in all cases but it works for his agenda.

As for Biden.. Remains to be seen if he has the stamina til election day, let alone a term in office.

If any employee in a meeting made a mistake in misreading a document from another department, perhaps a talking to would be had by management.

If that same employee in the next meeting, when that misreading was brought up, tried to say that they knew better than that specialised department, a stern warning perhaps with a letter would be issued.

If that employee at the third meeting produced a crudely (and obviously) doctored chart of the specialised department to a third meeting to claim they're right all along, their feet wouldn't touch the floor as they're thrown out of the office.

Trump, despite his aspirations, isn't a monarch but an employee of the people, and thus is accountable as such

everlast75

antix80 wrote: »

The bit in bold.. Yes, he made a mistake. You can only assume the reason he won't admit it is because he's a narcissist. Why not a psychopath? Why not a pathological liar? All different disorders, what qualifies you to say narcissist?

Well here, let me give you a little test. Here are some of the defining characteristics of a narcissist. See how many of these you spot in Trump.

1) Grandiose sense of self-importance
Grandiosity is the defining characteristic of narcissism. More than just arrogance or vanity, grandiosity is an unrealistic sense of superiority. Narcissists believe they are unique or “special” and can only be understood by other special people. What’s more, they are too good for anything average or ordinary. They only want to associate and be associated with other high-status people, places, and things.

Narcissists also believe that they’re better than everyone else and expect recognition as such—even when they’ve done nothing to earn it. They will often exaggerate or outright lie about their achievements and talents. And when they talk about work or relationships, all you’ll hear is how much they contribute, how great they are, and how lucky the people in their lives are to have them. They are the undisputed star and everyone else is at best a bit player.

2) Lives in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur
Since reality doesn’t support their grandiose view of themselves, narcissists live in a fantasy world propped up by distortion, self-deception, and magical thinking. They spin self-glorifying fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, attractiveness, and ideal love that make them feel special and in control. These fantasies protect them from feelings of inner emptiness and shame, so facts and opinions that contradict them are ignored or rationalized away. Anything that threatens to burst the fantasy bubble is met with extreme defensiveness and even rage, so those around the narcissist learn to tread carefully around their denial of reality.

3) Needs constant praise and admiration
A narcissist’s sense of superiority is like a balloon that gradually loses air without a steady stream of applause and recognition to keep it inflated. The occasional compliment is not enough. Narcissists need constant food for their ego, so they surround themselves with people who are willing to cater to their obsessive craving for affirmation. These relationships are very one-sided. It’s all about what the admirer can do for the narcissist, never the other way around. And if there is ever an interruption or diminishment in the admirer’s attention and praise, the narcissist treats it as a betrayal.

4) Sense of entitlement
Because they consider themselves special, narcissists expect favorable treatment as their due. They truly believe that whatever they want, they should get. They also expect the people around them to automatically comply with their every wish and whim. That is their only value. If you don’t anticipate and meet their every need, then you’re useless. And if you have the nerve to defy their will or “selfishly” ask for something in return, prepare yourself for aggression, outrage, or the cold shoulder.

5) Exploits others without guilt or shame
Narcissists never develop the ability to identify with the feelings of others—to put themselves in other people’s shoes. In other words, they lack empathy. In many ways, they view the people in their lives as objects—there to serve their needs. As a consequence, they don’t think twice about taking advantage of others to achieve their own ends. Sometimes this interpersonal exploitation is malicious, but often it is simply oblivious. Narcissists simply don’t think about how their behavior affects others. And if you point it out, they still won’t truly get it. The only thing they understand is their own needs.

6) Frequently demeans, intimidates, bullies, or belittles others
Narcissists feel threatened whenever they encounter someone who appears to have something they lack—especially those who are confident and popular. They’re also threatened by people who don’t kowtow to them or who challenge them in any way. Their defense mechanism is contempt. The only way to neutralize the threat and prop up their own sagging ego is to put those people down. They may do it in a patronizing or dismissive way as if to demonstrate how little the other person means to them. Or they may go on the attack with insults, name-calling, bullying, and threats to force the other person back into line.

He does not tick "some" of the boxes. He ticks ALL of the boxes.

You can either acknowledge that as the truth, or else try to explain it away, rationalise it or use whataboutery. But you cannot say he does not fulfil the criteria.

antix80 wrote: »

My view, he knows what he's doing when he double downs and launches attacks. Not saying it's socially acceptable in all cases but it works for his agenda.

You are attempting to rationalise it and excuse it by saying that although "its not socially acceptable, it works". Firstly, you should not try to excuse someone's behaviour on that basis. Secondly, "it works"? Really? On what basis do you determine it works? He is called out for it on a daily basis. The only people who ignore it or try to excuse it are those that do not want to see flaws in him. Sound familiar?

antix80

everlast75 wrote: »

You can either acknowledge that as the truth, or else try to explain it away, rationalise it or use whataboutery. But you cannot say he does not fulfil the criteria.

I'm not a psychologist. And psychologists wouldn't diagnose someone without a consultation. You simply cannot know what is going on in someone's head.

everlast75 wrote: »

You are attempting to rationalise it and excuse it by saying that although "its not socially acceptable, it works". Firstly, you should not try to excuse someone's behaviour on that basis. Secondly, "it works"? Really? On what basis do you determine it works? He is called out for it on a daily basis. The only people who ignore it or try to excuse it are those that do not want to see flaws in him. Sound familiar?

1. Maybe you shouldn't. But if you view it in terms of a culture war, you'd tolerate it knowing the alternative could be worse.
a. There's a lot of things going on the conservative people like, even if they don't like Trump.
b. Then you have actual "liberal" people (as opposed to the modern use of the term) who enjoy how Trump actually calls out bull**** from the other side using the tools of ridicule, being non-PC and saying things that may be impolite but are true. An example -calling out Anthony Weiner because Trump had dirt on him. (Note he didn't call out Epstein even though he probably had dirt on him too)
2. It does work.. proof is in the pudding .. it helped him get elected. It helped him fight off a lot of attacks by his political opponents and the media.
Bogus rape accusations? Could deny it and say how much he respects women and face a year of #IBelieveHer hastags.. nope he said"seriously, look at her, she's not my type" .. and the accusation just fizzled away.
Quick google search, you'll see he has an 88% approval rating among republicans. https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx.

Christy42

antix80 wrote: »

I'm not a psychologist. And psychologists wouldn't diagnose someone without a consultation. You simply cannot know what is going on in someone's head.



1. Maybe you shouldn't. But if you view it in terms of a culture war, you'd tolerate it knowing the alternative could be worse.
a. There's a lot of things going on the conservative people like, even if they don't like Trump.
b. Then you have actual "liberal" people (as opposed to the modern use of the term) who enjoy how Trump actually calls out bull**** from the other side using the tools of ridicule, being non-PC and saying things that may be impolite but are true. An example -calling out Anthony Weiner because Trump had dirt on him. (Note he didn't call out Epstein even though he probably had dirt on him too)
2. It does work.. proof is in the pudding .. it helped him get elected. It helped him fight off a lot of attacks by his political opponents and the media.
Bogus rape accusations? Could deny it and say how much he respects women and face a year of #IBelieveHer hastags.. nope he said"seriously, look at her, she's not my type" .. and the accusation just fizzled away.
Quick google search, you'll see he has an 88% approval rating among republicans. https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx.

Trump is not anti PC. Any claims to the contrary are ridiculous. He simply wants to change the definition.

See how quickly he gets offended by others ("They were so mean about me", offended by a man kneeling down - how much of a snowflake do you have to be on that one). He went off in a huff and refused to visit Denmark because they wouldn't sell him Greenland. He acts like a toddler having a tantrum. No big game. Just people want to ignore his flaws so they do. He is the beneficiary. They don't care if he raped women, they don't care if he is a racist.

Quick Google search and you will see he is about 40% for the entire population.

Well we can go with he is talking like a narcissist. I may apply Occam's razor here for this one. Diagnosing like this may not be PC and impolite but it is true. All the man cares about is himself.

antix80

Christy42 wrote: »

offended by a man kneeling down

Think we've fallen into the usual talking points.

I'll wrap it up by taking the example of the kneelers.. he's not offended.

But a lot of Americans (bible belt, conservatives, vets and their families) would be disgusted by someone who disrespects the national anthem or the flag. So Trump makes it an election issue. And more athletes that do it - mainly black fwiw, think of those optics - and all of a sudden people think "we need Trump to protect our values"... um, Trump doesn't care about those values.

As for the people who supported the kneelers.. they weren't going to vote for Trump anyway.

It's win-win for Trump and costs him nothing.

Similar tactic for the Squad. Who do they represent? The dreamers, the far-left, the non-Trump voters. He doesn't lose votes by acting like this, he only gains them by making such nonsense election issues.

duploelabs

antix80 wrote: »

Think we've fallen into the usual talking points.

I'll wrap it up by taking the example of the kneelers.. he's not offended.

But a lot of Americans (bible belt, conservatives, vets and their families) would be disgusted by someone who disrespects the national anthem or the flag. So Trump makes it an election issue. And more athletes that do it - mainly black fwiw, think of those optics - and all of a sudden people think "we need Trump to protect our values"... um, Trump doesn't care about those values.

As for the people who supported the kneelers.. they weren't going to vote for Trump anyway.

It's win-win for Trump and costs him nothing.

Similar tactic for the Squad. Who do they represent? The dreamers, the far-left, the non-Trump voters. He doesn't lose votes by acting like this, he only gains them by making such nonsense election issues.

Trump will always have his 35-40% of supporters who will never be swayed even if he's to walk along 5th avenue and shoot someone, there's another 35-40% of NeverTrumps, and then there's the 20 - 30% of those indeterminates.

It's that last group that truly decide elections, actions like you decribe Trump as doing alienate that group and that is reflected in his 'disapproval rating' which is currently just off 60%, so you might champion your troll-in-chief, but it's those actions that will lose him the next election

Brian?

duploelabs wrote: »

Trump will always have his 35-40% of supporters who will never be swayed even if he's to walk along 5th avenue and shoot someone, there's another 35-40% of NeverTrumps, and then there's the 20 - 30% of those indeterminates.

It's that last group that truly decide elections, actions like you decribe Trump as doing alienate that group and that is reflected in his 'disapproval rating' which is currently just off 60%, so you might champion your troll-in-chief, but it's those actions that will lose him the next election

You forgot the 35-40% of people who don’t bother to vote.


The turnout in 2016 was 61%. Trump won 49% of that, so in or around 30% of eligible voters. A 1% drop in the poles nationally could mean an electoral college landslide against Trump.

everlast75

antix80 wrote: »

I'm not a psychologist. And psychologists wouldn't diagnose someone without a consultation. You simply cannot know what is going on in someone's head.

You've avoided looking at those criteria and forming your own view. If you won't engage with the facts i.e. those are the criteria and that he fulfils, by any objective viewpoint (regardless of qualification), then this isn't a debate. This is a discussion forum. Stop dodging the points put to you.

antix80 wrote: »

1. Maybe you shouldn't. But if you view it in terms of a culture war, you'd tolerate it knowing the alternative could be worse.
a. There's a lot of things going on the conservative people like, even if they don't like Trump.
b. Then you have actual "liberal" people (as opposed to the modern use of the term) who enjoy how Trump actually calls out bull**** from the other side using the tools of ridicule, being non-PC and saying things that may be impolite but are true. An example -calling out Anthony Weiner because Trump had dirt on him. (Note he didn't call out Epstein even though he probably had dirt on him too)
2. It does work.. proof is in the pudding .. it helped him get elected. It helped him fight off a lot of attacks by his political opponents and the media.
Bogus rape accusations? Could deny it and say how much he respects women and face a year of #IBelieveHer hastags.. nope he said"seriously, look at her, she's not my type" .. and the accusation just fizzled away.
Quick google search, you'll see he has an 88% approval rating among republicans. https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx.

He got voted in for many reasons. You cannot assume that this is one of them. "Telling it like it is" sounds super. But you do realise that flies in the face of what you previously posted, ie. he doesn't admit mistakes, he doubles down.
You are not being consistent. And neither is he. No wonder you are a fan of his.

As for his approval rating - you are again cherrypicking. He has a high approval rating of Republicans, yes. But you have to factor in other aspects, such as the amount of people who have left the republican party and what remains. He has a high approval rating therefore of those left in the republican party. An example of it "working" would be him winning over new voters, or there not being an exodus from the republican party.

Christy42

antix80 wrote: »

Think we've fallen into the usual talking points.

I'll wrap it up by taking the example of the kneelers.. he's not offended.

But a lot of Americans (bible belt, conservatives, vets and their families) would be disgusted by someone who disrespects the national anthem or the flag. So Trump makes it an election issue. And more athletes that do it - mainly black fwiw, think of those optics - and all of a sudden people think "we need Trump to protect our values"... um, Trump doesn't care about those values.

As for the people who supported the kneelers.. they weren't going to vote for Trump anyway.

It's win-win for Trump and costs him nothing.

Similar tactic for the Squad. Who do they represent? The dreamers, the far-left, the non-Trump voters. He doesn't lose votes by acting like this, he only gains them by making such nonsense election issues.

Oh indeed. He is happy to use racism to further his prospects. The reason he can is because he is also a racist however. There is no big game. Many like Trump because he is like them. Racism has fueled his success for a while but it also encourages more racism in the country when they see the president doing it and getting away with it.

However the argument stands that he is not anti PC. Some people want to be able to insult coloured people on the basis of skin tone and have it be not politically correct to insult the flag or police brutality.

TommyKnocker

antix80 wrote: »

I'm not a psychologist. And psychologists wouldn't diagnose someone without a consultation. You simply cannot know what is going on in someone's head.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then guess what it is?

Igotadose

Brian? wrote: »

You forgot the 35-40% of people who don’t bother to vote.


The turnout in 2016 was 61%. Trump won 49% of that, so in or around 30% of eligible voters. A 1% drop in the poles nationally could mean an electoral college landslide against Trump.

Seems like Trump's dropping in the Midwest: https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/459967-trumps-approval-dips-in-midwest-amid-heightened-trade-war

5% drop attributed to Trump's trade war. Midwest could definitely shift things to a rout against Trump.

Quin_Dub

Igotadose wrote: »

Seems like Trump's dropping in the Midwest: https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/459967-trumps-approval-dips-in-midwest-amid-heightened-trade-war

5% drop attributed to Trump's trade war. Midwest could definitely shift things to a rout against Trump.

5% is way more than the ~70k votes he won those States by.

Even a fraction of that percentage turns those states Blue.

His only hope really is being able to bring the China trade war to some kind of conclusion , even if it's a complete capitulation by him.

If he ends the trade war , the economy will get a lift just by dint of the removal of all the uncertainty.

That lift might be enough , even if he actually achieves nothing from it.

He has managed to play the "saviour" a few times already by claiming to have fixed things that he himself broke , but maybe a China climb-down might not be able to be spun.

Penn

Quin_Dub wrote: »

5% is way more than the ~70k votes he won those States by.

Even a fraction of that percentage turns those states Blue.

His only hope really is being able to bring the China trade war to some kind of conclusion , even if it's a complete capitulation by him.

If he ends the trade war , the economy will get a lift just by dint of the removal of all the uncertainty.

That lift might be enough , even if he actually achieves nothing from it.

He has managed to play the "saviour" a few times already by claiming to have fixed things that he himself broke , but maybe a China climb-down might not be able to be spun.

All he'll do is call the existing trade deal by a new name, claim it's much better, and Fox & allies will lap it up, praise him, and his supporters will either believe it or not care.

Quin_Dub

Penn wrote: »

All he'll do is call the existing trade deal by a new name, claim it's much better, and Fox & allies will lap it up, praise him, and his supporters will either believe it or not care.

Sadly, you are more than likely right...

jochenstacker

Trump's approval within the republican party is meaningless on it's own.
It's a shrinking party for old, white men. Young people wouldn't be affiliated with it and Trump's strategy is to drive anyone out who isn't onboard with his agenda.
As I keep saying, he operates within his own echo chamber. All he hears is the hysterical crowds at his rallies.
His approval within the party is high, because anyone but his lackeys is abandoning the party.

blackwave

In a bit of good news, I see that Jacob Wohl is in a spot of bother and an arrest warrant is out for him now for selling false securities. He doesn't strike me as the brightest but you do have to wonder if he was put up to selling securities as I make it as been 18 at the time he was allegedly selling them.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-04/conservative-blogger-jacob-wohl-wanted-for-selling-fake-security

everlast75

blackwave wrote: »

In a bit of good news, I see that Jacob Wohl is in a spot of bother and an arrest warrant is out for him now for selling false securities. He doesn't strike me as the brightest but you do have to wonder if he was put up to selling securities as I make it as been 18 at the time he was allegedly selling them.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-04/conservative-blogger-jacob-wohl-wanted-for-selling-fake-security

This is a guy who tried to manufacture sexual assault allegations against Robert Mueller. He is a danger to himself and others and should have the book thrown at him

everlast75

Wake up to the news DJT is STILL going on about the hurricane and Alabama.

How anyone can't see he has mental issues is beyond me!

ECO_Mental

everlast75 wrote: »

Wake up to the news DJT is STILL going on about the hurricane and Alabama.

How anyone can't see he has mental issues is beyond me!

I mean this is should have been such a non-issue no story, any other person would have said oops my bad I mentioned Alabama by mistake you are ok, lets move on....

But no this idiot and his mental disorder of him can never being wrong and never admitting a mistake has now made him look more like an idiot and a clown (that didn't need proving, but just another tyre on the Trump dumpster fire)

B0jangles

everlast75 wrote: »

Wake up to the news DJT is STILL going on about the hurricane and Alabama.

How anyone can't see he has mental issues is beyond me!

Maybe they've secretly switched his TV over to the Weather Channel and told him it's Fox News, so now he thinks the weather is the only thing in the news.

duploelabs

everlast75 wrote: »

Wake up to the news DJT is STILL going on about the hurricane and Alabama.

How anyone can't see he has mental issues is beyond me!

What surprises me is that Trump is a master (yes he's good at one thing) of managing the news cycle, this Sharpiegate is the first exception

antix80

duploelabs wrote: »

What surprises me is that Trump is a master (yes he's good at one thing) of managing the news cycle, this Sharpiegate is the first exception

You stopped talking about China

duploelabs

antix80 wrote: »

You stopped talking about China

I wasn't talking about China

Leroy42

duploelabs wrote: »

I wasn't talking about China

And now nobody else is either.

The mistake people make with Trump is that they assign normality to him. They assume that being called a liar, being called stupid, being shown to be inept will actually have an impact because it would in most people.

It would cause most to be embarrassed, to try to wait it out, to be coy and try to pretend it never happened. But Trump doesn't. And not because he doesn't care, he does, but he sees the value of it. He sees that he gain from these and if this is the cost of winning then so be it.

Trump doesn't care that you or I think he is stupid, because he thinks that you are wrong, that you are the idiot and he proves that because he has money and now he is POTUS.

The aim of his continued talk about Alabama is nothing to do with proving he is right, it is all about proving the media is wrong. If the hurricane causes any rain at all in Alabama he can come out and say he was right all along and was the only person in the entire US that cared for the people in Alabama. "Don't listen to the experts guys (although I have used them as a defence for the last few days) listen to me because I'm always right"

Instead of focusing on any argument they can't possible hope to win (media) as Trump and the WH will simply lie to cover themselves, they should ask the follow on questions. What funds have been put in place specifically for Alabama on the basis of the projections? Has he ordered a review of their readiness, has he asked for evacuations? Does he think Alabama residents should stockpile, take any precautions? Will federal funds be mad available to help they preparation efforts? Why is he still not got any deal with China when he said that Trade wars were easy to win?

Gwen Cooper

blackwave wrote: »

In a bit of good news, I see that Jacob Wohl is in a spot of bother and an arrest warrant is out for him now for selling false securities. He doesn't strike me as the brightest but you do have to wonder if he was put up to selling securities as I make it as been 18 at the time he was allegedly selling them.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-04/conservative-blogger-jacob-wohl-wanted-for-selling-fake-security

I think that Jacob is one of my favourites. He thinks of himself as some political mastermind, and he carries out his plans, but always, and I mean ALWAYS, gets caught lying.

This is a very good article about him catfishing the woman he used for the Mueller accussation.

It also looks like he's trying to confuse the authorities about his current location by pretending to travel the world: https://twitter.com/NikkiMcR/status/1167216699193602050

Ok, sorry for going off topic, back to Donald now!

rocksolidfat

antix80 wrote: »

Think we've fallen into the usual talking points.

I'll wrap it up by taking the example of the kneelers.. he's not offended.

But a lot of Americans (bible belt, conservatives, vets and their families) would be disgusted by someone who disrespects the national anthem or the flag. So Trump makes it an election issue. And more athletes that do it - mainly black fwiw, think of those optics - and all of a sudden people think "we need Trump to protect our values"... um, Trump doesn't care about those values.

As for the people who supported the kneelers.. they weren't going to vote for Trump anyway.

It's win-win for Trump and costs him nothing.

Similar tactic for the Squad. Who do they represent? The dreamers, the far-left, the non-Trump voters. He doesn't lose votes by acting like this, he only gains them by making such nonsense election issues.

There's a problem with this line of thinking - and I get where you are coming from - but... John McCain was one of the most stories heroes in American military history, love him or loathe him. He also constantly insulted the parents of a dead Gold Star medal winner during the last election.

Did Trump supporters get offended about Trump mocking McCain, and calling him a loser for 'getting caught' (and then staying in a Korean POW camp for years, causing very noticeable lifelong injuries, even refusing the help of his dad who was a general and was sure he could negotiate him out)? Nope, they joined in on mocking him, and even audibly laughed from the crowd when he said it.

Did they get offended when Trump continued to mock McCain months after his death, around Paddy's day? Nope, of course not.

Did they get offended and turn away from Trump when he mocked the parents of that dead soldier? Nope.

Then again when he forgot a dead soldiers name and got in an argument with his wife over a condolence call, and then went on Twitter calling her a liar, they didn't care either.

Do they care that Trump, in his role of president, has not even bothered to learn the words to the national anthem? Nope.

How about when Trump decided that instead of seeing military members on Veterans Day just a 10 minute drive away, he was going to give himself a day off... did Trump supporters mind then? Not in the least.



And that's the thing - the NFL kneeling bit had everything to do with blind devotion to Donald Trump and wanting to assert power over others, and had extremely little at all to do with respecting a flag, anthem or military. Which is obvious anyway, as kneeling for the anthem is in no way disrespectful to it according to the US Military itself.

Which is exactly why you have Trump supporters - still sticking by Donald after all of the list above (and plenty more I am sure) - doing things like brutally assaulting 13 year old boys badly enough to cause fractured skulls and bleeding from the ears, for wearing a hat during the national anthem at a rodeo. And then using the defense of "I am a Patriot and was given an order from the commander-in-chief to make sure people are patriotic Donald Trump told me to do it". Because it's about wanting to have control over those they disagree with politically and/or view as 'beneath' them, and making examples of the weaker amongst those for others to heed.

That is classic Trumpism, learned from the top down to his supporters.