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QED

(2,747 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:02 AM Mar 2020

"He's never thought about the presidency as governing."

Simon Schama also called IQ45 "President Pandemic".










Simon Schama:

One reason why Trump is so clueless in this crisis is that he's never thought about the presidency as governing; just ego politics, show biz and paying back Obama

And presidency by "deals"; transactional politics could not be less like what's needed in total mobilisation crisis. He is not about to turn into a new edition of FDR any time soon or ever.

we also are stuck with a business-worshipper (not that he was much good at it) at a moment when business has just stopped.

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"He's never thought about the presidency as governing." (Original Post) QED Mar 2020 OP
Exactly! To him it was JUST ego politics, show biz and paying back Obama, and RKP5637 Mar 2020 #1
Don't forget the get out of jail free card it offers... Wounded Bear Mar 2020 #4
Yep!!! Absolutely a big benefit for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t RKP5637 Mar 2020 #6
And... tosh Mar 2020 #23
And, tosses out real competence and replaces it StClone Mar 2020 #31
Flunkies and Losers Haggis for Breakfast Mar 2020 #36
Pretty much sums it up underpants Mar 2020 #2
I'd also add Trump's multiple self enrichment schemes. procon Mar 2020 #3
K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t RKP5637 Mar 2020 #11
Yes, there's that! tosh Mar 2020 #24
Most important of all, one giant money grab dlk Mar 2020 #5
"I'll make Obama EAT those White House Correspondent's Dinner jokes, not_the_one Mar 2020 #7
He thinks he's an emperor, not an elected public servant. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2020 #8
He wants to be King, not President DrToast Mar 2020 #9
Yep, "King Doofus" n/t RKP5637 Mar 2020 #12
Oh come on! gratuitous Mar 2020 #10
Kick and recommend. bronxiteforever Mar 2020 #13
And he proves it daily! MyOwnPeace Mar 2020 #14
Simon Schama is brilliant. Aristus Mar 2020 #15
Yes, he's one of the great minds of our time. Coventina Mar 2020 #18
Yes PatSeg Mar 2020 #16
Trump never wanted to govern or lead... He wants to rule. keithbvadu2 Mar 2020 #17
This president wants to perform Tweedy Mar 2020 #25
Yep! Trump has shown this on the world stage. keithbvadu2 Mar 2020 #30
There's a great cartoon on JHB's thread malaise Mar 2020 #19
To Trump, the purpose of government is to reduce the cost of government to wealthy people bucolic_frolic Mar 2020 #20
He was there to promote, not actually win, this is old news. Brainfodder Mar 2020 #21
K&R! gademocrat7 Mar 2020 #22
None of his companies every demanded Governance C_U_L8R Mar 2020 #26
And he still can't suss out why we don't worship him. Grokenstein Mar 2020 #27
It's not just Trump who thinks like this. It's the entire Republican party. Yavin4 Mar 2020 #28
He thought of it as tapping directly into the U.S. treasury. As a get rich con. usaf-vet Mar 2020 #29
Simon Schama is a national treasure. littlemissmartypants Mar 2020 #32
I thought Schama nailed IQ45 pretty well. QED Mar 2020 #33
He's going to benefit from this crisis Dopers_Greed Mar 2020 #34
Nope rockfordfile Mar 2020 #37
He saw it as a way to rake in the bucks and get rid of any obstacles thereto. calimary Mar 2020 #35
"Whoa! I can charge the Secret Service for staying in my hotels!" struggle4progress Mar 2020 #38
Ane so all these idiots who voted for him, luvallpeeps Mar 2020 #39

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
1. Exactly! To him it was JUST ego politics, show biz and paying back Obama, and
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:07 AM
Mar 2020

what can I get out if this. How can I rig lots of money for ME ME ME.

StClone

(11,684 posts)
31. And, tosses out real competence and replaces it
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 04:30 PM
Mar 2020

With those whose focus is to destroy our Government out of hate and profit.

procon

(15,805 posts)
3. I'd also add Trump's multiple self enrichment schemes.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:12 AM
Mar 2020

It's a major reason why he wanted this gig, he saw an unchecked opportunity to make himself and his ill conceived brood richer. Whether by generous tax cuts, the enormous sums he charges to house his official entourage at his resorts, or his new superstar status that attracts wealthy guests from around the world eager to curry favor with this immoral president, Trump's greed is limitless.

 

not_the_one

(2,227 posts)
7. "I'll make Obama EAT those White House Correspondent's Dinner jokes,
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:19 AM
Mar 2020

and make hundreds of millions while doing so.

Those pathetic American rubes are going to PAY!

Russian oligarch rich level, here I come!"



The turd's presidential aspirations in a nutshell.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,184 posts)
8. He thinks he's an emperor, not an elected public servant.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:20 AM
Mar 2020

And that people should just worship him for the power that he holds, and hold him accountable for absolutely nothing.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
10. Oh come on!
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:21 AM
Mar 2020

As of this moment, the DJIA has soared 68 points since the beginning of the Trump presidency. That's more than 22 points a year!

MyOwnPeace

(16,928 posts)
14. And he proves it daily!
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:42 AM
Mar 2020

As posted: "he's never thought about the presidency as governing; just ego politics..."

So, with the country swirling around the bowl, here's what he posted this morning:

"95% Approval Rating in the Republican Party, 53% overall. Not bad considering I get nothing but Fake & Corrupt News, day and night. “Russia, Russia, Russia”, then “the Ukraine Scam (where’s the Whistleblower?)”, the “Impeachment Hoax”, and more, more, more...."

My GAWD, how can ANYBODY stand by and let this idiot in charge?

Aristus

(66,397 posts)
15. Simon Schama is brilliant.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:45 AM
Mar 2020

And I read that whole thing hearing his pleasant, adenoidal speaking voice.

Coventina

(27,121 posts)
18. Yes, he's one of the great minds of our time.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:49 AM
Mar 2020

I don't always agree with everything he says, but I do at least consider it as worthy of thought.

Tweedy

(628 posts)
25. This president wants to perform
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:08 PM
Mar 2020

and be adored. There is a blackhole of neediness at his core.

Whatever taxpayer funds he and his cronies can get is an added benefit. The impossible task of filling his blackhole of insecurity, though, is the main thing imho.

Have you noticed how he has to take center stage?



bucolic_frolic

(43,196 posts)
20. To Trump, the purpose of government is to reduce the cost of government to wealthy people
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:52 AM
Mar 2020

The common good, common people - they don't matter to Trump.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
21. He was there to promote, not actually win, this is old news.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 11:57 AM
Mar 2020

Anything else is silliness and over thinking it, these assholes were seat of their pants $ grubbing jerks before and it just rolled on with more access.

It's like they eat money to survive and has to be hundreds?

Scam after scam after scam after scam, until put away, it aint stopping for these clowns?

C_U_L8R

(45,003 posts)
26. None of his companies every demanded Governance
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:12 PM
Mar 2020

He's never even answered to a Board... much less Congress or The People.
Whoever voted for this clown need their brains examined.

Grokenstein

(5,725 posts)
27. And he still can't suss out why we don't worship him.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:15 PM
Mar 2020

After all, he surrounds himself with people who act like the sun shines out his ass, so it must be true!

Yavin4

(35,443 posts)
28. It's not just Trump who thinks like this. It's the entire Republican party.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:18 PM
Mar 2020

They don't believe in government. They think that government is incompetent and only exists to dole out money to Black and Latinx people. They think that there's nothing that the government can do that large businesses cannot do better and cheaper because they're run by powerfule White men who know how to lay down the law.

This is the 6th time a major crisis has hit a Republican president since the start of the 21st century, and each time, they've failed miserably to govern effectively.

In sum, the Republican party needs to be eradicated. Our lives literally depend on them being as far away from government as possible.

Note: The six crisises, 9/11, Afghanistan war, Iraq War, Katrina, the Financial Crisis, and now covid-19

usaf-vet

(6,189 posts)
29. He thought of it as tapping directly into the U.S. treasury. As a get rich con.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:51 PM
Mar 2020

Trump and his band of con men and women are obsessed with being rich.

It should be interesting to note that he had his Treasury Secretary make a physical visit to Fort Knox gold reserves.

https://www.thestreet.com/markets/commodities/why-a-stealth-visit-to-gold-mecca-fort-knox-by-treasury-secretary-is-bizarre-14289706

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/18/politics/steve-mnuchin-flights/index.html

They are all obsessed with being rich.

The documents from the recent trip also include new details about Mnuchin's activities at Fort Knox, where the Treasury stores a stockpile of gold with a market value it estimates at $190 billion. The vaults were last opened to the public in the 1970s, and the last treasury secretary visit was in 1948.

littlemissmartypants

(22,695 posts)
32. Simon Schama is a national treasure.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 05:13 PM
Mar 2020

Unlike fat Nixon, who doesn't deserve the time of day.

Thanks for sharing this, QED. ❤

QED

(2,747 posts)
33. I thought Schama nailed IQ45 pretty well.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 05:51 PM
Mar 2020

President Pandemic only speaks in superlatives like the shifty salesperson he is.

calimary

(81,323 posts)
35. He saw it as a way to rake in the bucks and get rid of any obstacles thereto.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 08:46 PM
Mar 2020

A free personal Help-Yerself program for him to take full advantage of. After all, he’s the president. He can do whatever he wants.

luvallpeeps

(935 posts)
39. Ane so all these idiots who voted for him,
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 02:13 AM
Mar 2020

and delighted in owning the libs clearly bit off their own noses to spite their faces. We're all in hell, but they deserve it. Hope they're happy.

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