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What A Failed Trump Administration Looks Like (Brooks, NYT)


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2017 Feb 17, 9:49am   13,330 views  47 comments

by Rew   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/opinion/what-a-failed-trump-administration-looks-like.html

As world leaders continue to meet with, and confirm suspicions about our new POTUS, the decentralization trend will ramp up into high gear. The US will no longer be the central key state. We won't even be at many of the 'games' let alone 'winning'.

The world is about to become orders of magnitude more dangerous and complex for us.

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1   MisdemeanorRebel   2017 Feb 17, 10:31am  

I love the Old Media.

If Brooks and Friedman didn't have tenured positions at Legacy Media outlets subsidizing readership, they'd struggle to self-publish and sell a 99 cent book on Amazon, and have maybe 500 Youtube subscribers in a year.

They couldn't compete if they were thrown on their own soapbox without the propping up of Billionaire Oligarch's media machines.

Totally irrelevant outside of their self-referential "Bobos in Paradise" class. It must drive them nuts that a guy on Youtuber with a laptop, webcam and a microphone gets more impressions without advertising or an army of media, marketing, etc. personnel behind them, and get more money in corporate endorsements than a Senior Veep at their company makes.

2   Ceffer   2017 Feb 17, 11:22am  

Already?

3   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:00pm  

@Lipsovitch

If popularity is the hallmark of worth you should prepare yourself for Trump to be epically worthless.

Brooks is a best selling author, and exceedingly well known. "Tenured" wouldn't be a correct characterization of his relationship with the NYTimes. Brooks drives clicks, discussion, and viewership and he doesn't do that on being overtly sensationalist either.

Brooks is also a typically emblematic of "white Christian male" that the more fringe elements of the left love to take a crack at. (Salon/Huffpuff/know-name-blogosphere, etc. all love a chance to argue Brooks's cultural and political commentary.)

Ironman says

Yes, it's been 3 WEEKS and his total cabinet hasn't been approved yet...

By this time Obama didn't have his cabinet in place either, but he had already implemented the majority of the policy which saved us from economic collapse. If you disagree that he saved us from a drastically bad economic situation, you must at least agree that he held the reigns of power, and was fulfilling the role of the president. Congress was working with him. His cabinet was pulling with him. The world was rooting for him.

Obama was exceedingly popular at this time in his Presidency, and the Nobel awards would essentially endorse his return to American multilateralism away from the Bush-era unilateralism.

Ceffer says

Already?

Brook's is not saying the administration already is a filaure. He is instead forecasting what he believes the Trump administration will look like in failure. He uses current observed behaviors, trends, and extrapolates on that.

Though, I do agree with your question, as it already doesn't appear too early to ask. My read is it likely takes a month to see if Brooks is prophetic or not. (shrug) Maybe two.

4   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:02pm  

Ironman says

Impeach him NOW!

Establishment non-partisan forces in high gear looking for that opportunity. I don't think they have a winning case ... yet. ;)

5   Heraclitusstudent   2017 Feb 17, 12:17pm  

Next step: call Trump mentally ill: "malignant narcissism"... Or something.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/opinion/is-it-time-to-call-trump-mentally-ill.html?ref=opinion

The extreme level of pure hatred is showing.

6   joeyjojojunior   2017 Feb 17, 12:20pm  

Is it possible that people really think he is unhinged--they don't hate him, but are legitimately worried?

7   Heraclitusstudent   2017 Feb 17, 12:25pm  

Has he DONE anything truly unhinged as it stands? I don't think so.
There is a lot of people part of a system that don't like that an outsider comes, and shortcuts them.
Having chaos inside such a government, with a total newbee, and the deep state + media trying to undermine him is hard to avoid.

8   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:30pm  

joeyjojojunior says

Is it possible that people really think he is unhinged--they don't hate him, but are legitimately worried?

I think the road toward an 'insanity' impeachment is pretty hard. I think this is an attempt to force the error. It will drive Trump 'crazy' as well, which is by design.

Heraclitusstudent says

Has he DONE anything truly unhinged as it stands?

Having chaos inside such a government, with a total newbee, and the deep state + media trying to undermine him is hard to avoid.

I agree. When you come in guns blazing, people fire back.

9   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:32pm  

Ironman says

Oh, you mean the OPINION articles written by Brooks

No. I meant what I said. He is a best selling author.

https://www.amazon.com/David-Brooks/e/B001ITTRLU/

"... He is the bestselling author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement; Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There; and On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense."

But could be FAKE NEWS here, as Amazon is on the companies to Boycott list for carrying Trumpian merch. ;)

10   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:37pm  

Ironman says

It's called TARD: Trump Acceptance Resistance Disorder.

I'm not sure the opposition would need to rebrand TARD's meaning to describe Trump supporters, though they wouldn't openly use it in their direct criticism.
Trumpians are simple narrative brand loving types, in my estimation, though.

11   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:37pm  

Ironman says

Come on... It's been 3 Weeks... 3 WEEKS.... 3 WEEKS!!!

Why hasn't Trump solved Global Warming yet, Reduced unemployment to 0%,

Have you seen what puffed up chest stuff he has been claiming he is responsible for?

12   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 12:40pm  

Ironman says

Wow, he write books (one hand clap).

He reads them too.

Maybe Trump could look up to him? Advisory role? What do you think?

13   lostand confused   2017 Feb 17, 12:43pm  

I am enjoying this. I thought crazy was at college campus-but it starts at the top of the dems. I wonder if the currenty crazy self defeating mindset was a hippie mindset?? Trump is bringing the crazies out.

14   Heraclitusstudent   2017 Feb 17, 12:44pm  

Rew says

I agree. When you come in guns blazing, people fire back.

We see an extreme level of constant criticism from the mainstream media against a president that has done very little so far.

Ridiculing him on the form and tweets, and rough start, is propaganda that betrays a high level of bias.
There will be plenty of real stuff to go after in time.

15   MisdemeanorRebel   2017 Feb 17, 12:47pm  

Rew says

Brooks is a best selling author, and exceedingly well known. "Tenured" wouldn't be a correct characterization of his relationship with the NYTimes. Brooks drives clicks, discussion, and viewership and he doesn't do that on being overtly sensationalist either.

He lives in a DC Bubble, and not only was he an enthusiastic backer of the Iraq War, after it was a clear failure that led to other problems - as predicted! - he tried to rewrite the history of the War and his fervent support of it.
http://gregmitchellwriter.blogspot.com/2013/03/ten-years-ago-david-brooks-iraq-war-hawk.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/opinion/david-brooks-learning-from-mistakes.html

This is a real gem from when he was at the neocon dominated Weekly Standard, bitching that the French weren't going to join us in Iraq, and were skeptical of Colin Powell's Yellowcake!!! ZOMG!!! WMD!!! claims.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/french-kiss-off/article/3476

He's a pundit who represents the Insider Class and can get big things totally, utterly wrong, but suffer no professional penalties for doing so.

Kind of like how the Media blames rubes for being fearful of Islamic Immigration, but forgetting their own role in hyping terror threats for years.

I wonder if Bob or Joeyjoejoe will appear and tell me my pointing out of Brooks' record and stunningly absolutely wrong opinions is my MO.

I call it "Accountability" and "Personal Responsibility for Pundits."

17   Patrick   2017 Feb 17, 1:50pm  

Tenpoundbass says

Excellent, but the balls should be red and not blue.

Both for the political reason, and because blue balls means something else.

18   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 2:17pm  

Ironman says

Serious question, what is your major mental imbalance

Attacks on the judiciary, the media, unconstitutional law pushed forward which infringed on the rights of citizens (yes, citizens were detained and stopped for the travel ban), caving to Russia and China, backing away from two state solution in Israel, turning the FBI/CIA/NSA against him, defunding portions of Obamacare with no planned replacement, and being a gargantuan liar. That's what I can see by action and deed.

And then there are the questions. What else may there be that we cannot see? It seems like we already have very questionable ethics in pushing his own brand (Trump towers, Ivanka brands, Del Margo weekend meets), and who knows what else may be in his own personal interest and motivations. We cannot know until his taxes are released. He is a walking, talking, scandal with litigation as a common state of being. We have turned away other civil servants for far less.

What is your mental imbalance with Obama?

19   mell   2017 Feb 17, 2:17pm  

rando says

Excellent, but the balls should be red and not blue.

Both for the political reason, and because blue balls means something else

I watched the streamed summary of roku news bites for nbc news last night, and 15 out of the 15 negative stories were about Trump and all of them directly or indirectly related to his press conference(s) and nominations, emphasizing petty unimportant shit such as whether his election was the clearest since Reagan or not (yes, they felt compelled to make it major news that Obummer had more electoral votes). Not a single news story was about any other world or American news. Definitely unprecedented.

20   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 2:35pm  

Heraclitusstudent says

There will be plenty of real stuff to go after in time.

In the meantime, there is plenty of lashing out to focus on instead.
He looks like an unstable child sitting on a bike, he whined and cried that he wanted, and now is too small for his feet to touch the ground and ride.

21   mell   2017 Feb 17, 2:36pm  

Rew says

When will this administration give us anything else of substance to report on? It was Trump's news conference to lead. He took us here (306, biggest since Regan, people want me to attack the Russian ship, you set up the meeting, FAKE NEWS, oh this question will be great ... etc. etc.).

Not sure, at this point I wouldn't rule out that this is a deliberate push-pull. Many would think Trump is too dumb for that, but essentially the press has mostly abandoned reporting on world or American affairs other than their fixation on the Trump presidency. And along the way they have told so much bullshit that they may lose this fight as people are more likely to give hipshooter Trump some slack than the research-based press. I mean we have journalists who told us with a straight face that we are not allowed to read wikileaks and instead get the digest from them. This IS fake news as much as Trump is a hip-shooting alpha-dawg for the simple people.

22   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 3:00pm  

mell says

the press has mostly abandoned reporting on world or American affairs ...

They are?
https://www.nytimes.com/section/world?

mell says

Not sure, at this point I wouldn't rule out that this is a deliberate push-pull.

I do think Trump thought he would "give people something to talk about" yesterday. Why he would bring up Russia is beyond me. Leaks/Fake News and lots of press bashing : it's just going to galvanize the anti-Trump camp toward the Press even more.

Was joking with some people this morning that maybe Trump is actually pro-press/media. He keeps doing them a favor every time he/Bannon attacks them. ;)

23   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 3:01pm  

Ironman says

I have 20 TRILLION reasons, Ten Trillion directly attributed to him.

Lol, if that's your reason, cannot wait to see your final evaluation of Trump!

24   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 3:29pm  

Ironman says

Do you know the difference between "debt" and "deficit"?

Instead of posting OLD news, why don't you post the Current deficit when Obama left?

I'm proud of you. You actually read a little of that, but you do know that they are related, right? As in one is a principal governing factor in how fast the other grows?

Did Trump run on a deficit/debt reduction platform? I'm sorry. I think I totally missed that promise. He throwing in free steaks with that?

Ironman says

Do you think he'll resign if you post enough crap here? Do you think your opinions will change anyone's mind? Do you think your constant ranting on FAKE news stories will change anything in the country?

Won't leave office because of me. My ego isn't that big.
No, I don't really think I'll change many Trumpet opinions here. This is just fun for me.

Do you think by your actions here Trump will stay in office longer? Do you think your constant posting of dogmatic language taken right from Trump will change any minds here? Do you think your actions can save Trump from the world and national embarrassment that is coming?

Ironman says

There, you missed a FACT.

You mean all this settling in court, and questionable activities and language, is a lie?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/donald-trump-scandals/474726/

25   FNWGMOBDVZXDNW   2017 Feb 17, 3:29pm  

Heraclitusstudent says

Has he DONE anything truly unhinged as it stands? I don't think so.

What he says is utterly baffling to many people. The incessant lying about obviously provably false facts is bizarre. Most people grow out of this by puberty. He's a loose cannon performance artist at best. If he is being genuine, he is completely separated from reality. People are just speculating about which is the case.

26   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 3:30pm  

Ironman says

So, you'll just throw out unproven and unfactual "speculations"?? Really??

Enough concern to investigate? Yep! The Republicans rightly realize they want to take the reigns. If it went independent there would be YUGE discoveries.

27   Rew   2017 Feb 17, 3:33pm  

Ironman says

Don't you think you're being just a "touch" overly dramatic?

Trump is a radical populist, that has destroyed norms, and yes is threatening our actual institutions. You want to take his line on FAKE news again? Don't you see the parrot act you do here?

28   mell   2017 Feb 17, 4:54pm  

Rew says

Trump is a radical populist, that has destroyed norms, and yes is threatening our actual institutions. You want to take his line on FAKE news again?

Those institutions have been thoroughly corrupted over time. And yes, the mainstream media has at least 50% fake news rate these days. These are just opinion outlets for the left and the right. You're nor bothered by Cuomo telling you that you're not allowed to read Wikileaks and instead should only take the opinionated digest from a permitted "reporter" such as him?

29   Heraclitusstudent   2017 Feb 17, 5:29pm  

YesYNot says

Heraclitusstudent says

Has he DONE anything truly unhinged as it stands? I don't think so.

What he says is utterly baffling to many people. The incessant lying about obviously provably false facts is bizarre. Most people grow out of this by puberty. He's a loose cannon performance artist at best. If he is being genuine, he is completely separated from reality. People are just speculating about which is the case.

The guys is:
1 - a newbee who has no policy experience whatsoever.
2 - a sleazy salesman who can say the exact opposite of truth with aplomb looking at you in the eyes without blinking.
3 - he's going against the ways of a lot of the Washington establishment, creating a lot of clashes and confusion.

We all knew that. The ensuing chaos is hardly surprising. Something will emerge out of that. And most likely it will still be inadequate.
But attacking his mental health based on the current dust cloud is just a tiny bit disingenuous.

30   Patrick   2017 Feb 17, 5:46pm  

YesYNot says

He's a loose cannon

That's what I really like about him.

We had ossified self-interests running the show with a thin veneer of nominal democracy, and then miracle of miracles, democracy actually worked even as the leftist oligarchy struggled mightily to defeat it.

Sure, Trump is dangerous to everything, but I'm really happy that he's dangerous to the established order.

31   FNWGMOBDVZXDNW   2017 Feb 17, 5:48pm  

Heraclitusstudent says

2 - a sleazy salesman who can say the exact opposite of truth with aplomb looking at you in the eyes without blinking.

This is a terrible problem. The press will call him out until he stops. If the ever is an emergency and something important is happening, no one will believe Trump. He has no credibility.
Regarding experience: He doesn't seem to learn too quickly, and doesn't listen to people with experience. He goes with his gut. Bad news.

32   Patrick   2017 Feb 17, 5:51pm  

Exciting times!

33   HEY YOU   2017 Feb 17, 6:03pm  

Not one Bill from Congress passed & signed?
Where's the TALL WALL?
Where's the JOBS?
Why are illegals still here?
How much has the National debt increased since Jan 20 2017?

Most transparent Administration, LIE OPENLY!
and 45's supporters believe the LIES.
There is no cure for STUPID, you just DIE DUMB!

34   FNWGMOBDVZXDNW   2017 Feb 17, 6:06pm  

rando says

Exciting times!

Let's get a bottle of vodka and put a bullet in the revolver! From Russia with Love.

35   Heraclitusstudent   2017 Feb 17, 6:12pm  

YesYNot says

This is a terrible problem. The press will call him out until he stops.

In the realm of politics, being truthful is hardly the first quality.
If you don't believe in his mastery of appearances, just remember he got elected after more than a year of high intensity media scrutiny.
In fact, it seems to me at least part of outrage he raises is calculated.

Nonetheless there is a difference between campaigning and leading. There is only so much you can get from BS as a leader.
That's where we are now.

36   FNWGMOBDVZXDNW   2017 Feb 17, 6:34pm  

Heraclitusstudent says

Nonetheless there is a difference between campaigning and leading.

About a year ago, I pointed out that Trump's skill set was perfect for getting elected but terrible for leading. He's a great marketer, is very popular, and is a great success in the media with decades of experience using it to his ends.
The media could give him a pass, but then he would never learn. Many in the media seem to be trying to help him (eg morning Joe), but he doesn't let them.

37   mell   2017 Feb 17, 6:44pm  

YesYNot says

About a year ago, I pointed out that Trump's skill set was perfect for getting elected but terrible for leading. He's a great marketer, is very popular, and is a great success in the media with decades of experience using it to his ends.

The media could give him a pass, but then he would never learn. Many in the media seem to be trying to help him (eg morning Joe), but he doesn't let them.

The thing is that if you look at most of the actions that are not reported on it seems like he is doing very well restoring American jobs, such as the miners and others (Eastern Kentucky went 75% towards Trump).

38   Strategist   2017 Feb 17, 7:17pm  

HEY YOU says

Not one Bill from Congress passed & signed?

Where's the TALL WALL?

Where's the JOBS?

Why are illegals still here?

How much has the National debt increased since Jan 20 2017?

It took 8 years for Obama to do nothing much, and you expect Trump to make good on his promises in less than a month?
PS....You must think Trump is a God.

39   FortWayne   2017 Feb 17, 9:25pm  

Strategist says

HEY YOU says

Not one Bill from Congress passed & signed?


Where's the TALL WALL?


Where's the JOBS?


Why are illegals still here?


How much has the National debt increased since Jan 20 2017?

It took 8 years for Obama to do nothing much, and you expect Trump to make good on his promises in less than a month?

PS....You must think Trump is a God.

It's funny how they change standards based on what liberal media tells them to.

40   Entitlemented   2017 Feb 18, 9:24am  

You demos better start thinking for yourselves.

3 weeks is not enough to undo the mess that was created in Syria, China, Russia. Having no foreign policy has put the US and the world in a worldwide war-like mode which is in my opinion more terrifying than that of the cold war fears of 1980s.

This Obama is slicker than Willie, and many fell for it. His flowery speeches in the midst of crisis have hypnotized the liberals - and while you were asleep you became leftists.

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