Trump Decides Presser on D.C. Plane Crash Is Best Time for a Joke

His vileness is old hat. 

Wasn't a joke, just an answer to a dumb question.

Trump signed an executive order this afternoon calling for an investigation into how the Biden administration damaged air safety. 

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There were no commercial airplane crashes during Bidens term. 

It really was one of the most despicable but predictable responses from Trump today, to try and blame yesterday's tragedy on DEI and Democrats. It's truly the height of disgusting. His condolence speech was about as close to a German shizer film as you can get with him just verbally shitting on everyone and everything. It was really just embarrassing to have to watch as a patriotic American. Only four more years of this disgraceful moron and his pitiful bigoted sycophant backup dancers who voted for this piece of shit and continue to empower him by metaphorically gargling his rancid nut sack.

There were no commercial airplane crashes during Bidens term.

And a week and a half into the new administration, you expected immediate change just because it's a Trump administration? Seems to me that policies and procedures take a hell of a lot longer to work through a system than that so I doubt ANY of his EO's had a damned thing to do with it. They have admitted they were understaffed FFS. And it wasn't Trump's doing.

I didnt say this crash was Trumps doing. Neither was it Bidens doing. It was an accident. 

Trump is the one who started blaming. Because that is what he is. 

I wonder if the family members and friends of the victims who voted for that asshole might now regret having done so.

Such inspirational leadership.

Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he proves there is no bottom for him.

What truly does not make any sense is Trump has been flying around the country in his private plane/s campaigning and doing other things for years and no accident has been occurring. Why can't people see that this man is an opportunist who is taking this moment to 'strike' and leave a 'post' in the minds of voters who are shallow thinkers. This one incident does not STACK  up against the thousands upon thousands of flights that have taken place under the same set of air traffic controllers.

Why does the media not speak up to point this out! Trump knows damn well that his flights have succeeded because of the same 'category' of controllers as he is denigrating and threatening with firing today!

It is the same set of traffic controllers, people!  Moreover, no one knows what caused this for now anyway.

The asshole has no empathy.     We have a horrible tragedy and of course Trump tries to find a way for it to benefit him personally.

Again, it boggles the mind that anyone supports this scoundrel for PotUS.

It's the narrative 'race.'

A democrat said it during the Obama years and Republicans (like Trump) heard it and 'owned it.'  Trump is just the worse sort to every use it with abandon and 'full-frontal' r ecklessness. Trump is fully aware that he will be hated for having said it (loose the 'battle') ; but if he sets the NARRATIVE in the minds of 'many,' he can win the 'war.' That is how the man thinks. He does not need many numbers to 'swell'. . .just needs to keep pulling and dividing (augmenting) where it counts. Generally, that is with those who do not 'go too deep' (shallow) in their understanding of issues and political intrigue.

The interesting thing is Trump likes to do 'this'—himself. He comes to the microphone and says the 'damnable' things himself to the world. That is interesting. He did it in his last term and he is doing it now again.

What is bizarre is that for some reason he uniquely can say or do pretty much anything and get away with it.  

I think I know why this is. 1. He is the figurehead and voice of the MAGA-Conservatives (not necessarily in that order), whom have wanted someone like him since the days of change in the country (circa 1950s). That is, Trump obligates himself to no-one. Trump 'let's his freak-flag—okay, his verbiage land where it will. Trump never apologizes, Trump knows how to 'drum' a message until it gets a reaction, Trump knows how the art of conning really should work-how to put on a 'show'-how to 'repeat' the same, all borne out of his years of 'study' in hanging around the 'greatest showmen' in and near to him (Think: Vince McMahon. Dana White. Don King.). And most importantly. . . Trump has none of the usual politician fears of being voted out and away. Even now, early on, Trump is floating a house bill to change to the constitution so he can serve beyond two terms as president. (He is always looking 'forward' to taking us backwards to a time of the past.)

All of the above speaks to the heart of his base and as we have come to learn, people who simply like 'winning.' There are people in this country who have been complaining that there is no movement in politics (the stagnant swamp) and one thing a showman does well: generate energy. That is, movement. Be it right or wrong. Millions of people, er voters, won't look deep enough or care if that movement is positive or negative-when it does not affect him or her personally and immediately.

Why him when virtually every other politician would be ripped to shreds for much less?

Because remember this. The Apprentice. The point of the show was Winning at Hardball . The point of the show was to be fearless in business. This is what Trump portrays himself as: Raw. Cutthroat. Transactional. Delivery. And when he can't get others to come to his point of view or 'measure' up to this personal standard (we have all seen what that pretends to be) he cuts 'bait' —fires him or her.  People  watched to see who would be fired next. 

It reminds of the one season (or two) of Virgin Airlines' owner: 

The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best

The premise for the series was that  billionaire   Richard Branson , founder of the  Virgin Group , challenges 16 contestants to tasks that will prove to him which is most qualified to take over as president of Virgin. This format is strongly derivative of popular  NBC  reality show  The Apprentice , though as well as business-related tasks it also incorporated many tough physical challenges, reflecting Branson's love of  daredevil  stunts. Each week also saw the contestants travel to a different country, whereas  The Apprentice  is just situated in one area.  Shawn Nelson  was the winner.

en.wikipedia

In actuality, that show was so 'dare-devilish' that it would make the faint quiver and buckle they did, because Mr. Branson was looking for someone who could take on the world—with a mind and heart of 'steel.'  So to speak.

Well, that is what MAGA conservatives found in Trump. A kindred spirit 'meet' for the undertaking:  Hard, cold, calculating, deliberate, and focused -on the 'theme' as they see and set it.

Reagan tried and came close , both Bushes would not cut the legs out from under their competition or opposers —Trump has no qualms about doing so. Trump is the poster-child for HARDBALL . 

Trump has told the MAGAs and Evangelicals you give me the power; support my technique; stand aside; I will get you 'everything' you've been seeking. That is, a set-back to liberals and progressive policies which span 50 plus years. And standby and stand aside MAGA republicans 'do.'

The asshole has no empathy. 

Trump is mentally ill. Very few people want to admit that to themselves, including some people who otherwise oppose him. 

Funny how this diagnosis seems to be from the same internet doctors that insisted biden was mentally capable 

Just because there is an unhealthy infatuation with Trump, resulting in many leftists hating him now more than they did when Lincoln freed their ancestor’s slaves, does not make a person mentally ill.

Just because there is an unhealthy infatuation with Trump … does not make a person mentally ill.

Being devoid of empathy does.  Funny thing is I seriously thought his lack of empathy was so pathological that it equalled that of a text book serial killer.  Then to my surprise, yesterday I saw a glimmer of evidence that maybe I am wrong.  In the midst of berating reporters and claiming he has more common sense than most (patently untrue), he mentioned the Russians on board who lost their lives.  All the sudden he sounded very solemn.  Just for the Russians.  He wanted to make sure Putin took note.

[✘]

He wanted to make sure Putin took note.

The delusion is strong.

he mentioned the Russians on board who lost their lives.  All the sudden he sounded very solemn.  Just for the Russians.  He wanted to make sure Putin took note.

I thought the left was all about keeping good international relations.  

It should not need to be explained that there are adversaries and allies.   One seeks good international relationships with allies.   One hopes to contain, coerce and (depending on circumstances) damage adversaries.

Naturally, it is best to keep the best possible diplomatic relationships with both adversaries and allies, but adversaries causing serious problems are obviously going to be pressed rather than praised.

Do you see Russia as an ally or an adversary?   Is it an adversary causing serious problems?   Should we praise Russia or seek to coerce it to change its course?

This is not about 'the left', attempt to put ideological / partisan bias aside for a moment.

Naturally, it is best to keep the best possible diplomatic relationships with both adversaries and allies, but adversaries causing serious problems are obviously going to be pressed rather than praised.

Are you suggesting showing empathy to an adversary should not be done?  After all, that is what the article is about.

Try putting aside your disdain for Trump and look at it as if Biden did it.

Are you suggesting showing empathy to an adversary should not be done? 

No.   Read what I wrote.

Try putting aside your disdain for Trump and look at it as if Biden did it.

That makes no difference whatsoever.    Not everyone is blindly partisan / ideological (I suspect that is hard for you to believe).

Somehow this country has to break out of its "vicious political cycles." This is terrible for everybody. We're all being infected by a political sickness that we can't run from because it is hunting us down! We have got to end our 'irreconcilable" differences! Get back to the middle of political thinking (that is, Compromise).  

Trump makes that even more unlikely than it has been in the past.

My friend, I have added a couple of "must see" videos (below). One key theme from them is people have got to get informed and then get in the streets to protest like never before - right now!

No.   Read what I wrote.

I did.  That is why I was curious. Your dissertation on the difference between adversaries and allies is irrelevant if you feel apathy for every one is a good thing.  After all, that was my point, keeping and improving relations in this instance.  

That makes no difference whatsoever.   

Of course it does.  Thinking that having a strong feeling about someone will not affect and cloud their judgment regarding that person shows a lack of understanding of human nature.

Not everyone is blindly partisan / ideological (I suspect that is hard for you to believe).

Condescension aside of course not everyone is a blind partisan.  Just like not everyone lets their feelings for Trump make it impossible for them to do any objective critical thinking regarding him.

I did.

Not going to spend time breaking down clear language.   Seems to me that you are intent on putting words in my mouth.

Thinking that having a strong feeling about someone will not affect and cloud their judgment regarding that person shows a lack of understanding of human nature.

Your inability (basically you admit your inability by calling it human nature and thus you think this is true for everyone) to set aside irrelevant factors and draw an objective conclusion does not mean that others are similarly afflicted.   Try to find something factually or logically wrong in my statements rather than offer these fluffy, vague, platitudes.

...  not everyone is a blind partisan

Correct.   Such insight.

Not going to spend time breaking down clear language.  

Thank you

Seems to me that you are intent on putting words in my mouth.

Nope

 Your inability (basically you admit your inability by calling it human nature and thus you think this is true for everyone) to set aside irrelevant factors and draw an objective conclusion does not mean that others are similarly afflicted.  

Well that is just total bullshit on many levels, not the least of all telling me what I think

Try to find something factually or logically wrong in my statements rather than offer these fluffy, vague, platitudes.

Several people have correctly done that dozens of times already.  I don't see a need to add to the carnage.

Correct.   Such insight.

Some folks are born with it and others will just never have insight.

I thought the left was all about keeping good international relations.  

They are, but they aren't about sucking putins dick like the right is. 

The answer is Yes! We would like you to go for a swim.

You won't believe what you will hear in this video (but it's happening right now in real-time in D.C.):

The 10 tactics of fascism | Jason Stanley | Big Think

This is deep. Do watch it!

5 Ways To Stop Fascism with Paul Mason

Excerpt: 

Amanpour

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Accuses Trump of Sleepwalking into Autocracy

KIM LANE SCHEPPELE, PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, PRINCETON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:

Yes, well , what Viktor Orban did is exactly what we now see Donald Trump doing , which is that he came into power with thousands of pages of laws that had been written by private actors outside the system before he assumed power. And so when he came into office, he began shoveling these laws through his compliant parliament , and the members of parliament didn't really know what they were enacting. And so, by the time I think everybody figured it out, three years into Orban's regime, he had captured virtually all of the independent institutions .

He had also rewritten the election law, and there was no way any opposition force had the toehold, the resources or the organization to actually ever oust him from power. So, what we're seeing now in the U.S. is exactly this kind of thin g . And I must say, you know, what's interesting is that people still think that you lose democracies with tanks in the streets.

And what I keep saying is, no, you lose -- you lose your democracy when you have lawyers trying to undermine it by law . So, this is exactly the problem that Norm identified.

You can't rewrite the constitution in America with executive orders. Nonetheless, all this has to get litigated. And one of the problems is that unless you can get some of the orders that we've seen already, where they stop everything in its tracks,

the autocrats don't actually care whether they win the legal battles in the end . They care whether they win facts on the ground and the length of time it takes to litigate may often mean they capture facts on the ground before the law makes them stop .

AMANPOUR: So, that's really interesting. I am telling you that I hate to go back to the Nazi era. I don't want to bring up Hitler. It turns a whole number of people off, but I cannot help but be struck by what Joseph Goebbels said after they seized power -- as they were seizing power from a democracy. H e said,

"the big joke on democracy is that it gives its mortal enemies the means to its own destruction."

And Kim, you saw that firsthand in Hungary.

SCHEPPELE: Absolutely, exactly. Hungary, it was Poland, it was Turkey, it was even Russia, which we
forget in the early days was

all consolidation of power by law .

So, this is how it happens all over the world in Venezuela and in Ecuador, the leaders there

rewrote the constitutions in their first year. 
Orban did that too.


And so, what happens is that we have this idea, which is how democracy is supposed to function, a leader gets elected and then they change the law. So, when the leader gets elected and changes the law, many people stand around and say, well, gee, you know, I kind of disagree with this leader, but that's how democracies work.
And what they need to see is, you know,

it's not just any law that these new autocrats are passing, it's laws that actually remove restraints on the executive.

And that's the danger signal we're seeing now in the United States. You know,  Trump is claiming the power to stop all federal funding. Does he have that power by law? Well, no.

But somebody is going to have to tell him no.

And the question is whether Congress rises to the challenge, whether the courts rise to the challenge.

And frankly, the thing I'm alarmed about in the United States is that unlike in Trump's first term,
we're not seeing people go to the streets .

We're not seeing a really mobilized constituency in the general public that's going to let the institutions know that the public sees what's happening, and that's because we don't have focused leadership right now.

Same thing happened in Hungary, everybody objected, people did not go to the streets, and within three years, their democracy was over .

AMANPOUR: And you said it was one of the quickest collapses of democracy in recorded history. Norm, I want to ask you, because Orban made three trips, not one, three to Mar-a-Lago and President Trump in the year leading up to his election. Also, Project 2025 envisions similar, a 180-day, you know, trying to throw out and shift and change the U.S. constitutional, legal, legislative precedents.

What do you think is going to be the next steps? Because as Kim said, and others have told us, even rescinding the OMB thing doesn't mean to say that they have relinquished it.

EISEN: Well, I think we're going to continue to see this furious assault on the constitution and laws by executive orders and executive power. There's also been the wrongful firing of hundreds and impacts on thousands of federal civil servants, where Trump is trying to oust those individuals

wrongly and replace them with those who will execute his program of authoritarianism. Look for the court pushback, though. I think, Christiane, the story of these first days of Trump's administration is, he's pushing to do what Orban and others have tried, but there has been court pushback. The court are -- courts are stopping him again and again, I think you're going to see litigation from these individuals who have been wrongly fired or demoted. More court pushback on him.

And while we have not seen the mass popular mobilization that was so important to the fact that Poland was eventually able to oust their autocrat, whereas Hungary, Turkey has not been able to,   I do think you're going to see the American people now. That's the next part of

waking up .

They are seeing, hey, this guy tried to cut off all the services we rely on from government. He's going to affect us -- working moms, kids in school, firefighters, police, we can't have that. So, I'm looking both for him to keep pushing, but for the leaders and the American people to wake up, we saw strong congressional pushback. That's the story. We're at a crossroads. I have confidence in our institutions and our people.  I think they're going to
wake up
and see that same mass popular mobilization, same as Mr. Netanyahu in Israel when he tried to pass his autocratic laws, the country turned out in the streets. I think the same is going to happen here as well, not just at the grass-tops, the grassroots.

AMANPOUR: That's interesting. I just want to ask you quickly before finishing with Kim, you've talked about Poland pushing back, but also Brazil. Bolsonaro was considered the Trump of the Tropics, right? But you know, now, with a Bolsonaro out of office, it appears that institutions as it's been written are winning, that they won against Musk, for instance, who tried to challenge their judiciary. They've won in various ways. I guess the question is, how difficult is it to reclaim democracy once it has been damaged?

EISEN: It's very difficult. And the American institutions can learn a thing or two from Brazil because unlike the approach we took, which did lead to 34 criminal convictions of Donald Trump and one of the criminal cases against him, the Brazilian institutions have held strong.

They have -- particularly the Brazilian courts have been tough cutting edge of their rule of law system. So, we can learn a thing or two from Brazil.  And Poland teaches us after eight years, they ousted the autocrats, but they've done so much damage, it's very difficult for the successors to succeed. Christiane, that's why I'm so glad, and I'm part of the litigation efforts here in the United States.

I'm so glad to see the courts pushing back early, and saying, no, Donald Trump, you can't do this. And that's waking the leaders up and the country up. So, I'm hopeful. But we have a very tough road ahead to preserve these institutions. They must not be hollowed out because if they are, we will not get them back.

transcripts.cnn

The American people simple can NOT exist at either extreme of politics. That is, we can not be all conservative any more than we can be all progressive. It is not who we are as a country. Thus, we must 'retreat' back to the Center of politics. Letting conservatives win and liberals win too! This requires:  Compromise.

If not. . . we will lose our country to utter violence and that will bring loss of status and place in the world.