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Humanities Section => Political/Government General Discussion => Topic started by: _Xenu_ on February 14, 2017, 09:04:38 AM

Title: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: _Xenu_ on February 14, 2017, 09:04:38 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58a1cf81e4b0e172783a9eae
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 14, 2017, 01:54:50 PM
Probably a pointy haired Dilbert boss.  That is executive material there!
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 14, 2017, 06:40:25 PM
It doesn't matter whether or not he can read, as long as he can sign his name, that's all the GOP needs from him.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Sorginak on February 14, 2017, 06:43:13 PM
He can read.  His ego is simply too big to be worried by whom those he considers his lessers think of him.

After all, narcissistic power mongrels do not get where they do by caring about anyone except themselves. 
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: _Xenu_ on February 14, 2017, 06:49:02 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 14, 2017, 06:40:25 PM
It doesn't matter whether or not he can read, as long as he can sign his name, that's all the GOP needs from him.
That is just a little too dead on. If he doesn't bend to their will, I suspect they will impeach him eventually and give the presidency to Mike Pence.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 14, 2017, 06:52:50 PM
I'm not sure Pence would be a whole lot better, but almost anything would be an improvement...
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Munch on February 14, 2017, 06:57:19 PM
Quote from: Sorginak on February 14, 2017, 06:43:13 PM
He can read.  His ego is simply too big to be worried by whom those he considers his lessers think of him.

I dunno, his twitter record shows he easily gets triggered by what people say about him.. unless someones reading it to him, and he's responding (imagining mike pence spelling the words for him now as he figures out how to use a keyboard)
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: _Xenu_ on February 14, 2017, 07:05:50 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 14, 2017, 06:52:50 PM
I'm not sure Pence would be a whole lot better, but almost anything would be an improvement...
Even as a self describe queer, I would strongly prefer Mike Pence over Donald Trump. He may be a homophobe, but he's not going to start World War 3. I have trouble sleeping sometimes because I'm afraid of what POTUS is going to do next. Mike Pence is just a religious conservative, probably not too different from W. The world would survive his administration.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 14, 2017, 07:08:48 PM
Quote from: _Xenu_ on February 14, 2017, 07:05:50 PM
Even as a non-hetero, I would strongly prefer Mike Pence over Donald Trump. He may be a homophobe, but he's not going to start World War 3.
Well, we can always hope, I suppose...
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Atheon on February 14, 2017, 07:25:16 PM
As long as it's written in crayon in one-syllable words, preferably babyish words like "weewee" and "poopoo".
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Hydra009 on February 14, 2017, 07:37:30 PM
I'm no fan of Trump, but at first blush, this news seems preposterous.  I mean, the guy has the best words and he's the best in the world at a bunch of things, second only to Kim Jong Il.  Jokes aside, it seems crazy for a multimillionaire businessman to be this inept at basic human tasks.

I mean, he wrote The Art of the Deal!

QuoteSchwartz had ghostwritten Trump’s 1987 breakthrough memoir, earning a joint byline on the cover, half of the book’s five-hundred-thousand-dollar advance, and half of the royalties.
Quote"I put lipstick on a pig,” he said. “I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is.” He went on, “I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization.”

If he were writing “The Art of the Deal” today, Schwartz said, it would be a very different book with a very different title. Asked what he would call it, he answered, “The Sociopath.”
Source:  http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all

Okay, so he didn't write the Art of the Deal and his ghostwriter hates him.  Big deal.  Jesus didn't write the New Testament, it was still a hit.

And yeah, he talks like a third-grader, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's dumb.  He's just speaking in a way his supporters can easily understand.  If anything, he's implying that his supporters are dumb.

QuoteAnd while Mr. Obama liked policy option papers that were three to six single-spaced pages, council staff members are now being told to keep papers to a single page, with lots of graphics and maps.

“The president likes maps,” one official said.
Source:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/12/us/politics/national-security-council-turmoil.html

:wtff:
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 14, 2017, 11:08:31 PM
Narcissists and babies are similar.  And old men need Depends too.

Don't fret, the recent coup causing his first cabinet loss (of someone already in the cabinet) is supposed to be General Betrayus working in the shadows.  Please practice calisthenics, so you won't been injured when you goose-step.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 01:14:47 AM
Whether can read or not, there is no evidence that he DOES!  From all accounts, he mostly watches the visual and spoken TV political news and responds to that.

This is disturbing.  But he may represent the future...
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on February 15, 2017, 01:27:20 AM
I prefer to impeach both Trump and Pence for lying to the public and admitting it. The problem is that leaves us with Paul Ryan who want to completely gut social security and sell it off to the highest bidder. 
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 01:30:32 AM
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on February 15, 2017, 01:27:20 AM
I prefer to impeach both Trump and Pence for lying to the public and admitting it. The problem is that leaves us with Paul Ryan who want to completely gut social security and sell it off to the highest bidder.

Well, technically, if Ryan was to assume office after Trump and Pence were impeached, he could go too.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 06:57:48 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 01:14:47 AM
Whether can read or not, there is no evidence that he DOES!  From all accounts, he mostly watches the visual and spoken TV political news and responds to that.

This is disturbing.  But he may represent the future...

Your future AI leader isn't even Max Headroom, not even an emoticon .. but an emoji ;-)
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:02:18 AM
Quote from: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 06:57:48 AM
Your future AI leader isn't even Max Headroom, not even an emoticon .. but an emoji ;-)

Just out of curiosity, what part of my post made you think about AI, Max Headroom, emoticons, or emoji?  None of those crossed MY mind as I was posting.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 07:08:27 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:02:18 AM
Just out of curiosity, what part of my post made you think about AI, Max Headroom, emoticons, or emoji?  None of those crossed MY mind as I was posting.

Well I could have responded with Latin doggerel ... you like that, don't deny it!

If I could read your head, would you believe in G-d, or think I am a demigod?

But actually it is quite simple, I can't read your mind, but I can read your posts.  Sometimes it is all a jumble, because I am reading (evelyn wood) and typing (thanks HS typing teacher) very fast, the remnant images of prior posts are still in my head as a new one comes in, and my brain absolutely works by association, sometimes too well.

"watches the visual and spoken TV political news and responds to that" ... no tea leaves.  Do you know what is in your head when you type?  Clearly your are meta-commenting on vidiocracy and the negative effect that "one picture is worth a thousand words".  You bear icon triggers me .. my pet the animal reflex from Knot's Berry Farm petting zoo circa 1965.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:13:56 AM
Quote from: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 07:08:27 AM
Well I could have responded with Latin doggerel ... you like that, don't deny it!

If I could read your head, would you believe in G-d, or think I am a demigod?

But actually it is quite simple, I can't read your mind, but I can read your posts.  Sometimes it is all a jumble, because I am reading (evelyn wood) and typing (thanks HS typing teacher) very fast, the remnant images of prior posts are still in my head as a new one comes in, and my brain absolutely works by association, sometimes too well.

"watches the visual and spoken TV political news and responds to that" ... no tea leaves.  Do you know what is in your head when you type?  Clearly your are meta-commenting on vidiocracy and the negative effect that "one picture is worth a thousand words".  You bear icon triggers me .. my pet the animal reflex from Knot's Berry Farm petting zoo circa 1965.

Fascinating.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 07:16:17 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:13:56 AM
Fascinating.  Thank you.

Please don't be like the lead romantic character from "Gods Must Be Crazy" ... the guy studying elephant dung.  Leave my dung alone, please!

By the way, I have photographic memory, unfortunately it is a Kodak Brownie from 1950.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:32:57 AM
Quote from: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 07:16:17 AM
Please don't be like the lead romantic character from "Gods Must Be Crazy" ... the guy studying elephant dung.  Leave my dung alone, please!

By the way, I have photographic memory, unfortunately it is a Kodak Brownie from 1950.

I presume from context that that must be a movie or TV show.  Sorry. never saw it.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 01:31:45 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:32:57 AM
I presume from context that that must be a movie or TV show.  Sorry. never saw it.

Best movie ever starring San people (original hunter gatherers still in existence today, from 100,000 years ago).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GorHLQ-jLRQ
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Shiranu on February 15, 2017, 02:15:15 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:32:57 AM
I presume from context that that must be a movie or TV show.  Sorry. never saw it.

Dafuq, how have you not seen The Gods Must be Crazy? It's a classic...
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 15, 2017, 03:41:53 PM
Yeah, one of the best and funniest movies ever made. Even the sequel was very good.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Ro3bert on February 15, 2017, 05:52:34 PM
Quote from: Atheon on February 14, 2017, 07:25:16 PM
As long as it's written in crayon in one-syllable words, preferably babyish words like "weewee" and "poopoo".

Except both weewee and poopoo are two syllable words.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Ro3bert on February 15, 2017, 05:57:19 PM
Quote from: Shiranu on February 15, 2017, 02:15:15 PM
Dafuq, how have you not seen The Gods Must be Crazy? It's a classic...

One of the funniest movies ever and definitely a classic though I thought the sequel was not as funny.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: fencerider on February 15, 2017, 10:57:17 PM
Quote from: Shiranu on February 15, 2017, 02:15:15 PM
Dafuq, how have you not seen The Gods Must be Crazy? It's a classic...
ok... I admit I never heard of it either

Talk shows are saying that Trump's opinion seems to have a lot of simularity with the opinion of the last person he talked to, as if he has absolutely no opinion of his own. and that he is just out for his own ego, apparently not yet aware of the job position he has.

There was also someone that worked around Trump in Florida that a great many people had to continously had to tell him what he could and could not do; almost like a child with autism.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 16, 2017, 06:42:37 AM
Quote from: fencerider on February 15, 2017, 10:57:17 PM
ok... I admit I never heard of it either

Talk shows are saying that Trump's opinion seems to have a lot of simularity with the opinion of the last person he talked to, as if he has absolutely no opinion of his own. and that he is just out for his own ego, apparently not yet aware of the job position he has.

There was also someone that worked around Trump in Florida that a great many people had to continously had to tell him what he could and could not do; almost like a child with autism.

PM Lloyd George, who led the British Empire to victory in WW I (with US support of course) was similar.  They said his opinion was whatever it was he was told by the last person he talked to, before he went to bed.  Thank the Sumerian gods the Annunaki will come soon and rule us inferior species.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Munch on February 16, 2017, 10:03:51 AM
Donald can't read, and so nobody understands what he's saying anyway.

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dzFqe9wxUGg
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Mike Cl on February 16, 2017, 11:44:35 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:02:18 AM
Just out of curiosity, what part of my post made you think about AI, Max Headroom, emoticons, or emoji?  None of those crossed MY mind as I was posting.
One of the things I admire about Baruch, is that his mind can shoot off into several directions at the same time.  And his answers reflect that--I find that impressive.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: trdsf on February 16, 2017, 12:44:14 PM
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on February 15, 2017, 01:27:20 AM
I prefer to impeach both Trump and Pence for lying to the public and admitting it. The problem is that leaves us with Paul Ryan who want to completely gut social security and sell it off to the highest bidder.
If the public mood is hostile enough to force a Republican-controlled House to impeach and Senate to convict the both of them -- and let's be honest, they will do neither unless there is a credible threat to their future re-electability -- Ryan will be too scared to do anything that will get attention turned on himself.

It could come down to 2018 being a referendum on impeachment.  It's more than a little disturbing to see that as a possibility already, we're not even a full month into Asshole's time.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 16, 2017, 12:55:33 PM
Quote from: trdsf on February 16, 2017, 12:44:14 PM
If the public mood is hostile enough to force a Republican-controlled House to impeach and Senate to convict the both of them -- and let's be honest, they will do neither unless there is a credible threat to their future re-electability -- Ryan will be too scared to do anything that will get attention turned on himself.

It could come down to 2018 being a referendum on impeachment.  It's more than a little disturbing to see that as a possibility already, we're not even a full month into Asshole's time.

A referendum is only state wide.  Nationally it is called an election.  Wonder if the Dems will doing another "good job, Brownie?"
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 16, 2017, 12:57:08 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on February 16, 2017, 11:44:35 AM
One of the things I admire about Baruch, is that his mind can shoot off into several directions at the same time.  And his answers reflect that--I find that impressive.

There was a character, on Armed Forces Radio ... during Nam .. that they grunts listened to .... "Chicken Man".  The call sign was "He's everywhere, he's everywhere".

Cackle strut crow.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 16, 2017, 12:58:36 PM
Quote from: Munch on February 16, 2017, 10:03:51 AM
Donald can't read, and so nobody understands what he's saying anyway.

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dzFqe9wxUGg

My best friend, a younger lady I worked with, her hero was Donald Duck.  She liked his anger control management ;-)
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Hydra009 on February 16, 2017, 03:48:34 PM
Page 2 and I have yet to see someone refute the claim that the President of the United States of America can't read.  :|

You'd think this would be an easy claim to refute.  Hasn't anyone asked him what his favorite book is?  They have (http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/27/politics/donald-trump-favorite-bible-verses/), it's the Bible and when asked to share specific verses, he declined - which sounds a bit suspicious.  Honestly, I don't think he's ever read the Bible.  His answer could just be pandering, a way to present himself as devout.

He's sometimes in the vicinity of books, so hasn't anyone asked him about them (https://www.axios.com/reality-bites-trumps-wake-up-call-2198434148.html)?
QuoteFunny moment: When asked about books on his desk, he showed us "Adams v Jefferson" by John Ferling. We asked if we should read it. "I wouldn't," he said.
:eh:

Okay, so maybe he doesn't have a lot of time to read (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-doesnt-read-much-being-president-probably-wouldnt-change-that/2016/07/17/d2ddf2bc-4932-11e6-90a8-fb84201e0645_story.html).  Obviously, a President doesn't have a whole lot of free time.  *coughgolfingcough*

QuoteTrump’s desk is piled high with magazines, nearly all of them with himself on their covers, and each morning, he reviews a pile of printouts of news articles about himself that his secretary delivers to his desk. But there are no shelves of books in his office, no computer on his desk.
Well, that's disturbing.

QuotePresidents have different ways of preparing to make decisions. Some read deeply, some prefer to review short memos that condense difficult issues into bite-size summaries, ideally with check-boxes at the bottom of the page. But Trump, poised to become the first ­major-party presidential nominee since Dwight Eisenhower who had not previously held elected office, appears to have an unusually light appetite for reading.

He said in a series of interviews that he does not need to read extensively because he reaches the right decisions “with very little knowledge other than the knowledge I [already] had, plus the words ‘common sense,’ because I have a lot of common sense and I have a lot of business ability.”
Correction.  This is the disturbing part.  Being a "skimmer" is bad enough, but relying on "common sense" over knowledge is downright disastrous in a position of power.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 16, 2017, 04:22:32 PM
(https://img.ifcdn.com/images/403fd22fd82ef3f8cfd9830c83f069d1e1226f76623eadbf4be6719bfdeec16f_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Mike Cl on February 16, 2017, 10:28:13 PM
Does it matter???  No.  It does not matter what he does.  Nothing will happen; there will be no impeachment.  Whatever he utters from his mouth or twitter is the truth; even if he contradicts himself within the same sentence.  This country is far too racist, far too nationalistic, far too religious, far too Repub (who has for decades used fear and lies to put forth whatever the message is at the moment), for anything bad to happen.  His only real agenda is to make money for himself; and in order to do that he has to reward his allies--all the ultra rich and ultra right that have aided him to this point.  He is not driven by any ideology.  Only greed gets his motor running.  He could still shoot somebody in the head in Times Square and that person would be blamed for it.  He can literally do no wrong; which is why this country is fucked; and maybe the world as we know it.

The above message is delivered by me in any up mood.  Don't want to know what I really think.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Sorginak on February 17, 2017, 12:19:00 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on February 16, 2017, 10:28:13 PM
His only real agenda is to make money for himself; and in order to do that he has to reward his allies--all the ultra rich and ultra right that have aided him to this point.  He is not driven by any ideology.  Only greed gets his motor running.

It certainly explains why he cares more about the low ratings since he left his show than caring about anything really important. 
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 17, 2017, 02:31:45 AM
Quote from: fencerider on February 15, 2017, 10:57:17 PM
ok... I admit I never heard of it either

Talk shows are saying that Trump's opinion seems to have a lot of simularity with the opinion of the last person he talked to, as if he has absolutely no opinion of his own. and that he is just out for his own ego, apparently not yet aware of the job position he has.

There was also someone that worked around Trump in Florida that a great many people had to continously had to tell him what he could and could not do; almost like a child with autism.

Nailed it!
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 17, 2017, 02:35:38 AM
Today, Trump ranted about the unfairness of government leaks instead of the content of the leaks themselves.  A rational person would not think that way.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 17, 2017, 05:07:20 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 17, 2017, 02:35:38 AM
Today, Trump ranted about the unfairness of government leaks instead of the content of the leaks themselves.  A rational person would not think that way.

Government isn't rational.  Why would i spend a trillion dollars a year, to have strangers tell me what I can or cannot do?
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Unbeliever on February 17, 2017, 05:13:47 PM
(http://media.salon.com/2015/09/faces_of_trump.jpg)




(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/75/7e/c4/757ec4cf86039bf2883344b5fe7befbd.jpg)
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 17, 2017, 06:26:08 PM
So Trump combines one negative trait from each of our last 6 Presidents?  Multitalented, in a negative way.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: fencerider on February 19, 2017, 02:30:13 AM
Sorry Hydra trying to prove Donald Trump can read is like trying to prove god exists. Its beyond our ability to fact check
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Cavebear on February 19, 2017, 02:53:14 AM
Quote from: Baruch on February 17, 2017, 05:07:20 AM
Government isn't rational.  Why would i spend a trillion dollars a year, to have strangers tell me what I can or cannot do?

Where did the "trillion dollar" claim come from?
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 19, 2017, 07:13:57 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on February 19, 2017, 02:53:14 AM
Where did the "trillion dollar" claim come from?

A round number for the government budget .. good enough accounting for government work too.
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: fencerider on February 19, 2017, 04:23:19 PM
be nice if they wasted a couple hundred thousand on my bank account. corruption has its perks
Title: Re: Can Donald Trump Even Read?
Post by: Baruch on February 19, 2017, 04:38:43 PM
Quote from: fencerider on February 19, 2017, 04:23:19 PM
be nice if they wasted a couple hundred thousand on my bank account. corruption has its perks

You didn't have the magic rolodex list of contacts who will return your calls .. Hillary did.