Donald Trump

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

Bentleyspop said:

Tiki said:

Why doesn't he stop?  

https://twitter.com/RealPressSecBot/status/879683495139790849

He doesn't stop and won't stop because everyone around him are coddled and enablers.
Plus, as I have said previously,  he is a spoiled, immature, and narcissistic child who just doesn't get it.
Which says even more about his supporters.

He 100% gets it. That is why he's doing it.

I go back and forth on this. I don't know if he 100% gets it. I think it's possible he sees it as his only line of defence against the truth; trash the press. I don't think it's some mass conspiracy to control the media. the constitution simply won't allow that to happen. 

Once the populace doesn't trust the news media at all, the constitution will become MUCH more flexible. That's the idea. I think Trump, under advisement, knows exactly what he's doing. That is why he is basically hammering everyone over the head with the CONSTANT #fakenews thing, day in and day out. If he weren't so unbelievably persistent and consistent with that particular message, and if Steve Bannon wasn't around, I'd probably agree with you. But given how deliberately consistent he is with that message in particular, and the way he uses the term and works it in no matter the situation suggests that it is part of an intentional long-term plan. I think dismissing it as something else is dangerous in and of itself. I know it's fucking hard to believe, because it's just so fucking nuts in this day and age, and we would all like to think that people know better. But all signs tell us that it's true anyway. And the message is quickly becoming ubiquitous, which means that soon enough the message will sink into the American subconscious. I think that is the plan. They've already managed to very effectively redefine the term "fake news" in the public consciousness, so their plans is already working. But FWIW, I don't think they intend a takeover of the current news media. They intend to make them ineffective, while making fake news more effective. Also, Trump needn't make a state-run media outlet official and have any pesky constitutional laws get in the way. All he needs to do is have it in his back pocket, like he already has with Breitbart and some other fringe outlets.

problem is, he's not consistent. if any news agency reports anything positive about him or his government or his family, all of a sudden they are no longer fake news. I don't really believe many of supporters believe any of this fake news BS. Some of them do, for sure, but they probably already didn't watch any of the networks that he calls that. They were all Fox Newsers already. So he's preaching to the choir. I don't think he's effectively flipping anyone. 

I don't think Trump is honestly a dummy, but I don't think he's presidential caliber intelligent either. I think he's so focused on his own image, that he can't help himself but shout from the rooftops about anyone that people perceive to be better than him, or someone who has wronged him in some way. He knows America, by and large, misses Obama, that's why he's going after him and his reputation. And it will work with his base, but I don't think it will work with his detractors or the moderates. 

I actually consider your example one of consistency. He is warming people up to just believe the good coverage and not believe the bad coverage. I also think that MANY of his supporters believe the fake news thing at face value. But those who don't are still being brainwashed by it on some level. It's a psychological tactic that I think is very obviously being utilized and is working already in some ways. And I don't think whether or not they ever consumed this news is relevant, and the intention really isn't flipping people either. What I'm saying is that they are employing Orwellian tactics, which isn't about flipping people in the way you mean. What they are doing is much less "surface" than that, and much more sinister. Logically convincing moderates or opponents is the LAST thing on their minds.
And BTW, I think Trump is fucking idiot and not intelligent at all. There is no way he'd figure this out for himself. He's got the exact kind of help he needs here. I actually can hardly believe he managed to gather up the crazy little gang that he did.

I suppose, I just think it's less likely to work if you are trying to convince people to only believe the good things. many people are that stupid (or just indifferent), but I have faith that most aren't. 

you have to remember that sure, many of his supporters will believe this BS, but the total of his base is, what, 17% of the voting public? that ain't much. 

I just don't think that the decisions you're talking about are as conscious or deliberate as that. Eroding the public trust in the news media is not really about his base or even gaining actual support. Anyway, the tactic is working like a hot damn. It is already clear that he has managed to erode public trust in the news media, and not just among his supporters. It is working on those who don't support him too, just not in such a direct way. Again, it's a psychological game. People being stupid or indifferent really isn't all that necessary for it to work. Most Germans in the 1930s weren't stupid or indifferent either, and yet..............

"working like a hot damn". how are you measuring this erosion of public trust in the media?

Well plenty of plain old observation over time, but there are also gallup poles and shit that show us this.

directly attributed to Trump, or just in general? with the proliferation of social media and the like, people have been becoming more and more distrustful of the establishment long before trump came into the picture. But I'd be interested to see if it can actually be measured that Trump is the main cause. 

slightofjeff said:

BS44325 said:

Gern Blansten said:

BS44325 said:

The Juggler said:

PJ_Soul said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

my2hands said:

No tapes...

Just another Trump lie

How is it a lie?  Not once did President Trump say this was true.

He said he might have Comey tapes. That was a lie. He knew perfectly well that he didn't have any when he said that. The man is a fucking moron. He thinks it is appropriate to "bluff" the American public. I suspect he does it just for shits and giggles.

Shits and giggles or attempting to intimidate Comey? The latter is probably something Mueller is looking into.

The president is so stupid.

Maybe. His "tapes" comment triggered Comey admitting that he did in fact tell Trump on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. Trump had been trying to get that fact into the public for months but nobody believed. People claimed that was a lie and the memo showed it to be true. It also unveiled Comey himself to be both a leaker and a liar. The problem with the "tapes" tweet though is that it lead to the appointment of the special prosecutor. If the special prosecutor comes up with nothing though then the "tapes" tweet might turnout to be a brilliant move. Electorally it has already been demonstrated that the "tapes" tweet or special prosecutor is having zero impact on the GOP to win elections. To many of you label things you don't understand "stupid". This is not for you. Never was for you.

Comey admitting that he told tRump that he wasn't under investigation is irrelevant to everyone except tRump.  

It was a fact that up until Comey was fired there was no investigation of tRump.  So what?

Ha. It was pretty damn relevant. Amazing how the goal posts have moved. Now you agree there was no investigation of Trump previously but seem to think there is one now?

Comey said, in the same testimony you are taking as gospel now, that Trump was now under investigation for obstructing justice. He's a liar, except when he says the things you want to believe? Is that it?
The fact that anyone would think the Comey testimony was good for Trump is beyond me. It was a disaster. If he had just left the investigation alone in the first place, none of this would be happening.

erocshifty said:

slightofjeff said:

BS44325 said:

Gern Blansten said:

BS44325 said:

The Juggler said:

PJ_Soul said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

my2hands said:

No tapes...

Just another Trump lie

How is it a lie?  Not once did President Trump say this was true.

He said he might have Comey tapes. That was a lie. He knew perfectly well that he didn't have any when he said that. The man is a fucking moron. He thinks it is appropriate to "bluff" the American public. I suspect he does it just for shits and giggles.

Shits and giggles or attempting to intimidate Comey? The latter is probably something Mueller is looking into.

The president is so stupid.

Maybe. His "tapes" comment triggered Comey admitting that he did in fact tell Trump on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. Trump had been trying to get that fact into the public for months but nobody believed. People claimed that was a lie and the memo showed it to be true. It also unveiled Comey himself to be both a leaker and a liar. The problem with the "tapes" tweet though is that it lead to the appointment of the special prosecutor. If the special prosecutor comes up with nothing though then the "tapes" tweet might turnout to be a brilliant move. Electorally it has already been demonstrated that the "tapes" tweet or special prosecutor is having zero impact on the GOP to win elections. To many of you label things you don't understand "stupid". This is not for you. Never was for you.

Comey admitting that he told tRump that he wasn't under investigation is irrelevant to everyone except tRump.  

It was a fact that up until Comey was fired there was no investigation of tRump.  So what?

Ha. It was pretty damn relevant. Amazing how the goal posts have moved. Now you agree there was no investigation of Trump previously but seem to think there is one now?

Comey said, in the same testimony you are taking as gospel now, that Trump was now under investigation for obstructing justice. He's a liar, except when he says the things you want to believe? Is that it?
The fact that anyone would think the Comey testimony was good for Trump is beyond me. It was a disaster. If he had just left the investigation alone in the first place, none of this would be happening.

That's the thing. It seems like Trump thinks that America is just another business that he's acquired and can fire whomever he wants if they question him. Embarrassing.

BS44325 said:

erocshifty said:

slightofjeff said:

BS44325 said:

Gern Blansten said:

BS44325 said:

The Juggler said:

PJ_Soul said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

my2hands said:

No tapes...

Just another Trump lie

How is it a lie?  Not once did President Trump say this was true.

He said he might have Comey tapes. That was a lie. He knew perfectly well that he didn't have any when he said that. The man is a fucking moron. He thinks it is appropriate to "bluff" the American public. I suspect he does it just for shits and giggles.

Shits and giggles or attempting to intimidate Comey? The latter is probably something Mueller is looking into.

The president is so stupid.

Maybe. His "tapes" comment triggered Comey admitting that he did in fact tell Trump on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. Trump had been trying to get that fact into the public for months but nobody believed. People claimed that was a lie and the memo showed it to be true. It also unveiled Comey himself to be both a leaker and a liar. The problem with the "tapes" tweet though is that it lead to the appointment of the special prosecutor. If the special prosecutor comes up with nothing though then the "tapes" tweet might turnout to be a brilliant move. Electorally it has already been demonstrated that the "tapes" tweet or special prosecutor is having zero impact on the GOP to win elections. To many of you label things you don't understand "stupid". This is not for you. Never was for you.

Comey admitting that he told tRump that he wasn't under investigation is irrelevant to everyone except tRump.  

It was a fact that up until Comey was fired there was no investigation of tRump.  So what?

Ha. It was pretty damn relevant. Amazing how the goal posts have moved. Now you agree there was no investigation of Trump previously but seem to think there is one now?

Comey said, in the same testimony you are taking as gospel now, that Trump was now under investigation for obstructing justice. He's a liar, except when he says the things you want to believe? Is that it?
The fact that anyone would think the Comey testimony was good for Trump is beyond me. It was a disaster. If he had just left the investigation alone in the first place, none of this would be happening.

That's the thing. It seems like Trump thinks that America is just another business that he's acquired and can fire whomever he wants if they question him. Embarrassing.

He legally can fire whomever he wants. He can fire Mueller if he wants.