Trump Thread

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I almost find it unfair to push this quibble, but I was pointing out that as an absolute the two qualities you noted while referring to torture (again putting aside what the actual intelligence community positions are or were), delegating responsibility and supporting subordinates, are not in the way you raised them qualities sought after in a leader - rather, they are qualities intrinsic to being a leader, since they only require any normal human activity in the absence of solipsism. You did not speak to degree or nature of the qualities, merely listing their presence, but as such you're only speaking in tautologies.

And to be sure, there are many expert opinions Trump is happy to dismiss. But by no means can a leader be obliged to or even hope to accommodate every opinion.

So an argument for competence or qualification has to come down to the character and the events through which it is mediated, not apparitions of the latent. For the torture example alone, this would mean arguing from the virtue or value of the specific case and not the fact that it involves the basics of living in a world with other actors.

Some Politicians, notably Michale Gove, don't ever listen to anyone - and they believe they should run a country.

Today Trump has said he's now inclined not to support Waterboarding because although he believes its useful his incoming head of the CIA is apparently not a fan. The point is that Trump makes a point of defering to "his team" rather than presenting himself as the Man Who Makes all the Decisions.

That he makes a point of illustrating this, repeatedly, shows he believes it's an part of being President - he's emphasising that he delegates and co-operates. This may be genuine or it may be a stylistic choice, but it's clear Trump is pitching himself as a manager or "CEO" as much as a leader.

Compare to Theresa May - who frequently rides roughshod over her own cabinet and the devolved Administrations - notably declaring the UK would leave the Single Market before said Devolved Administrations had a chance to formally meet and present their views.

Trump is an insane little troll. The real problem now though is state governments and the (remaining) federal gov't being emboldened by his buffoonery. He has surrounded himself with racists and corporatists. That's where the problem lies. Phillip talks about deferring to experts: that does us no good if those experts end game is detrimental to everyone other than the upper class.

Trump is not going to be a Good President, I think, but the more I think about Obama the more I think he was very much Style of Substance. The fact that Trump managed to behead his vaunted domestic "Legacy" with a few strokes of his pen demonstrates this. The collapse of the Democratic Party also has to be partly Obama's responsibility as his lack of leadership of said party meant that his electoral success did not translate into their electoral success.

Also, you spell my name with two L's.

-1,000,000,000 Internets.