Donald Trump

[SebastianBlue]

I genuinely think there is going to be a (political) St. Valentine’s Day massacre. there will be statements likes this from many Trump surrogates throughout the week laying the foundation for a “justified purge” of anyone and everyone that was seen to act against the president or did not show sufficient loyalty to the president and party, even if they are meant to be nonpartisan civil servants. In other words, anyone that serves the nations interests rather than Trump/Republican interests.



And another example of something that would take down any other president.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

The Founding Fathers must be turning in there graves. The Republican party have empowered Trump to pick apart the very Constitution of the United States of America. A constitution they so carefully formed to protect The People from the power of one sociopathic individual.



Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

• Glibness and Superficial Charm
  
  
• Manipulative and Conning
  They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
  
  
• Grandiose Sense of Self
  Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."
  
  
• Pathological Lying
  Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
  
  
• Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
  A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
  
  
• Shallow Emotions
  When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
  
  
• Incapacity for Love
  
  
• Need for Stimulation
  Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
  
  
• Callousness/Lack of Empathy
  Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
  
  
• Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
  Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
  
  
• Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
  Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
  
  
• Irresponsibility/Unreliability
  Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
  
  
• Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
  Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
  
  
• Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
  Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
  
  
• Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
  Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

The Founding Fathers must be turning in there graves. The Republican party have empowered Trump to pick apart the very Constitution of the United States of America. A constitution they so carefully formed to protect The People from the power of one sociopathic individual.



Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

• Glibness and Superficial Charm
  
  
• Manipulative and Conning
  They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
  
  
• Grandiose Sense of Self
  Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."
  
  
• Pathological Lying
  Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
  
  
• Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
  A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
  
  
• Shallow Emotions
  When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
  
  
• Incapacity for Love
  
  
• Need for Stimulation
  Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
  
  
• Callousness/Lack of Empathy
  Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
  
  
• Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
  Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
  
  
• Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
  Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
  
  
• Irresponsibility/Unreliability
  Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
  
  
• Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
  Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
  
  
• Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
  Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
  
  
• Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
  Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

What worries me most is that although his patterns of sociopathic behaviour are alarming and obvious, there are people who still not willing to call him out, instead choosing to legitimise his behaviour. I'm sure these people have their reasons (no doubt many of them selfish), but they pledged to defend the constitution the moment they took public office, and Trump is ripping it up before their eyes.

But heaven forbid Nancy Pelosi ripping up his SOTU speech......

 

[r.soleofsalford]

What worries me most is that although his patterns of sociopathic behaviour are alarming and obvious, there are people who still not willing to call him out, instead choosing to legitimise his behaviour. I'm sure these people have their reasons (no doubt many of them selfish), but they pledged to defend the constitution the moment they took public office, and Trump is ripping it up before their eyes.

But heaven forbid Nancy Pelosi for ripping up his SOTU speech......

Politics is without doubt a dirty business but imo it has sunk so low under this President that I cannot see the USA political system ever recovering.

What worries me most is that although his patterns of sociopathic behaviour are alarming and obvious, there are people who still not willing to call him out, instead choosing to legitimise his behaviour. I'm sure these people have their reasons (no doubt many of them selfish), but they pledged to defend the constitution the moment they took public office, and Trump is ripping it up before their eyes.

But heaven forbid Nancy Pelosi for ripping up his SOTU speech......

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Politics is without doubt a dirty business but imo it has sunk so low under this President that I cannot see the USA political system ever recovering.

The Republic is no doubt under threat.

 

[SebastianBlue]

The Republic is no doubt under threat.

It absolutely is and, unfortunately, I tend to agree with @r.soleofsalford — the US political system may have already passed beyond the event horizon.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

It absolutely is and, unfortunately, I tend to agree with @r.soleofsalford — the US political system may have already pass beyond the event horizon.

Lobbyist/PAC's/Super PAC's are pretty much running US politics and have been for years. It's effectively 'pay-for-play'. Whether it's the NRA, Big Pharma, the Energy sector, it's all about money. Politicians don't have a career unless they finance their campaigns, and campaign finance is a murky world where money laundering is almost the norm.

Just look at the NRA for instance. Seriously questionable lines of funding (probable Russian government money) that have been re purposed and doled out to various politicians in campaign donations. It makes the UK cash for questions scandal look like a school dinner money racket in comparison. That's before you get into Deutsche Bank and the Trump connection (like The French Connection, but sh*t - Trump ain't no Gene Hackman).

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Four more years and you may be right. The federal courts will be stacked by right wing zealots from the list provided by the Heritage Foundation and it is almost unfathomable that Breyer and Ginsburg will go for four more years. Breyer wants out and RBG is hanging on by a thread. That would leave a relatively young 7-2 right wing majority that would only have to discuss issues that made it through a predominantly right wing federal appeals court process, and thus the courts legal foundations would lurch to the right. Roe is constantly under threat, with some states removing clinics and creating a de facto ban, and that is just the beginning.

And that’s before you even get to the other “real life” stuff like climate, regulations on air and water, drilling on currently federally protected land, tax policy, health care, and foreign affairs.

Throw in that he is the Nobel Prize winner of Complete Twat of the Highest Order (the only Nobel he will ever receive, hopefully!) and you are still only scratching the surface on reasons he needs to be gone...and not just from the presidency.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Lobbyist/PAC's/Super PAC's are pretty much running US politics and have been for years. It's effectively 'pay-for-play'. Whether it's the NRA, Big Pharma, the Energy sector, it's all about money. Politicians don't have a career unless they finance their campaigns, and campaign finance is a murky world where money laundering is almost the norm.

Just look at the NRA for instance. Seriously questionable lines of funding (probable Russian government money) that have been re purposed and doled out to various politicians in campaign donations. It makes the UK cash for questions scandal look like a school dinner money racket in comparison. That's before you get into Deutsche Bank and the Trump connection (like The French Connection, but sh*t - Trump ain't no Gene Hackman).

Citizens United and the lack of public financing of elections is ABSOLUTELY the beginning of the end for American democracy. Unfortunately, we may have entered an era where the only viable candidate against a supposed billionaire who can raise hundreds of millions, if not over a billion dollars for this election is ANOTHER billionaire! UFB!

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

It absolutely is and, unfortunately, I tend to agree with @r.soleofsalford — the US political system may have already passes beyond the event horizon.

That all depends on the coming election. I'll have a lot more confidence in the future of the country from a political balance perspective if Trump is rejected on his face because America doesn't want a President of ANY political stripe who levers the office as amorally as Trump has.

Lobbyist/PAC's/Super PAC's are pretty much running US politics and have been for years. It's effectively 'pay-for-play'. Whether it's the NRA, Big Pharma, the Energy sector, it's all about money. Politicians don't have a career unless they finance their campaigns, and campaign finance is a murky world where money laundering is almost the norm.

Just look at the NRA for instance. Seriously questionable lines of funding (probable Russian government money) that have been re purposed and doled out to various politicians in campaign donations. It makes the UK cash for questions scandal look like a school dinner money racket in comparison. That's before you get into Deutsche Bank and the Trump connection (like The French Connection, but sh*t - Trump ain't no Gene Hackman).

I don't know when this hasn't been true (anyone remember Kennedy vs Nixon?), so I don't have a frame of reference for any sudden creep of this as core to the problems in America. However, I can't recall when a foreign power interfered with a US election via a technology-based disinformation campaign, and included funding the PACs you discuss (i.e. the NRA).