"Dear journalists: Stop taking Trump literally" -- Brad Todd

[quade 4]

Opinion piece published on CNN

Quote

Dear journalists: Stop taking Trump literally

(CNN)Just before the dawn of the Trump administration, journalism in Washington, DC, faces an existential crisis -- but virtually no one in the profession is willing to diagnose it.

Here it is: For the first time, words don't matter.

Source and more:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/28/opinions/journalists-stop-taking-trump-seriously-todd/index.html

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this. What it does is excuse ANYTHING Trump says in service of Trump's agenda. It means he can't be held accountable for ANYTHING he says.

What the actual fuck?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,118]

Quote

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this. What it does is excuse ANYTHING Trump says in service of Trump's agenda. It means he can't be held accountable for ANYTHING he says.

Right. But we've known that for several years now. Words (promises, vows, claims) don't mean specific things to him; they are mere tools used to accomplish a given goal.

[gowlerk 2,275]

Quote

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this. What it does is excuse ANYTHING Trump says in service of Trump's agenda. It means he can't be held accountable for ANYTHING he says.

What the actual fuck?

Maybe there could be an aide, or maybe Pence, can follow him around and let the press and the people know which words that pass from his lips are serious and which are not.

But since he is a lying liar anyway even the serious words have no real meaning.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[jakee 1,595]

Quote

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this.

I disagree with the presentation as well.

The author spends some lines talking about journalists' indoctrination in style guides and how Trump doesn't have that experience in polishing his words, as if A) journalists are just being petty and pedantic when they criticise him and B) the problem with what Trump says is simply a lack of clarity, grammar or decorum.

That is not just false, it's not even pertinent to the author's main argument. It's just a bunch of feel good "elites bad, common man good!" bullshit to get the reader onside.

Another statement at the end makes no sense either - He won this year in spite of his words and he can succeed as President in spite of them, too -- so long as voters continue to take him seriously but not literally.

That's crazy talk. The voters have nothing to do with it for the next 3.5 years. His policies (or lack of) wont succeed or fail based on voter's trust.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[gowlerk 2,275]

Trump has spent most of his adult life using and learning to manipulate the media. He is still doing it today. He is not too stupid to understand what he is saying. He is doing it on purpose.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[TriGirl 343]

gowlerk

Trump has spent most of his adult life using and learning to manipulate the media. He is still doing it today. He is not too stupid to understand what he is saying. He is doing it on purpose.

Yep. He saved a ton of money early in the campaign by behaving like a circus sideshow, particularly at debates, where his opponents didn't get a chance to speak at all. The media covered it because it was a circus sideshow. Now they're admitting they just didn't see how their attention to his antics gave him ALL the free media time.

Someone should have turned off his mike when it wasn't his turn to speak early on, and told him he had no choice but to take the second-to-last lectern on the left if he wanted to participate in the event (he insisted always of being in the center, then used his position to upstage everyone else).

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

[ryoder 1,590]

TriGirl

Someone should have turned off his mike when it wasn't his turn to speak early on, and told him he had no choice but to take the second-to-last lectern on the left if he wanted to participate in the event (he insisted always of being in the center, then used his position to upstage everyone else).

That is a big pet peeve:
Why the hell does the moderator not have a row of radio-button style switches in front of him/her that turns on the mic of one candidate while simultaneously muting the mics of the others???

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[tigra 0]

My idea for presidential debates is this:

Moderators have a kill switch for the microphones to use at their discretion when someone speaks out of turn or over his/her time allotment.

2nd idea is that the candidates wear a shock collar and get shocked when they lie, insult the other candidates or simply go off topic without answering the question. Keep it honest, civil and on topic.

I think both would make future presidential debates much easier to stomach.

[ryoder 1,590]

tigra

2nd idea is that the candidates wear a shock collar and get shocked when they lie, insult the other candidates or simply go off topic without answering the question. Keep it honest, civil and on topic.

That works for me!

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[nigel99 617]

billvon

Quote

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this. What it does is excuse ANYTHING Trump says in service of Trump's agenda. It means he can't be held accountable for ANYTHING he says.

Right. But we've known that for several years now. Words (promises, vows, claims) don't mean specific things to him; they are mere tools used to accomplish a given goal.

It's a really sad indightment of the state of western countries. Sadly I believe Trump is just the first across the line and UK and Australia (being the two countries I care about most) will be following behind.

I think we are witnessing the demise of democracy as we cater to stupid people with the loudest voices. The media are as much to blame as anyone else, but it is enevitable that politics is going to become a reality TV show, lets just hope that the people (countries) we piss off don't take us seriously and see us as clowns and not a real threat.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[Phil1111 1,183]

TriGirl

***Trump has spent most of his adult life using and learning to manipulate the media. He is still doing it today. He is not too stupid to understand what he is saying. He is doing it on purpose.

Yep. He saved a ton of money early in the campaign by behaving like a circus sideshow, particularly at debates, where his opponents didn't get a chance to speak at all. The media covered it because it was a circus sideshow. Now they're admitting they just didn't see how their attention to his antics gave him ALL the free media time.

Someone should have turned off his mike when it wasn't his turn to speak early on, and told him he had no choice but to take the second-to-last lectern on the left if he wanted to participate in the event (he insisted always of being in the center, then used his position to upstage everyone else).

Well yes, yes and yes.

But come February trump will be the President of the USA. He will have control of the microphone with an inherent propensity to double down on lying, obfuscation and flip-flopping.

Thankfully there is congress and the house. Where the body will try to control the mouth(trump).

trump has learned that saying things like "Obama started ISIS he is a founding member" and "Lock her up". is actually reported by the media and swallowed by the gullible. Its not likely that anything will change come February 2017. He is 70 years old and those ideas are deeply ingrained in his mind.

[normiss 897]

Trump:
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!




No concern for the constitutional rights in any way.
#thanksminefuhrer

[Stumpy 284]

He's got the best interpretation of the constitution. Everyone says so

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[SkyDekker 1,465]

normiss

Trump:
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!




No concern for the constitutional rights in any way.
#thanksminefuhrer

And in a couple of months, since Trump will be President. Any burning of anything representing him or his name should be seen in the same light.

[airdvr 210]

billvon

Quote

I vehemently disagree with the concept of this. What it does is excuse ANYTHING Trump says in service of Trump's agenda. It means he can't be held accountable for ANYTHING he says.

Right. But we've known that for several years now. Words (promises, vows, claims) don't mean specific things to him any politician in DC; they are mere tools used to accomplish a given goal.

FIFY

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Yeah...

Don't pay attention to what he says, pay attention to what he does.

From the story:

Quote

Trump has spent a career being judged by the monetary value of his transactions and the certainty with which he can turn dirt into concrete and steel. Those are the metrics he expects to be judged by as President as well.

Well, ask the people he conned into investing in his projects. Ask the people who attended his "University." Ask the people who sold him stuff or did contract work for him. Ask the people who used to have jobs at companies he took over.

Ask all the people he screwed over in his career.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[Stumpy 284]

I'm still amazed he couldn't make money running a casino.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[gowlerk 2,275]

Stumpy

I'm still amazed he couldn't make money running a casino.

The market was over saturated and he did nothing to control costs. But he did make sure that his investors took most of the losses. He is a GREAT businessman. He has learned just how to give other people the business.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[RonD1120 62]

Liberalism is in existential crisis. The followers of this path are seeing not only their way of life challenged but also their way of thinking.

They are trying to salvage some honor by paying homage to Fidel Castro. They believe that Venezuela is in crisis because of the decline in oil futures.

They are grabbing at straws of blame that mean little and have no positive consequence.

This is a great time to be a psychiatrist in America.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[airdvr 210]

gowlerk

***I'm still amazed he couldn't make money running a casino.

The market was over saturated and he did nothing to control costs. But he did make sure that his investors took most of the losses. He is a GREAT businessman. He has learned just how to give other people the business.

If you'd like to do some research into who Donald is this would be a good place to start.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/the-choice-2016/

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[gowlerk 2,275]

I've seen it. And it did enlighten me. I understand that Trump is far from stupid. And I sort of understand what drives him. But the qualities he possesses are not ones likely to be effective in his new job. It's starting to look like he is planning on doing it part time. How will that work out? Your guess is as good as mine.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[airdvr 210]

You made me chuckle. I've always felt the executive and legislative branches could take 10 years off and we'd be better for it.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[gowlerk 2,275]

airdvr

You made me chuckle. I've always felt the executive and legislative branches could take 10 years off and we'd be better for it.

Well, that may be so. It's occurred to me that it may not really matter who is running the show. But they aren't going to do that.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[tigra 0]

So glad I took care of that Trump piñata BEFORE the election!

[billvon 3,118]

>So glad I took care of that Trump piñata BEFORE the election!

You might not want to be posting that publicly . . . .