“Whatever your greatest weakness is, that is what you accuse your adversary of.” It is a pillar of strategy from the Joseph Goebbels / Roger Ailes / Karl Rove / Stephen Miller playbook.
In 2004, John Kerry was a highly-decorated Vietnam War hero who had literally gone through bullets (and taken a few) to save his men. George Bush used his Daddy’s connections to avoid Vietnam and stay stateside in a position from which he was mostly AWOL. So of course they FIBricated the Swift Boat ads to discredit John Kerry’s legitimate record as a highly-decorated war hero.
In 2008, birthers (led by Trump) tried to accuse U.S.-born Obama of being born in Kenya, as Obama ran against John McCain who had actually been born in Panama (where his military father was stationed in the nearby Canal Zone). Unlike Kerry in 2004 and Hillary in 2016, Obama was able to swat away the lies and keep control of his message.
In 2016, Trump was being promoted by the Russians, used insecure communications for his Tweets and his staff used insecure communications for electronic communications and Trump had 20+ sex abuse allegations. So naturally he drills down on Hillary’s e-mails (which, unlike the DNC, never got hacked, even though the Russians tried) and Bill’s naughty behavior (which was Bill’s bad, not Hillary, who unlike Trump “stood by her man” and preserved her marriage).
So now it’s 2020. Whoever the candidate was going to be, Trump was going to make THEM the foreign policy bad guy who seeks help from foreign governments (try Ukraine, try China, are we going to hear something from Russia, Turkey or Saudi Arabia?), accuse THEM of politicizing the Justice Department to weaponize it against political opponents, blame the Democrats for his own failure to manage the pandemic disaster and find some way to accuse THEM of a sex scandal.
Trump ad accuses Biden of losing jobs in USA to China. This from the lump who has his and his daughter’s businesses IN CHINA!! But his followers will go for his fairy tale!
DonaldTrump might think of himself as a philosopher suited to the “Modern Presidency,” but is no Confucius (b.551 B.C.). If Trump’s piquant sayings were codified, they be seen as skewed principles of behavior picked from THE ART OF THE DEAL and others of his self-aggrandizing tomes. Additional Trump wisdom could be gleaned from utterances in his recent stint as candidate and president. If so he could be judged by those or mesmerized by his glittering rhetoric as a warped “Confuse-us” spreading the teachings of Trumpism.
In THE ANALECTS, a collection of Confucius sayings compiled shortly after his death in 479 B.C., there is much concerning attributes of a ruler following The Way, and of the importance of benevolence and “gentlemanliness.” The following sayings might pertain to rulers even in modern times. (Judge if they pertain to Trump, as I think they do.)
Book I.3 —“‘It is rare indeed for a man with cunning words and an ingratiating face to be benevolent.’”
Book IV.16 — “‘The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable.’”
Book VI.18 — “‘When there is a preponderance of native substance over acquired refinement, the result will be churlishness. Where there is a preponderance of acquired refinement over native substance, the result will be pedantry. Only a well-balanced admixture of the two will result in gentlemanliness.’”
Book XIII.13 — “‘If a man manages to make himself correct, what difficulty will there be for him to take part in government? If he cannot make himself correct, what business has he with making others correct?’”
Book XIII.15 — “Duke Ting asked, ‘Is there such a thing as a single saying that can lead a state to prosperity?’ [Think “Make American Great Again.”]
“Confucius answered, ‘A saying cannot quite do that. There is a saying among men, “It is difficult to be a ruler, and it is not easy to be a subject, either.” If the ruler understands the difficulty of being a ruler, then is this not the case of a saying leading the state to prosperity?’”
“‘Is there such a thing as a saying that can lead the state to ruin?’”
“Confucius answered, ‘A saying cannot quite do that. There is a saying among men, “I do not enjoy being a ruler, except for the fact that no one goes against what I say.” If what he says is good and no one goes again him — good. But if what he says is not good and no one goes against him, then is this not almost a case of a saying leading the state to ruin?’”
Confucianism is a religion as well as a philosophy, much modified over the centuries but with certain basic principles still followed. And like most religions it advances wisdom that may often be disregarded in everyday life. But such can be said of the Hebraic and Christian attitudes toward the Bible. If Trumpism is followed by many in coming years, the same will probably be said of it. At present, Trumpism’s implied principles seem, to my mind, as warped and destructive — and unfortunately spreading world-wide in various forms.
trumps accusation of others wrongs.. are pretty well always what he himself is guilty of.. He (the trump) hears an negative comment then spins it against his enemies much in the manner of 5 year olds.
Bill Clinton’s mantra was “It’s the economy, Stupid.” This year, for Biden, it MUST be “It’s the Electoral College, Stupid.” Democrats have a depressing tendency of screwing up what should be easy wins. I hope some of them have read “Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump—and Democrats from Themselves” by former Republican strategist and lifelong conservative Rick Wilson. He also wrote “Everything Trump Touches Dies”, another excellent read.
I don’t understand the “surprise” — and disbelief of some — at Trump “asking” China to interfere in elections on his behalf. He was insisting that everyone should do so.
It should be that if Trump accuses someone of doing something, you automatically look to Trump doing it. It’s what he does – always accuses someone else of what he’s guilty of.
I sat down on the Great Wall, too, but there was a lot of uphill, and it was almost 100F that day. In retrospect, I should have bought a bottle of water from that one guy.
DD Wiz Premium Member almost 4 years ago
“Whatever your greatest weakness is, that is what you accuse your adversary of.” It is a pillar of strategy from the Joseph Goebbels / Roger Ailes / Karl Rove / Stephen Miller playbook.
In 2004, John Kerry was a highly-decorated Vietnam War hero who had literally gone through bullets (and taken a few) to save his men. George Bush used his Daddy’s connections to avoid Vietnam and stay stateside in a position from which he was mostly AWOL. So of course they FIBricated the Swift Boat ads to discredit John Kerry’s legitimate record as a highly-decorated war hero.
In 2008, birthers (led by Trump) tried to accuse U.S.-born Obama of being born in Kenya, as Obama ran against John McCain who had actually been born in Panama (where his military father was stationed in the nearby Canal Zone). Unlike Kerry in 2004 and Hillary in 2016, Obama was able to swat away the lies and keep control of his message.
In 2016, Trump was being promoted by the Russians, used insecure communications for his Tweets and his staff used insecure communications for electronic communications and Trump had 20+ sex abuse allegations. So naturally he drills down on Hillary’s e-mails (which, unlike the DNC, never got hacked, even though the Russians tried) and Bill’s naughty behavior (which was Bill’s bad, not Hillary, who unlike Trump “stood by her man” and preserved her marriage).
So now it’s 2020. Whoever the candidate was going to be, Trump was going to make THEM the foreign policy bad guy who seeks help from foreign governments (try Ukraine, try China, are we going to hear something from Russia, Turkey or Saudi Arabia?), accuse THEM of politicizing the Justice Department to weaponize it against political opponents, blame the Democrats for his own failure to manage the pandemic disaster and find some way to accuse THEM of a sex scandal.
The Love of Money is . . . almost 4 years ago
Humpty Dumpty sat on wall . . .that Mexico didn’t pay for again . . .
Spun_G almost 4 years ago
It would be royally FUNNY of WikiLeaks pops a lot of nasties about Trump’s moves and grifting right after the RNC crowns him.
Oh wait, we don’t even need it. We can just read the published works of his ex-staffers that he was always using for ax burials.
But the WikiLeaks portion would still be a nice bonus….. (and fair)…..
Old_Curmudgeon almost 4 years ago
Projection – {limerick}
The Donald is into “projection”,
but surely it won’t pass inspection.
Let’s de-select
and otherwise reject
this creep at the next election.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zev almost 4 years ago
Trump is a perfect example of “he who smelt it dealt it” theory.
Cpeckbourlioux almost 4 years ago
He IS the fence. The wall. Tear down the wall!
William Bednar Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Trump must have had to go “potty” really badly.
Ontman almost 4 years ago
Say what you will, the Chinese can really build a GREAT WALL.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Trump ad accuses Biden of losing jobs in USA to China. This from the lump who has his and his daughter’s businesses IN CHINA!! But his followers will go for his fairy tale!
PraiseofFolly almost 4 years ago
DonaldTrump might think of himself as a philosopher suited to the “Modern Presidency,” but is no Confucius (b.551 B.C.). If Trump’s piquant sayings were codified, they be seen as skewed principles of behavior picked from THE ART OF THE DEAL and others of his self-aggrandizing tomes. Additional Trump wisdom could be gleaned from utterances in his recent stint as candidate and president. If so he could be judged by those or mesmerized by his glittering rhetoric as a warped “Confuse-us” spreading the teachings of Trumpism.
In THE ANALECTS, a collection of Confucius sayings compiled shortly after his death in 479 B.C., there is much concerning attributes of a ruler following The Way, and of the importance of benevolence and “gentlemanliness.” The following sayings might pertain to rulers even in modern times. (Judge if they pertain to Trump, as I think they do.)
Book I.3 —“‘It is rare indeed for a man with cunning words and an ingratiating face to be benevolent.’”
Book IV.16 — “‘The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable.’”
Book VI.18 — “‘When there is a preponderance of native substance over acquired refinement, the result will be churlishness. Where there is a preponderance of acquired refinement over native substance, the result will be pedantry. Only a well-balanced admixture of the two will result in gentlemanliness.’”
Book XIII.13 — “‘If a man manages to make himself correct, what difficulty will there be for him to take part in government? If he cannot make himself correct, what business has he with making others correct?’”
(Cont’d in next comment)
PraiseofFolly almost 4 years ago
(Cont’d from last comment)
Book XIII.15 — “Duke Ting asked, ‘Is there such a thing as a single saying that can lead a state to prosperity?’ [Think “Make American Great Again.”]
“Confucius answered, ‘A saying cannot quite do that. There is a saying among men, “It is difficult to be a ruler, and it is not easy to be a subject, either.” If the ruler understands the difficulty of being a ruler, then is this not the case of a saying leading the state to prosperity?’”
“‘Is there such a thing as a saying that can lead the state to ruin?’”
“Confucius answered, ‘A saying cannot quite do that. There is a saying among men, “I do not enjoy being a ruler, except for the fact that no one goes against what I say.” If what he says is good and no one goes again him — good. But if what he says is not good and no one goes against him, then is this not almost a case of a saying leading the state to ruin?’”
Confucianism is a religion as well as a philosophy, much modified over the centuries but with certain basic principles still followed. And like most religions it advances wisdom that may often be disregarded in everyday life. But such can be said of the Hebraic and Christian attitudes toward the Bible. If Trumpism is followed by many in coming years, the same will probably be said of it. At present, Trumpism’s implied principles seem, to my mind, as warped and destructive — and unfortunately spreading world-wide in various forms.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 4 years ago
And I can just hear the MAGAotts:
“But…But…But…Hunter Biden…Obama…Hillary…But…But…But…E-mails…But…But…Sleepy Joe…But…But…BENGHAZI!!”Old_Curmudgeon almost 4 years ago
{Off-topic:}
Trump Steers Our Hearse – {4 beats/line}
The virus sings yet another verse
{it continues to bring its Covid curse}.
Its maladies hit us worse and worse
as the prez hisMelf is steering our hearse.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radish the wordsmith almost 4 years ago
Fox ‘news’ said Bye-don was beating incompetent Trump by 12 points.
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 4 years ago
trumps accusation of others wrongs.. are pretty well always what he himself is guilty of.. He (the trump) hears an negative comment then spins it against his enemies much in the manner of 5 year olds.
moderateisntleft almost 4 years ago
I’m just wondering if we’ll ever finish this trade war that was so easy to win…..
cmxx almost 4 years ago
Suggested: today’s Ann Telnaes Washington Post cartoon:
The autocracy of Donald J. Trump
A graphic essay from Ann Telnaes.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ann-telnaes/
ferddo almost 4 years ago
To thinking voters, it’s a poison pill to bring up an issue against your opponent where your own candidate has a worse record on that same issue…
Godfreydaniel almost 4 years ago
Bill Clinton’s mantra was “It’s the economy, Stupid.” This year, for Biden, it MUST be “It’s the Electoral College, Stupid.” Democrats have a depressing tendency of screwing up what should be easy wins. I hope some of them have read “Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump—and Democrats from Themselves” by former Republican strategist and lifelong conservative Rick Wilson. He also wrote “Everything Trump Touches Dies”, another excellent read.
gammaguy almost 4 years ago
I don’t understand the “surprise” — and disbelief of some — at Trump “asking” China to interfere in elections on his behalf. He was insisting that everyone should do so.
tabby almost 4 years ago
It should be that if Trump accuses someone of doing something, you automatically look to Trump doing it. It’s what he does – always accuses someone else of what he’s guilty of.
Michael G. almost 4 years ago
Xi has an awful lot of irons in the fire just now. He might get burned. Ha, ha, ha!
kentmarx36 almost 4 years ago
The Repulsican Crime Cult needs to be locked away.
Kip W almost 4 years ago
I sat down on the Great Wall, too, but there was a lot of uphill, and it was almost 100F that day. In retrospect, I should have bought a bottle of water from that one guy.
Raging Moderate almost 4 years ago
The stupidity is so large you can see it from space.
Old_Curmudgeon almost 4 years ago
{Off-topic:}
Maskless: Suicidal Genocide – {3 beats/line, then 4}
Of citizens the experts ask
that we do the helpful task
of simply wearing a mask. -
- But experts the Trumpites disdain and deride; …
… the experts the Trumpites have brushed aside
in their su-i-ci-dal gen-o-cide,
as fecklessly maskless they doltishly gather
to bask in The Donald’s nonsensical blather
and work themselves up in a stupefied lather.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Old_Curmudgeon almost 4 years ago
“Who’s Really Looting America?” – Rob’t Reich explains that it’s the FatCats: https://www.alternet.org/2020/06/whos-really-looting-america/