Twice weekly my patience is rewarded by another of Michael Gerson's incensed columns about the eminently appalling Mr. Trump. Everyone does it; it is political commentary's most booming industry, mostly because it writes itself. But there's something especially gratifying about Trump-bashing from highly literate conservatism.
White House insiders indicate that Trump’s increasingly flailing decisions are the function of a president gaining in confidence. Having decided that he has gotten the hang of the job, Trump
has lost patience with opposition and constraints. He seems not frightened but giddy.
What does this mean for Trump’s presidency? Paradoxically, the man with complete trust in his own instincts is easily manipulated. Because Trump lacks historical and ideological grounding for his views, the content of his instincts often seems determined by the last person who captures his attention. This was true of [South Korea's] Chung, who could quickly sell a massive change in U.S. diplomatic strategy in East Asia to a leader who knows little about diplomacy, strategy or East Asia. But Trump came away from the meeting convinced, I imagine, that the whole thing was his idea….
Republicans can no longer dismiss this as evidence of inexperience. It is getting worse as a failing president becomes more confident of his own judgment. And more disconnected from reality.
You just can't improve on that.
He doesn't even know enough about the job to understand he's more employee than boss.
Posted by: Anne J | March 16, 2018 at 11:14 AM
Twenty score and nineteen days ago, (+7 hrs and 13 min , but who is counting) your electoral system brought forth on this continent, a new president, conceived in stupidity, and dedicated to the proposition that you probably shouldn't be allowed to vote when you are hangry.
Maybe you should hand out snickers bars before people vote.
Posted by: Peter G | March 16, 2018 at 12:13 PM
the only thing keeping trump in office right now is the failure of nerve among Republicans to clean their own house out.
So we need to clear them out first.
VOTE GODDAMMIT VOTE.
Posted by: Paul W | March 16, 2018 at 12:23 PM
"It is getting worse as a failing president becomes more confident of his own judgment. And more disconnected from reality."
By the time this is over, I fear that Trump will be the most spectacular example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Posted by: Roger T | March 16, 2018 at 06:05 PM
Dunning-Kruger definitely. Then, of course, there's just plain old "odious". . . extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
Synonyms: revolting, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, disgusting, offensive, objectionable, vile, foul,abhorrent, loathsome, nauseating, sickening, hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable, monstrous, appalling, reprehensible, deplorable, insufferable, intolerable, despicable, contemptible, unspeakable, atrocious, awful, terrible, dreadful, frightful, obnoxious, unsavory, unpalatable, unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, noisome, distasteful; ghastly, horrible, horrid, gross, godawful; beastly. . .
Posted by: J.P. McJefferson | March 17, 2018 at 05:27 AM