Day: February 6, 2019

When I read the news online inevitably that news includes six or seven ‘tweets’ from random people I don’t know who are somehow included as valuable sources. We live in a world where social media defines truth and voracity. In that world Trump says whatever he wants and it hits our eyes long before anyone bothers to vet the language for accuracy.

Trump is a liar. This is not an attack on the man but merely a statement of fact. He practices in open hyperbole and appears to believe or at least promotes the belief that he is the best ever at everything and we live in the worst time for everything that comes across his face. Consider his arguments about North Korea. If Trump is to be believed, we were on the brink of war with North Korea before he took office. However, there is no evidence of such that he has presented. I would argue that Trump himself fanned the flames of Korean conflict by insulting and threatening the regime. Once the problem was ramped up to what he felt was the brink of war (and had us thinking maybe we are going back in there) he went to meet with their fearless leader and had a sit down. Trump made it seem like he talked us down from the brink of war but in reality we are in the same place we were before he took office.

We were sold a lie.

We were also sold a debt. Even as recently as this SOTU address he maintained the lie that China is paying us billions each month in tariffs. He says this again and again, but this is not true. The tariffs are paid by the American companies who deal with China and thus will eventually be paid by the American consumers.

This is the biggest lie and threat of Trump. In the end the people who support him the most are the ones threatened and hurt by him and don’t even see it. His assault on farmers has hurt farmers tremendously, but they don’t see it because the government is subsidizing their losses. It is welfare for a set of people who feel that welfare is one of the worst things you can do to your country. Trump makes America Worst Again, and the horror is that none of the people who matter are willing to acknowledge it.

I’ll dispense with the formal introduction. If you found your way here you know who I am and know what this is. I want to start the argument with a quick recap of Trump’s position prior to the speech and likely late tonight or in the morning once he realizes this speech did not go well. Trump is severely partisan but not to the republican party. He is about the people he believes believe in him. It is his party now and the vocality in the party is reflective of the crowds he draws for these speeches. Trump is a talker — a snake oil salesman– and he has an audience that he knows how to work. So, he is going to work his base.

On to the speech:

Trump led with the argument that he is speaking to the agenda of the American people. However, when Trump speaks of the ‘American people’ he is speaking of that previously mentioned base. He is not talking to me. He is not talking to the people who grew up in the inner city or the people who came over the border to find a better life. He is speaking to the rich and the white. He is speaking to his people, but the people who are listening think they are or can become his people or him and they cannot.

He goes on to state, “we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good.” but he forgets to mention his own vindictive nature and the fact that, above all else, he is one vindictive son of a bitch who cares more about being seen and loved than anything else in his world.

He continues to tout achievements begun in the previous administration that are now either coasting or slowing–military strength, economy, unemployment. He doesn’t mention the deficit growth, which we know has worsened under his Reagan-esque policies.

Okay. Ten minutes isn’t enough for this. I’ll be back tomorrow.