Trump to Jeanine Pirro: "I'm a very honest person."

[_MeDotOrg]

One of the characteristics of narcissists is they believe their own crap doesn't stink. I believe if you got Trump on a lie detector and asked if he's a liar, he could probably answer "no" and pass the test. I don't think that he thinks he lies.

I actually think that this characteristic is found in a lot of successful people in sales. You are successful because you can compartmentalize facts so that only those facts that support your arguments are considered. Donald Trump thinks he is honest because he says what he thinks, but what he thinks is a product of what he feels plus only those facts which support his argument.

If you're going to blind people with BS, the first person you have to BS is yourself. This is what makes Trump so successful as a demagogue. What he feels, thinks and believes are all part of the same can of soup that he's selling. People react to the fact that he believes what he is saying. They value the fact that his opinion is NOT carefully considered. It is visceral, it is from the gut, therefore it is real and therefore true.

Donald Trump doesn't think he's telling the truth. He feels he is telling the truth, and therefore knows he is telling the truth.

Everyone is capable of deluding themselves, but the line between what Donald Trump thinks and what Donald Trump feels is extraordinarily fuzzy. This can be a great advantage in sales, but it can be extraordinarily hazardous in government.

[_Jersey Girl]

He is pathologically compelled to believe his own crap or else risk narcissistic injury. That's why he shifts blame and can never take responsibility. That's why the shut down is "everyone's responsibility" even when he claimed he'd own it when posturing in an attempt to force Pelosi's hand.

The buck will never stop with him. But he'll take credit for any positive action he's taken or spin the negative into positive the way that he does.

With the shutdown he's helpless because his tactics don't work. He has used what he's accustomed to using as leverage and he's met his power match in Pelosi.

He might be able to pass a polygraph, but who knows. I do think that depends on how deep he's invested in outward blame and avoiding shame at all costs. If he has some sense of shame, I don't think he'd pass one.

[_EAllusion]

Pathological liars often lie about not being liars. It comes with the package. The best is when they are accused of lying and it just so happens to be that one time they aren't. That usually gets the self-righteousness turned up to 11.

[_Jersey Girl]

I think that given the current position he's in is entirely fascinating to watch how he responds. He can't do a darn thing to or about Nancy Pelosi, except to try to condescend and blame her. It doesn't work because he's met far more than his match with her. All he knows is that she's an obstacle and he can't move her.

Watch for him to continue to make ambiguous statements like the "it's everyone's fault" where he completely avoids taking sole responsibility.

One of the reasons I think he was so effective in winning over his base is because he acted like he thinks they act. His "real guy" type statements are not him identifying with blue collar, they are him acting like he thinks blue collar acts.

He basically effected an imitation which you'll often seen narcissists do. They act like they think "real" is but they don't actually know what real is...because in order to be real, you have to be able to understand the perspective of another and he cannot. So, he imitates what he sees on the surface in others.

Like when he said he'd act more presidential. If he had actually acted more presidential...it would have indeed been acting and it's not because he's a good actor--it's because he is reliant on acting.

Watch tape of him during the swearing in at the Inauguration. Watch his facial expressions, body positions, and gestures. It's almost embarrassing to watch how uncomfortable he is and how hard he's trying to rise to the call to act like a new president taking the oath of office.

While I find the current shut down/Mueller investigation/resignations thing frustrating and stressful, I find it completely captivating to watch him right now. It's really kind of a cool opportunity.

The only thing that's kept me remotely sane over the past couple years is turning my attention to watching him. It's quite the show if you care to tune in.

[Guest]

He basically effected an imitation which you'll often seen narcissists do. They act like they think "real" is but they don't actually know what real is...because in order to be real, you have to be able to understand the perspective of another and he cannot. So, he imitates what he sees on the surface in others.

Great point.



He really has an extraordinarily limited frame of reference. Think about the comment he made to the 7 year old girl about Santa: Rather than ask her what she wants Santa to bring her, and then let her answer inform him about her belief in Santa, he thinks of the question (and the girl) in the abstract: Are you still a believer in Santa?

His children say that he really didn't come into their lives until they were adults. There is room for only one frame of reference in his life, and that is not of a child, unless he's the one behind the wheel.

[_Jersey Girl]

I'm so glad you started this thread. I love that GIF of him, it so fully illustrates what I was trying to describe.

He doesn't know what normal is so he mirrors what he sees in others and interprets as normal to the point where you think it's a caricature and it kind of is. He can act like a normal person but what makes a normal person tick is beyond his grasp. He has no frame of reference except what he himself wants and how to get it.

Watch that darn video of him with Schumer and Pelosi debating. Watch his body language, his posture. He looks away from Pelosi as if he's avoiding eye contact with an alien because she really is an alien to him--an intelligent woman with power. He continues to seek contact with Schumer because at least he's a guy.

It doesn't work! Watch is face when he can't get through to Schumer guy:guy.

Remember how he walked in front of Queen Elizabeth and then walked away from her like she didn't exist. He TRULY doesn't understand who she is in the world and how she is regarded in the UK. He doesn't get anything that isn't self referential and self gratifying.

(I'm afraid my sick obsessions are showing in these posts! )

[_Jersey Girl]

Watch the Presidential address that he recently made. Look at how uncomfortable and awkward he is. He's reading the words of another person (Miller) and he lacks the insight with which to attach the correct faked emotion and corresponding facial expressions to them.

He's reading the words but he doesn't fully understand what they mean and he can't act his way out of it because it's live and he has to get through reading the message.

I think this is why he will typically shy away from such things. He's more comfortable when he's spitballing unscripted in front of the camera where he can blather unbridled and hope he deflected just enough to make it sound like he's got the upper hand.

He doesn't want to read lenghty briefings because he can't think his way through them, he has no insight to lend so he prefers making decisions from his "gut".

These are some of the reasons that I think he couldn't possibly be a Russian asset. I don't think he has the ability to maintain compliance with a long range plan of intricate instructions or actions.

Could he instinctively know he's in financial hock to the Russians and lavish praise on Putin? Heck yes.

But I don't think he has it in him to follow complex "orders" if you will.

[_MeDotOrg]

...He's reading the words but he doesn't fully understand what they mean and he can't act his way out of it because it's live and he has to get through reading the message...I think this is why he will typically shy away from such things. He's more comfortable when he's spitballing unscripted in front of the camera where he can blather unbridled and hope he deflected just enough to make it sound like he's got the upper hand...

He doesn't want to read lenghty briefings because he can't think his way through them, he has no insight to lend so he prefers making decisions from his "gut".

These are some of the reasons that I think he couldn't possibly be a Russian asset. I don't think he has the ability to maintain compliance with a long range plan of intricate instructions or actions.

Could he instinctively know he's in financial hock to the Russians and lavish praise on Putin? Heck yes.

But I don't think he has it in him to follow complex "orders" if you will.

If someone were to describe Trump as a 'willing agent', I would say it depends on your definition of 'agent'. I think Trump was more of a Russian asset than an agent. There is no question that Trump has always been the willing agent of Donald Trump. Unfortunately Trump was up against a man who was an actual agent for the KGB. Putin is an old hand at manipulating people with their worst proclivities. Knowing Trump's greed and his long time wish to build Trump Tower Moscow would make Trump an easy mark. Having Manafort, Gates and Flynn on board made the job a lot easier. So I don't things were never laid out as quid pro quo, just ways to align interests.

Mueller has requested the Gates' sentencing be delayed 60 days, so I guess there is still work on the Manafort/Kilimnik front to be done.

And remember there is a the little matter of Michael Cohen's testimony in few weeks."He’s going to tell the story of what it’s like to work for a madman, and why he did it for so long,” a person close to Cohen told The Wall Street Journal in a report published Tuesday. “He’s going to say things that will give you chills.”

Sometimes it is difficult to pull back and get perspective on the extraordinary time we are living through. Our President is being investigated as a Russian asset/agent, his personal attorney will testify about paying hush money to a porn star and a Playmate (and God knows what else), and we are now in the longest government shutdown in our country's history.

I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd describe myself as sick and tired of winning. Not quite yet anyway.

[_MeDotOrg]

This photo of Trump with the Clemson fast food feast...
...Just the juxtaposition of gold candelabras with the cardboard hamburger boxes...Klassy with a Kapital K.



In the background, Abe Lincoln takes in the latest incarnation of the Grand Old Party. Difficult to say what he's thinking.

[_Jersey Girl]

I just want to know two things about that drive through reception.

1. How did they keep the burgers and fries hot?

2. Why's he wearing his overcoat, did they shut the heat off or is he just coming back from doing the burger run?