State of the Union underscores why Trump is his own worst enemy

[DonViejo]

By James Hohmann January 31 at 8:29 AM

THE BIG IDEA: A little humility goes a long way.

President Trump really enjoys talking about himself, his grievances and how he’s never treated fairly. In his first State of the Union address, he showcased other people. As a result, his approval rating is likely to inch up in the coming days.

The businessman who likes to put his name on buildings and declared “I alone can fix it” during his acceptance speech at the 2016 Republican convention spoke less in the first-person Tuesday than in any major address since he came down the escalator at Trump Tower three years ago to launch his campaign.

He used the word “we” 130 times, “our” 103 times and “us” 15 times. He mentioned “the people” nine times. He used the word “I” just 35 times and “my” 14 times. He went with the second person “you” 25 times, though that includes “thank you.”

Trump is a consummate showman, and his stagecraft was top notch. He played the pomp and circumstance to his advantage. The first reality television president seemed to be channeling Mike Deaver, Ronald Reagan’s image guru, by pointing to a bevy of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.

Reagan began this tradition by highlighting the heroism of Lenny Skutnik in his 1982 State of the Union. The federal employee had jumped into the icy Potomac to save a woman from drowning after a plane crash.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/01/31/daily-202-state-of-the-union-underscores-why-trump-is-his-own-worst-enemy/5a71080230fb041c3c7d7528/?utm_term=.bd405ed36503&wpisrc=nl_daily202&wpmm=1

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. read the whole article

It starts a bit slow but gets to the heart of the matter and has lots of links.

[PJMcK]

2. A nugget from deep in the article

Here's a tweet from President Clinton's Secretary of Labor:

Robert Reich
✔
@RBReich
Let's be very clear: A president who cares about unity doesn't threaten to jail his political opponents, undermine the rule of law, use immigrant children as bargaining chips or attack black athletes who demand justice and equality.

[dalton99a]

4. +1

[C_U_L8R]

3. The whole 'pointing to ordinary people' thing

It just feels gimmicky, insincere and manipulative. It's a tired formula. Trump's performance felt more like a paint-by-numbers State of the Union speech. An imitation. Trump said what he thought he needed to say, using language that's been used many times before - masking a rancid hateful ideology with a gooey candy coating. There was no originality. No compassion or passion. With Trump's slow awkward banal delivery, most of us at home were falling asleep.

[FSogol]

6. I suspect that it will get more gimmicky. "So and so was just shot on the streets of DC and needs

quick medical attention. How long will he bleed before Congress does something! As a nation we must do better." or

"These poor orphans are starving. Just look at their little emaciated faces. How long until Congress..."

[JohnnyLib2]

5. "...consumate showman.....his stagecraft was top notch."

That really captures last night's performance. To me, it looked like new speechwriters and a new producer opened a one-night only show. Trump somehow managed to read the words adequately, although they had little connection to the bulk of his history and statements and attitudes and (lack of) values.

I expect the real Trump to reappear loudly, very soon. About all that will be left of the speech is contrasts with his follow up actions.

[Motley13]

7. He says thank you at the most in inappropriate time

because, as usual, he thinks it's all about him.
He was talking about the the family that had 2 daughters murdered by MS-13, there was applause, he says thank you very much.

He was proud of getting rid of the Obamacare mandate, but I think he said Ocamacare, did my ears deceive me?

[Orrex]

8. Trump is not a "consummate showman"

He is a deranged carnival barker, and his shtick is obvious to anyone who doesn't already believe every word of it before Trump even opens his prolapsed anus of a mouth-hole.

I'm tired of the media's continued parroting of the "master showman" label when referring to Trump. He is a master of nothing except failure. Every one of his successes, if such they can be called, are due to the efforts of others acting on his behalf or turning a blind eye to his corruption and incompetence. Even his "presidency" is the result of dubious circumstances and an undisguised campaign of outreach to neo-Nazis & bigots in general.

[TlalocW]

9. His aides convinced him to stay on script and just read the teleprompter ! masterful showman

Or anything else.

Personally, I'm a little upset with democrats for not making some noise to throw him off his game.

TlalocW