Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

highplainsdem

(49,000 posts)
Wed Mar 14, 2018, 07:25 AM Mar 2018

Stephen Hawking said popularity of 'demagogue' Trump was beyond even his understanding

From The Independent this morning:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stephen-hawking-trump-popularity-brexit-understand-theoretical-physics-republican-party-a8255086.html


Stephen Hawking once said the popularity of “demagogue” Donald Trump was beyond even his understanding.

The world-famous theoretical physicist had made no secret of his disdain for the then-Republican Party presidential nominee-in-waiting, having joked previously about his intelligence.

Asked if his knowledge of the universe meant he could explain the popular appeal of billionaire Mr Trump, he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I can’t... He is a demagogue, who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator.”

The tycoon’s strategy eventually paid off, however. A year-and-a-half later, following Mr Trump’s election, Professor Hawking told Wired he was also worried about the Republican’s stance on climate change, but feared it would not change if he continued to “appease his electorate”.

-snip-
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Stephen Hawking said popularity of 'demagogue' Trump was beyond even his understanding (Original Post) highplainsdem Mar 2018 OP
Hawking had a better chance of figuring out the secrets of the universe than Doodley Mar 2018 #1
"I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of the people" muriel_volestrangler Mar 2018 #2
+1 dalton99a Mar 2018 #3

muriel_volestrangler

(101,321 posts)
2. "I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of the people"
Wed Mar 14, 2018, 11:57 AM
Mar 2018

Attributed to Hawking's predecessor as Cambridge Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Isaac Newton, after he lost about $3 million in today's money in the South Sea Bubble in 1720: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/market-crash-cost-newton-fortune-180961655/

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Stephen Hawking said popu...