General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Most Peculiar"
Let's start with a few lines from William Shakespeare's famous play, King Lear.
"Meantime we shall express our darker purpose." Act 1, Scene 1
"O! let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; / Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!" Act 1, Scene 5
"I fear I am not in my perfect mind." Act 4, Scene 7
"Is this the promised end? Act 5, Scene 3
George Bernard Shaw said that no man will ever write a greater tragedy than Lear. I like that Shakespeare's King Lear is based upon the Celtic king Leir of Britain, who probably lived somewhere around the 8th century AD. And the fate of Leir like the character King Lear is tragic, indeed.
Leir/ Lear cannot be mistaken for Trump. The king questioned the wisdom of important decisions he made previously. He had a sense of foreboding as his mental decline approached. Trump is unaware of the fact that he owns his errors, that blaming others won't resolve the problems he created, and that he will be held accountable.
Still, those lines quoted above seem an apt description of the past couple of weeks. And it is clear that a nation's population can experience a great tragedy from a mad king.
Two of Trump's recent actions indicate that the pressure of the pending impeachment are taking a toll on the old boy. Both have to be viewed within the context of his awareness that he has done something wrong. His consciousness of guilt is visible by the administration's failure to comply with congressional committee's requests, with their changing of reasons for the phone call with the president of Ukraine, and with his attempt to throw Rick Perry under the bus. A person does not attempt to blame another for his actions if he is not fully aware that they were wrong, and will lead to negative consequences.
Now for the two activities that display the growing pressure he is under. The first is the rash decision to withdraw US troops from Syria, which Trump made at night without consulting anyone in his administration. It was, of course, a reflexive return to a decision he had made last December, before the strong republican opposition resulted in his reversing course. This week's spur-of-the-moment decision was not only an attempt to distract attention from his looming impeachment, it was a desperate attempt to win approval from his base. So what if a few thousand Kurds had to be sacrificed?
The second, closely related thing was the curious tweet in which Trump attempts to describe himself in pseudo-biblical terms as having great and unmatched wisdom. Even Lindsey Graham cannot explain this as a joke by Trump. Keep in mind that not only has Graham proven himself more than willing to humiliate himself by publicly kissing Trump's fat fleshy ass but Lindsey hasn't had to be instructed on which cheek to target. He has repeatedly gone directly to the sphincter.
In the past, I have noted in essays here that sociopaths under pressure sometimes experience relatively brief episodes of psychosis. Thus, their already disturbed thinking becomes detached from the realities confronting them. In these instances, while we can generally identify their goal to escape from the cause of their inner-tension and discomfort the tactics they may take are less easily identified. So while we knew Trump would attempt to shift the focus from his role with Ukraine by blaming others or attempting to define himself as a significant international statesman, we couldn't be sure of exactly how he would do this.
I would not have placed Rick Perry, for example, on my top ten suspects for his scapgoat. It's hard for me to picture Perry as a mastermind of any plot. I think more of Perry's infamous maple syrup moment:
Likewise, I assumed that on the international front, Trump would call for a military strike on Iran. I did not even consider the possibility of removing troops from Syria. That thought never entered my mind.
Last week, I noted that I thought Trump would become the most dangerous between Thanksgiving and the New Year. In light of what is happening now, that's a scary thought. Hopefully, people in Washington will castrate him before that happens.
Strange days, indeed! Most peculiar, as John Lennon sang.
H2O Man
malaise
(268,709 posts)like fine wine - beautifully written and oh so true.
I don't drink, but an old childhood friend gives me a bud now and then. Watching the news last night, I was wondering just how strong the stuff was? Was this a dream? Or, as Jimi asked, just the end of time?
The mail lady just stopped in my driveway to briefly drop of the mail and talk about Trump. I think that a lot of people recognize that we are on the edge.
malaise
(268,709 posts)I never thought I'd see anything this corrupt or this crazy in my lifetime.
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)It reminds me of running the group at the county jail. If an inmate behaved like Trump, and spouted the nonsense he does, I'd make notes documenting that a move to state prison was in everyone's best interests.
malthaussen
(17,175 posts)Every once in awhile, I have this sudden realization "My god, Donald Trump was actually elected President." (for a given value of "elected." ) I want to wake up and realize that this has all been a really, really bad trip. Rather than having to realize that this IS a really, really bad trip.
-- Mal
malaise
(268,709 posts)dchill
(38,444 posts)And there's nothing to get hung about.
malthaussen
(17,175 posts)Granted that neither you nor I know the inner workings of Mr Trump's brain, I still think the statement "A person does not attempt to blame another for his actions if he is not fully aware that they were wrong, and will lead to negative consequences" may not be strictly accurate. The two clauses are independent of each other: one may feel guilt because he has a conscience, even though he does not fear being caught, or one may not feel a smidge of guilt, but be aware that the negative consequences are increasingly likely. My assessment of Mr Trump's character (which is as good as anyone else's, meaning it is also as bad) is that the latter applies, but not the former. I don't think he's capable of feeling guilt, as sociopaths don't have that mechanism.
He certainly must be aware that the Furies are closing in, though, especially as I'm sure people keep shouting it at him on a regular basis. Thus, the cornered rat lashes out, everywhere and at random. Does a rat feel guilt?
-- Mal
Trump lacks the capacity to feel guilt. Remember when he was running, and a reporter asked him if he ever prayed for foregiveness ....he was puzzled by the mere suggestion, and said that no, he didn't, because he has done nothing wrong in his life. While "normal" people do not want their worst behaviors made public, they are certainly aware that they have from time to time done things they aren't proud of.
Trump's blaming Perry is a classic example of what investigators and prosecutors look for. In any criminal case, the attempt to blame a scapgoat is proof positive that they are aware that society frowns upon a given behavior, and that the individual is attempted to, at very least, dillute their responsibility.
malthaussen
(17,175 posts)Now, that right there should have been a signal to all soi-disant christians that Mr Trump was a bad 'un. After all, isn't it one of the central tents of that religion that everybody sins, and needs salvation? Although I suppose in a strict interpretation of Calvinism, praying for forgiveness would be unnecessary, because salvation is predetermined. Perhaps the fundie evangelicals don't pray for forgiveness, but just to congratulate their god for being clever enough to save them. I have to admit, I'm not intimately familiar with their doctrine.
-- Mal
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)soldierant
(6,791 posts)It certainly was to me.
I took it as another sign that Trumpian "Christians" don't worship Christ at all.
erronis
(15,183 posts)She can stroke his bald spot and murmur sweet nothings. Give him his pacifier and some Quaaludes while hubby is ripping everything of value that he can from us.
gab13by13
(21,264 posts)You are spot on about Trump. When he speaks we should believe the opposite. When he said he welcomed impeachment it was his biggest lie ever. A narcissist does not welcome being told he is unfit for the job he holds. Impeachment will devastate Trump.
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)It certainly appears to be the lie he will come to most regret. There have been scattered reports that he has been expressing anger at those who assured him that being impeached would help him politically.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I hope some key people have the guts to simply say, No Sir to him. The writing is on the wall for ALL to see.
I'm not sure that those closest to him have the guts to do that. I doubt that people like Stephen Miller are even aware that Trump no longer has the upper hand in all of this. His children are worthless. But there is a possibility that some on the third tier might be honest with him.
Hekate
(90,560 posts)Strange days, and dark
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Not long to we can be singing George's "Here Comes the Sun."
getagrip_already
(14,632 posts)He didn't write any of the works under his name. He was simply a publisher of sorts.
If he had any education, it was a midevil elementary school. He never went to a school of higher learning. He never travelled.
Like Trump, he took a lot of credit for others work.
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Another is that he was King James. But no one can say for sure today. What we can be sure of -- and it is no mere theory -- is that Trump is a worthless piece of shit!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)pure literary talent. The kind that used to be called the Divine Spark.
Anyone who has never read Shakespeare is incapable of understanding about 90% of literary quotes, references or book titles.
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Malcolm X loved Shakespeare and studied to identify who he actually was. I've always respected Malcolm's ability to conduct research, and his insights. He thought that he was actually King James. Since no further evidence could possibly have come forth since Malcolm's time, his theory seems the most likely to me. But we can never be certain. Anyone who says they know for sure, surely does not know.
Malcolm used to quote from Hamlet in various speeches. I believe that shows how timeless the message was!
Martin Eden
(12,847 posts)We all know Trump is a pathological liar and a malignant narcissist with a humongous but fragile ego.
When criticized or accused of wrongdoing he goes into Denial mode -- denying everything in public while lashing out at his critics and projecting onto them his own high crimes and misdemeanors.
And, since he is a sociopath incapable of feeling guilt, this Denial mode also applies inwardly. Trump will not admit to himself that he is anything but a "stable genius" with "great and unmatched wisdom" and high polling numbers. Objective facts contradicting his obvious lies do not matter a whit.
Despite the self delusion of inward denial, Trump's lizard brain is capable of detecting when he is in real danger of suffering serious consequences. This awareness may be subconscious at first. His insatiable need to sustain his power and self aggrandizement with his MAGA legion of admirers has built a very high threshold of Denial (conscious awareness that he might be deposed as King).
But at some point, as the reality of impeachment continues to grow, that threshold of Denial will finally be breached with consequences in conflict with the self image his giant fragile ego has built up over many years.
How he copes, or fails to cope when that happens will change the narrative from "Most Peculiar" to Most Perilous.
When that time comes (between Thanksgiving and Christmas?) we are all, every one of us, in great danger. If this sociopath with command over the most deadly military arsenal on earth has a psychotic episode when the damn breaks through his threshold of self denial, we had all better pray to God or Vishnu or the Flying Spaghetti Monster (deity of your choice) that someone close to this POtuS has the courage to stop him before all hell breaks loose, making these last 3 years feel like a walk in the park.
Alarmingly, most of the adults in the room have been replaced with bootlicking sycophants or monsters like Stephen Miller. The thought that our fate rests with them or the Republican Party acting responsibly chills me to the bone.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Somewhere in that chronology is his use of profound self pity and professing being victimized by what he claims is unfair treatment. Unlike most people his consciousness of what is fair has not evolved and is another symptom of Narcissism. Its the same as a 4 year old who has yet to see the point of view of other people.
Thanks!
Martin Eden
(12,847 posts)This POtuS has the emotional maturity of a spoiled 4 year old.
He needs babysitting, and the world needs him far away from the reigns of power.
coeur_de_lion
(3,676 posts)I comment on anti-tRump facebook posts. I did so yesterday. I pointed out that although they were claiming hearsay, tRump himself provided the transcript of the Ukraine call that implicated him. "Well he hardly mentions Biden at all." But he still asks for a favor, for Ukraine to investigate his main political rival. "Well that's because Biden ripped off the U.S." In what way? No answer. So, did you read the text transcripts where Ukraine was told they needed to see (in writing) that they were pursuing a Biden investigation before Zelensky could meet up with tRump?
No reply. So I reminded them that if they were relying on tRumps words they may as well be honest with themselves and admit that nearly every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie.
No reply to that either.
Martin Eden
(12,847 posts)Something inside them, consciously or not, begins to realize they've been conned.
H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Absolutely perfect! Thank you for this.
I think that things will turn very ugly late in the year, and at least the first half of 2020. Uglier than they are now.
Martin Eden
(12,847 posts)Get up Stand up
Is what we all
Have to do.
Get up Stand up
Build that wave
Strong and Blue.
Have you seen the movie I Am Legend, with Will Smith?
You reminded me of this scene:
Karadeniz
(22,473 posts)H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Much appreciated!
world wide wally
(21,739 posts)H2O Man
(73,509 posts)Thanks!
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)PatrickforO
(14,559 posts)Sadly, he is becoming more dangerous even now. Far more dangerous. To my mind, Trump isn't just incompetent, or ignorant, or stupid, or a racist, or a crook, or any of the other pejoratives we justifiably heap upon him.
No. He is all those things, but mainly he is...evil.
Evil.
There is something almost supernatural about it, this evil. And his followers - they seem to compete to outdo each other in evil as well. We hear of some new outrage each day from one of them.