I think we're seeing an expanding display of the way trump & comp do business.
Now Junior (don't know if he's Uday or Qusay) is acting out because the usual behaviors they've used so successfully in the business world aren't working anymore.
We're seeing how they do business. Look at the step-by-step analysis of Jim Comey's encounters with trump. Look at the different "techniques" being used. They're giving us a freakin' tour.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/politics/james-comey-memos-testimony/index.html
45 invites Comey to dinner. He's vague about what kind of dinner and who else was invited also, SO YOUR MIND ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SENSE OF IT and you put 2+2 together and get what you think is 4. Salesmen can do this. Particularly the slick ones. Shit. My dad was one, and I saw how he spoke to people and suggested things, implied things, insinuated things - that made you think what he was hoping you'd think. He'd be manipulating you, creating a compelling interest in what he was trying to sell. Gives you just enough and you fill in the many blanks and gaps the way he's been conditioning you to do through his manipulations. Shit. I know what this guy is. He's bluffing. Gaming you. Manipulating you. Doesn't wanna give too much away. If he's vague enough it can then be argued, rationalized, and defended semi-credibly by his many apologists in multiple ways. People can hear the same thing at the same time and come to different conclusions. And people who are marks, who might be particularly gullible, or broken down so badly that they'll grasp at anything that floats by, wooden stick or floating snake.
You see how several techniques are attempted.
The insistence on loyalty. "I need loyalty" and "I expect loyalty." James Comey was aware of this, so made sure he didn't telegraph any reaction with his behavior or facial expressions or tone of voice or verbal response. He clearly knew trump was trying to suss him out. After all, a business predator looks for any signs of weakness to exploit. It means money. I bet this is one way he wheels 'n' deals.
The slick attempt at making you think he's sympathetic to you, with the quip "given the abuse I had taken during the previous year". (I.e.: a friend, ally, you're on his A-team.)
Asking Comey if he wanted to stay on. Comey said that had already been established. Why was he bringing it up again? And throwing in "lots of people wanted my job" and how he could understand if Comey might not want to take it. Hmmm... he's manipulating again.
Making everybody else clear the room before trump proceeded with Comey. I'm happy to see many analysts and pundits have brought this up. Why would you want everybody out of the room (i.e.: no witnesses) when you got down to business with your target, unless you're up to something that you don't want anybody else to see or know about?
trump bears down harder, point-blank bringing up Michael Flynn. In effect, lobbying for the guy, vouching for his character, endorsing him as being worthy of being let off the hook. "Let's make a deal." Seems like an easy conclusion to make - he's already feeling me out about my job, how much I want to keep it, and - um - btw, Mike Flynn. Good guy. Let's give him a break, 'eh? (It'd be nice if you did me a favor. After all - that job that "lots of other people wanted".
Besides that, there's the intangible of the Alpha. You go to his place, and by personal invitation. He doesn't come to you. Power assertion. And his place happens to be the White House. Another power assertion - one of the biggest in the world. Projecting power is a BIG part of this. You get a call from the new POTUS inviting you to dinner that night, gee - what's a body to do? Comey thought it was a big enough deal that he canceled dinner with his wife. "Uh, honey, um, the new president just called and asked me to come to dinner... I probably oughta go..."
This reminds me of one awards season when I was an entertainment reporter, and the top talent agency at the time was CAA. Creative Artists Agency. Its CEO was a guy named Michael Ovitz, who at the time was the biggest, most powerful, and most feared agent in town. His agency handled almost every A-lister in town. And they had many awards nominees in their stable. They took out a full page ad in the trades, "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter," which read "CAA would be pleased if ... " and named some of their hottest clients and what they were nominated for. The message was CLEAR. Delivered with a very delicate touch. But you knew what they meant. And nobody wanted to screw with them, or get on their bad side. Because they could make it very hard to do your job, get access to the stars for interviews, put packages together with them, in general - do any kind of business with them.
45 is used to operating in the business world - where the ONLY rule is you have to win. You have an image (of power, success, virility) to project. Psy-ops to do the wheeling 'n' dealing with the maximum advantage. Worse, he's used to a business structure where he owns the joint. He has no obligation or accountability to any stockholders or boards of directors. The occasional (Russian) investor yes, but you wheel 'n' deal them, too. Bargain your loans down because if they insist on repayment, you may have to walk away and leave it so they lose even more than if they renegotiated with you. Bully and intimidate to assert your dominance - especially when it gets to "so sue me!" Because he can wait you out and game you all over the place on that, since most of his opponents don't have the standing or swagger or the money to fight a long court battle... and well, you know how it works.
Just watch his maneuvers. He's showing you how he's done business. How he's gamed people and cheated people and manipulated people, and he always seems to escape even tight spots with money in his pocket - even when everybody else goes down with the ship.
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