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I don't feel bitterness. I don't feel anger towards anybody. Fighting is never emotional to me.
Conor McGregor
It has been a fascinating week in terms of watching the Trump mob beginning to decompose before our very eyes. If we think of the Trump campaign and administration as toxic chemical compounds, we know to look for them to break down under the stress, into smaller components. Let's take a brief gander at but two events other than the Donald, Junior show.
The first involves Trump's lawyer, Marc Kasowitz. He had an issue with anger this past week, where he sent some threatening e-mails to a fellow, as detailed in the below link. Like Trump, he clearly has anger issues. It seems he is under some pressure. Some people have attempted to excuse this, by mentioning his ongoing battle with alcoholism. That's not a defense when it comes to things like DWI, assault, or threatening people, however.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/us/marc-kasowitz-email-trump-lawyer.html
The second involves Trump's long-time friend, Roger Stone. He was set to testify to the House committee investigating the Trump-Russian scandal. However, on a radio program, he made some threatening statements about two Democratic members of the committee. He, too, shares Trump's anger issues.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-14/stone-testimony-in-house-russia-probe-delayed-after-radio-tirade
The ancient philosopher Confucius said that when anger arises, one must consider the consequences. Buddha taught that one will not be punished for becoming angry, but that one will instead be punished by that anger. These are concepts that the Trump crew are incapable of grasping, as their anger over the Trump-Russian scandal creates increasing pressure upon them.
In the weeks ahead, we will witness more outbursts of anger, and as Lawrence O'Donnell has pointed out, these result in further breakdowns between groups and individuals within the Trump team.
Mr. Mueller and his team, however, are not acting out of anger.
Enjoy the show.
H2O Man
tblue37
(64,979 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)Nitram
(22,671 posts)like sharks when there is too much blood in the water.
And it's their own blood!
Crazy times. Watching the republican spokespersons attempting to normalize this -- or blame Clinton or Obama -- is hilarious.
denbot
(9,894 posts)That will be the signal to breakout the premium popcorn.
TheBlackAdder
(28,071 posts)I think that fear is already there, but they still think that they can control this. At this point, they believe they may have to sacrifice a couple more people. When they understand it is out of their control, panic will be even funnier.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Which means I consider unbridled anger to be a real weakness of character. Mostly because when you act in anger you're self justification is that it's OK because you're angry.
All that needs to happen is to strive to keep them in that state. I'm sure this must be a war tactic somewhere.
oxbow
(2,034 posts)Being laughed at
Being caught in a lie
Being contradicted or told they can't do something
Being made to feel smaller or less than in any way
Feel free to add to the list
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)surely pisses them off. I think getting indicted, tried, and convicted will, too.
oxbow
(2,034 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)I've noted the republican nonsense that "Democrats are getting frustrated and angry." I don't see that. I do see some younger folks who are a bit impatient, but most of us understand that things are unfolding far quicker than in Watergate, etc.
There is a rising anger among the John Birchers, who are beginning to recognize that Trump is in big trouble. I expect that some of them will start acting out soon. It's a shame that they lack the insight required to know that they've been had.
Boomerproud
(7,888 posts)accountable for his actions decades ago. Bottom feeder extraordinaire. He has NO redeeming qualities.
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)He has been a creep for his entire life. I have difficulty watching him -- I try not to judge people by looks, but he seems half-lizard to me -- and his personality is repulsive. He reminds me of some of the fellows I saw in forensic groups, and I knew they had committed crimes they were never charged with, well beyond those that landed them at the clinic or in jail.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,785 posts)Replace anger with cold loathing and regain focus and sharpness.
Make the other side angry. The angrier they are the more mistakes they make.
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)I fought a lot when I was young. I can't say that I never entered the ring angry, or became angry in a fight. But I learned the hard way why that just isn't good .....other than being a good way to get hurt. And that same dynamic applies to politics, especially when it involves crime.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,785 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)Thank you for cracking me up!
I doubt that Trump is aware of either of the other two, but I'd speculate that if he was, he'd view himself as far more consequential.
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)Thank you for that. It seems safe to say that some of his supporters will become increasingly hostile in public as this continues to unfold. In fact, Trump and the alt-right media will encourage poor behaviors on their part. I strongly recommend that people not engage with them in public, etc.
malaise
(267,800 posts)It's great to watch their anger and confusion.
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)I saw that Chris Wallace spanked the repulsive Jay Sekulow on Fox this weekend. That's a bad sign for Trump. And a good sign for us!
This week should be entertaining.
spanone
(135,632 posts)angry & mean....
They are angry, mean, and spiteful.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)H2O Man
(73,308 posts)that the new week will be an unpleasant time for Trump & Co.
Me.
(35,454 posts)KR
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)ironic that as his people don't appear in televised press conferences, or say to "ask the attorney," others in the White House are speaking to reporters. More, the legal representatives for Trump aren't doing well. Not even on Fox.
Me.
(35,454 posts)His legal representatives? Barely....so far an alcoholic thug and a grifter par excellence. I saw Sekalow blaming the SS for Don jr., who wasn't under their protection yet. Would he even have told them or done a sneak meet & greet...would be so like him.
Not appearing on camera is kind of spooky...do they think that if you can't see them whatever they say doesn't count? I bet they all wish they had Harry Potter's invisible cloak.
I do wonder who is speaking...is it a circle thing where they're all trying to get rid of each other or....insiders who know what's going on is wrong and are trying to help bring it down. We may never know.
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)We know what took place within the Nixon White House. The current group isn't that good.
Lucky ones, but amateurs nevertheless
which ones are lucky, and which ones are not. Things are changing quickly now.
I see that Trump did some tweeting this morning.
coeur_de_lion
(3,662 posts)I'll admit to toxic levels of anger the past several weeks. How do we soothe ourselves when we feel overburdened by anger?
lunatica
(53,410 posts)One way to subdue the anger is to become as analytical about everything as you can. It will enable you to become objective about what's going on. You want to be able to be objective because it's much more likely that you'll see facts and truth whereas when you're angry you're caught up in nothing but seething emotion and are unable to see what's really happening.
That's my two cents worth.
coeur_de_lion
(3,662 posts)Lately I can't seem to choose between furious anger and ignoring the entire thing.
Having been disappointed before in a sort of similar situation (Plame) I don't hold out much hope for this to end well. I guess I don't anyway. I suppose anything is possible though.
I think I want some sort of guarantee that things will come down in our favor ultimately and that isn't possible. So rather than either get my hopes up or continue being angry I've been taking turns with anger/avoidance.
Neither is doing me any good!
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)All of us experience anger from time to time, in various aspects of our lives. It would be silly to deny that reality. And you are talking about in a specific aspect -- today's political reality, where a flaming ass-wipe is president, and mentally-dead republicans are supporting him, even though a majority of they recognize he is toxic. So we'll focus on that.
I believe Trump et al represent an extremely serious threat to our constitutional democracy (imperfect as it is). I'm convinced he poses a severe danger to my children's future, and to all the younger generations, both here and abroad. And I think that a lot of people believe the same basic thing. Right? So the question confronting us is what, if anything, are we going to do?
Every person has to answer that on an individual level. And that must, by definition, include what they will attempt both internally and externally. This is based upon an analysis of both what is important to them, and their beliefs about what capacities they have. And what they are willing to invest in the larger group process of confronting the illegal, unethical, and immoral nature of the Trump administration, and all of its cruelties.
To invest -- be it time, money, effort, etc -- means to transfer from one area of our lives to another, like writing a check from our bank account. It involves assessing how much we are each willing to give. It involves sacrifice. And when we consider it in that context, we come to a question: Do we merely want to continue a divisive conflict, or do we want to transform our society? While they both can be said to represent "change," one is short-sighted, while the other is far more comprehensive.
When you look at "politics" right now, be it in DC, on tv, or even an internet forum such as this -- it is easy to feel angry, for one is exposing one's self to anger. But most of that anger has zero potential for transforming the current dynamics into something better. Look at about 50% of OP/threads on this forum. People are clutching old hostilities, as if they were gold. Hence, there is absolutely no potential for them to make any progress -- as individuals, hence agents of change in society -- until they are willing to sacrifice that thing they so love and value: their anger.
This is, as you know, a concept central to Haudenosaunee thought: as groups and as individuals, we must access the Power of the Good Mind to achieve meaningful changes in society. You can't transform an angry society by remaining angry.
Finally, before I talk so much that you wish you hadn't asked, it generally works best as a conscious group effort. Only a few individuals do it on their own.
coeur_de_lion
(3,662 posts)That is a really thoughtful and inspiring answer.
So what if a group of us wanted to transform our anger into something more positive?
What would we do together as a group?
Sweat lodge is out of the question since we live so far apart.
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)could function on the internet.