Dr. Alan J. Lipman's Head of State: Political and Media Psychology

A Note on Kellyanne Conway and Bill Maher

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:58:00 +0000

Roberta, raising Bill Maher on my Facebook page, notes:

“She (Kellyanne)disturbs me greatly. I know she is doing her job well but not a job worth doing. It is frightening to me that Bill Maher congratulated her on her rise to a top position in the White House. Is integrity a thing of the past?”

I understand Maher here. It’s the same way that he responds to Coulter. He sees them partly through the lens of comediennes/performance artists working up their act, and remembers them from their days when they were nowhere. He knows how hard it was for him to scrape one’s way up to recognition, and sees that in them. Many may not know that Conway has been around for a long time–first as an almost robotically rapid propagandist in the 80s and 90s, obviously and with an entirely inward looking desperation crawling her way to significance, latching onto Fred Thompson and others in her utterly clear attempt at ascendancy.

There is some pity for this workmanlike, desperate scraping. For Kelly, there’s much of the inward perception of someone who’s “just doing her job”–taking the same pride in the election as a fierce middle manager would in winning a weekend in Palm Beach in a sales competition. She is also smart enough to know what she is doing, and morally flexible enough to quickly sweep it away with an “everyone does it” approach more suitable to a pharmaceutical copywriter than a Senior Adviser to the President.

I feel it too. I know she works hard, although I believe the display of her long-sufferingness is a practiced manipulation that she uses to evoke pity, allowances and advancement.

It’s not so easy to sweep away now.

I admire Maher’s work. Like Stewart, he rose from the world of stand up to bring a genuinely intellect that bridges the worlds of the most necessary and important ideas and the general public–and is one of the few who can bring them effectively, and have an authentic impact.

With people like Kellyanne, it is difficult. There is an affection, and a past. Now, her position is different. Here he has a nuanced but significant opportunity. With Coulter, he largely puts to the side the damage she might do for a type of “we all know this is an act” tenderness and pity born of relationship and understanding. They rose together, so to speak. For Coulter, who besides her adoring, otherwise unreading fans, is generally recognized as a type of invalid performance act, this does not amplify her harm.

For Conway, who now is in a position to cause actual harm, this will be a slightly nuanced shift here, but one that he can make–treating her both as the colleague and known (she has a number of these) but also acknowledging and then questioning her from the position of Senior Propagandist, Diffuser and Deflector that she now occupies. It is an opportunity for Maher for subtle but significant influence–and for the nation.

Do Not Allow Yourself To Fear Your Government

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:54:00 +0000

This is a time when you may have noticed yourself having certain momentary thoughts that you would never have had before the election.

“Maybe I shouldn’t type this.”

“Maybe I could get in trouble.”

Just a millisecond.

These moments represent the first cracks in a free system.

They represent the inner immigration of freedom and empowerment–to express one’s voice, one’s beliefs, one’s passion, creativity, wish for the free expression of self and others–under the perception of a previously non-existant fear.

A fear of government response.

To the free expression of your beliefs in a democracy.

This is how a democracy gradually becomes an autocracy.

Through the gradual impress and perception of fear.

Fear of expressing your own ideas–freely given, empowered to expression on this Earth.

Listen now:

-You must notice when this happens.

-You must determine now that you will not allow yourself to become one silenced voice in the empowered, creative, free humanity that together makes up our democracy.

-Say what you believe. Take joy in the expression. Bring yourself, your energy, creativity, empowerment to the world.

This is a chaotic group of people who did not expect to win, know little, and therefore hope to cover the massive gaps in their knowledge through an imposed fear.

As they know so little, they do not want truth to be heard.

This approach is very vulnerable to the strong, empowered voice, speaking truth and freedom.

You–your ideas, creativity, energy, empowerment, action, voice–are strong.

Together, let’s ensure that they remain so, each day of our lives, even if some accidental narcissists may stumble into buildings for awhile.

The United States as Leverage for Trump Business in China: Or What Happens When you Mix Narcissism With Conflict of Interest and the Presidency

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:52:00 +0000

Trump has declared China the international enemy of the United States.

Meanwhile, Trump has become the friend and compatriot of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Foreign policy analysts have been puzzled by this–why cozy up to an enemy of the United States, that has invaded Ukraine and Crimea, has a collapsing economic infrastructure, and has global ambitions regarding expansion, as opposed to a power that has accepted the international status quo and is opening to the United States?

Now we know the answer, which is purely Trumpian: China has turned away the Trump Organization’s attempts over the past 8 years to do business with Trump. Russia however, has been more than welcoming, to the point that his son, Don Jr., stated that most of the current income of the organization comes from Russia and Russian sources.

Yesterday, the Washington Post published an extraordinary article:

BEIJING — Donald Trump calls China an “enemy” of the United States, a threat and an international pariah whose modus operandi is to lie, cheat and steal — but for at least eight years his hotel chain has been trying to do business here.

Although negotiations have yet to bear fruit, Trump Hotels had made confident predictions this year about opening 20 or 30 luxury hotels in China. None havve occured

What we are seeing here is a classic demonstration of Trump self-involvement–he is using the United States Presidency as a levering chip in an attempt to bring the Trump Organization into a nation that for 8 years years has refused–China.

As a man who is unable to accept any disagreeement, who has clearly been seeking liquidity to reduce his debt, the refusal of China to accept Trump Hotels has directly led to his foreign policy–which, as always, is based on the utterly simplistic: “If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you; if you’re not nice, I’ll be not so nice.”

Here, however, he is not simply involving the future of Trump’s debt negotiations, but the future of the citizens of the United States and the world as leverage.

This is the greatest conflict of interest to date–and the clearest administration that for Trump, the presidency is truly all about himself.

Trump and Russia: A Very, Very Unusual Relationship

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:50:00 +0000

Donald Trump has not taken a single intelligence briefing since his election, unlike every other modern President-Elect.

The members of the Senate have been given intelligence briefings on Russia’s actions in hacking US computers. 99 of 100 Senators, on the basis of this intelligence, believe, like the CIA, FBI, DIA, and NSA, that Russia hacked into United States computer systems in order to attempt to influence the election.

Donald Trump, who has blocked all attempts to inform him of intelligence that Russia invaded US computer systems, has stated that he does not believe that Russia hacked into the United States and that we “all should move on.”

His son, Donald Jr., earlier this year stated that most of their current profits are made from Russia. Trump’s attempts to profit from Russia began with visits to oligarchs beginning in 1997.

We do not know what debts Trump may owe to Russia, or to Russian oligarchs who are controlled by Putin, as Trump has refused to answer this question.

Despite his many changes on countless positions, Trump has consistently supported Putin and Russia, has denied that Russia entered Ukraine or Crimea, and has continued to support this hostile nation even after 17 US Intelligence Agencies found that Russia had hacked into our computer systems in an attempt to influence the election.

Random Acts of Distraction

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 21:18:00 +0000

One principle that Trump has learned--as a tactic--is the principle of randomness.

His effort is to be random in his actions--sending tweets that to or about Graydon Carter, Taiwan, the Trump Grill, China--as a blizzard of unpredictability.

This produces two effects:

1) The media is drawn to the novelty of the tweets, and provides him with what he most has needed each day of his adult life--coverage

2) It provides a cover in a different sense--a veil over intent, planning, and lack of knowledge Instead of focusing upon the agreement of the FBI and CIA on Russia's hacking to his benefit, to his misadventures regarding China, or his victory tour apologetics, he instead provides a shiny indirection, which has little effect but to draw the attention of the media, and to make his later behavior more unpredictable.

Unpredictability has some advantage in negotiations, in that one's opponent cannot pick a strategy based upon dependable action.

However, leadership is also grounded in a responsibility of values--Washington, Lincoln, FDR and Kennedy were effective leaders because they made it clear what their intentions were for the nation, how this would benefit the nation, and worked toward those goals with the intelligent, strong, persistent effort, rather than the deceptive weakness of an indirection designed to hide uncertainty, lack of understanding, avoidance and fear. 

Trump's strategy will be to move with such uncertainty that he hopes that the truth will never pinned down.

This approach always leads to the outcome that what is attempted to be hidden is highlighted--and eventually--the truths are discovered.

http://www.dayintrump.com/2016/12/17/random-acts-of-distraction

Narcissism vs. Intelligence: Why Donald Trump Should Take Daily Intelligence Briefings

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 16:21:00 +0000

Donald Trump has not taken the Intelligence Briefings that each President-Elect receives and has taken in the past.

He has said that he does not need these--this man who believes that Turkey is in the Middle East, who does not know what the Nuclear Triad is--because he says that he is "really smart."

He says this becuase the idea that he would need this information challenges his grandiosity--that he would not already know, because he is "really smart."

This is very, very dangerous.

The following is from an interview this week that the Head of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, did with David Ignatius of the Washington Post, at a summit on the Future of Homeland Security.

It is well worth reading--including by Donald Trump:

The Future of Homeland Security: David Ignatius, Jed Johnson:

IGNATIUS: During the election campaign Donald Trump has been generally dismissive of the suggestion that Russian hacking is playing a role. Last Sunday, he was interviewed by Chris Wallace, talking about the latest analysis by the CIA analysts. He said he thought it was “ridiculous,” and he is also said recently that he doesn't need a daily intelligence briefing.. 

You have had hundreds if not thousands of intelligence briefings and know the CIA extremely well. So, I want to ask you what is your judgment about the agency, and did the comments that the president-elect made have a negative effect?

JOHNSON: Let me answer this as a daily consumer of intelligence, particularly in this job. 

In this job the most important part of my day is 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. when i'm going through the intelligence. I would say the order in which I consume information every morning. I first get up, 5:00 a.m, I get to work. 

My Intel is book sitting on my desk and that is the first thing that I look at.

It's important to note that intelligence assessments, things generated by intelligence agencies, are a synopsis of what's going on in the world. 

And so from reading intelligence products every morning that's where you find out what is happening in Syria, what's happening in Iraq and what's happening in places in the Middle East, what's happening all around the world.

From there, frankly if I have time, I get to the newspapers, i get to the print newspapers to see how you all are covering what's happening in the world, whether you had it right, you have it wrong.  

The most important part of the day is that when i am consuming the intelligence assessments to know what's happening in the world. 

It's critical to know threats to the homeland, emerging threats to the homeland. 

Then, after I am done, at 8:30, we literally walk through the intelligence that i have read. It's my opportunity to ask questions on specific items. That is incredibly important so I am hoping and assuming the incoming administration will treat this equally.  

IGNATIUS: I want to press you on this,  Mr. Secretary. Do you think it is appropriate for the president-elect to make that kind of critical comment about the intelligence agencies– who are responsible for assessing foreign, including Russian threats to the country? 

JOHNSON: In my experience our analysts at CIA, DIA,  NCTC, State, all these agencies are very careful, they are very deliberate. 

The foreign intelligence products that reach somebody at my level and certainly the president's level, will have been highly coordinated, vetted by numerous different agencies. Occasionally, it's good to ask follow-up questions. it's good to scrutinize. it's good to challenge an assessment once in a while.

But in my experience our men and women in the intelligence community who  gather and assess intelligence are very careful and very deliberate and if they weren't they wouldn't be in the positions that they occupy.

The Gore Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 00:17:00 +0000

The Gore meeting is a dodge and a diversion.

A cynical device to take the eyes of the "Liberal" media off of the China debacle by use of an unexpected meeting with one of what they regard as a Liberal totem, on what they see as an issue of prime Liberal focus.

Ivanka is being used to give it the credence of a faux modernistic "reality." Nothing will come of it.

They may meet again, Potemkin roundtables may be established--but the regulations will fall, as will these theatrics, to other necessary performances.

Jason Chaffetz Highly Confused Over What He Should Tell His 15-Year Old Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 21:17:00 +0000

In light of today's announcement by FBI Director James Comey that they have found nothing in Clinton's emails, and that the matter is resolved, Rep. Jason Chaffetz expressed distress, anxiety, and confusion over what he should now tell his 15-year old daughter.

In a high, squeaking, semi-operatic voice, Chaffetz wailed: "First I told her that the FBI was bad, so bad, because they wouldn't find anything wrong, and I just knew it was there, then he said that he might, although he really didn't say that, and then, when he looked, he didn't find anything at all! Nothing! Not a thing! It's over! It's all over!" He then collapsed into a fetal position, tears streaking his "Trump Train" button that he had only just applied.

"She knew that Hillary hadn't really done anything at all, that this was just a pathetic, manufactured political ruse to attempt to distract from Trump's hundreds of violations of law, decency, and humanity, so maybe that will help" said Chaffetz, wiping tears from his cheeks, and sniffling.

Rudolph Giuliani then rushed into the hallway and, frantically raising an arm like a panic-disorder stricken Dracula, dragged Chaffetz into a nearby cloakroom as he waived the press away.

Eric Trump's Remarks on "This Week"

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 18:45:00 +0000

Let's note that this followed a stream of obviously suspect and equally obviously studied reasons for fixing an election:

-People have died (as they have every election cycle, on both sides of the ledger)

-The occurrence of "voter impersonation"--found in a landmark study to have an incidence of 13 occurrences in 1 billion votes;

-The citation, unbelievably, of violence--the promotion of which has been Trump's metier from his escalator ride to the present.

Trump, Stone and Bannon are preparing for Election Day and Election site chaos--not enough to change the results, but enough to lead a compliant media to cover the conflict rather than the facts

Don't be fooled.

-Get out and vote so that no amount of Election Day and post-electoral mudstirring can effect the result;

-Cover the facts--not the easy false of equivalence of planned conflict and chaos;

-Remember--this is more important than a day's short term ratings.

Trump is calling into question the basic structure and function of the Republic.

His son's prepared defenses are an indication of this.

Be clear-eyed, strong, persistent, and ready.

And vote.

Trump's Gettysburg Address

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 17:16:00 +0000

Four score and seven women have accused me of groping them in a certain location. Babies.

It is hardly conceivable that I would proposition them, as none of them are even close to a four, or equal.

Now we are engaged in a campaign, which I will challenge, unless I win, whether or not this nation, or any nation, long endures. Especially Mexico. Fat, horrible, disgusting nation, that one. I'm going to sue Mexico for fatness, believe me.

I met Hillary--Crooked Hillary!--on three battlefields of that campaign, and all the polls were wrong. Wrong! Except Rasmussen, gotta love them. We met and I loomed behind her, I stood menacingly behind her, I dominated behind her, in order that my eggshell-thin narcissistic fragility might endure. It was totally fine, totally, that I might do this.

But in a larger sense–and I mean big, big league, gigantic–we cannot loom, we cannot menace threateningly, we cannot dominate this stage. Without good hair. And sniffing, lots of sniffing. And interrupting– a lot. And gradually losing one’s entire sense of equilibrium, until one is shouting, screaming and insulting their opponent in an inevitable eruption of narcissistic rage.

The world will forever note, will forever remember what I say here. If they forget, I’ll remind them constantly, until I receive the constant drip of praise & admiration that I need like life’s blood itself. It is for me to receive this praise, & for you to give it–the great task that I give to you, to give to me your last full breath of devotion–to me.

So that I will not have left my six-foot self-portrait at Doral in vain, so that I will awaken to a new birth of grandiosity, and that my ego–by my ego, for my ego–will be honored as our nation’s last President, before I become bored and engage in some vain impulsive act to cause all of us to perish from the Earth.

The Way to Prevent Electoral Fraud: 1

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 14:35:00 +0000

There's nothing that Trump enjoys more than to show that he has pulled one over on what he regards as the "rubes."

His preferred, prized position is to walk away, the smoke and ruins behind him, money in his pocket, whistling to himself as he feels the visceral satisfaction of:

You fell for it.

The thrill that he got away with it.

And that the others are left enraged behind.

He did this with Atlantic City--came in, drew the area dry with empty promises and the associated debt--and left an empty husk, with unpaid workers, laborers, employees--and a debt too big to pay.

He is the king of the self-serving empty promise.

He wants to do the same to America.

On Election Day, or shortly before and after, there will be an uprising of arranged thugs, designed to sow chaos and confusion--an attempt to turn actual results into falsified disorder.

This--his vengeance on his "enemies", and his blindness to the well-being of the Democratic Republic--has been seen again and again.

It will occur.

Media. Officials. Citizens: Stand strong.

Don't be drawn to the conflict and noise--that is the hope of Trump, Stone--who is notorious for exactly such events--and Bannon.

The short term is the immediate draw to ratings. The long term is the structure of our Democratic Republic.

Don't be fooled.

Be strong:

1) Get out and vote, so no matter what aged theatrics trotted out by Trump--the vote cannot be over come

2) Cover the events for what they are--an attempt to fundamentally subvert the foundations of the Electoral Process, the same narcissistic efforts that we have seen throughout this campaign.

3) Understand: This matters. It is not entertainment. It is not important whether it is "good for CBS", in the words of Moonves. It is what is best for our country.

There are times when it matters most what is good for the nation.

When our votes and our voice--individual and collective through media--serve to preserve our nation.

That time is now.

Downfall

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:34:00 +0000

TRUMP & his generals are arrayed around the Map Table in the concrete bunker in Trump Tower. Present are CONWAY, BANNON, & AIDE.

T: Any word from Kingston's troops in North Carolina?

B: Moving south, towards Tennessee.

T: (Standing, seething): I told them to turn North! North! They have to break through to the suburban White Women on the Virginia line!

A: We told them, sir. The fighting is too deep. The brigade is breaking down...

T (his shouts echoing off of the Chinese concrete walls): Cowards! Cowards! All of them! Where is Lord? Has he made it from DC?

C: He's trying to cross Fifth Avenue. The block is brigaded...

JEFFREY LORD appears. His uniform is singed, but still bears the Trump epaulets on each shoulder.

LORD: You know, I remember when I was in a situation like this with Reagan, in 1982...

T: Quiet!

TRUMP walks to LORD until he is only millimeters from his face. Enraged, he tears each epaulet from LORD'S shoulders.

T: How? How could you let this happen? Arizona! Pennsylvania! Nevada! How? Betrayers! Every general! Every one! Lewandowski! Taking the money of the enemy! Manafort! Oh, the expert, he learned from the best, the GOP (Marches in an enraged mockery of Republican formality)! Couldn't even keep his tracks covered when Vladimir did it for him!

Every one has gone behind me! Ryan, McConnell! 'Oh, we support you.' Liars! Deceivers! Betrayers!

NELL-HUGHES, MCENANY, BLACKBURN sit at table outside the Map Room, silently listening to the rage, smoking nervously.

T: (Slumping to the floor, weeping): All is lost. All of the best are gone. Cohn. Barron. Mr. Green. It's over. It's done.

A: (Shocked, disbelieving): Sir?

T: It's done! Finished!

MCENANY (bursting in, hysterically): You can't do it, sir! Think of the cause!

T: There is no cause.

T (staring ahead, in monotone) There never was one.

There was only pure, straight, unadulterated attention.

And, for this–it’s done

Alternate Universe 2: Trump’s Paranoia

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 18:18:00 +0000

LOCATION: Zeta Zygrfzyk
Quadrant Hospital, Psychiatric Ward

Patient is wheeled in on stretcher. His hair is wildly arrayed, with pieces obviously glued to his scalp in patches. His skin has been colored in some bizarre shade of orange, in a delusional attempt to mimic a tan

Stretcher is rolled to admitting triage nurse.

NURSE: Name?

TRUMP: Name? Name? Oh, you want to play games with me. You nasty, nasty woman. You know my name.

N: (has heard this all before on intake): Why don’t you tell me your name, so everyone can hear you.

T: Trump! Trump! Donald J. Trump! I own some of the greatest properties, finest, only iconic, in all the world! I grope only the finest, most desirable women! Big!

N: Yes, Mr…Trumb. What brings you here today?

T: What? What? These idiots! I am running for President of the United States! I told them! I’m trying to get the Mexicans out, the rapists & criminals, the bad ones, the Indianans, & the President, who started ISIS you know, but I was interrupted by the beauty queen who was too fat, & I told the Generals, ‘I know better’, but they didn’t listen, so I said we’d get the nuclear weapons for Japan…& Korea…I told him, I told Vladimir…

N: O...kay, Mr. Trunk. Just slow down. We're going to bring in someone to...help...to run some tests.

PSYCHIATRIST enters.

P: What seems to be the problem, Mr. Truss?

T: Trump! Where is my gastroenterologist?

P: He is...not the right person to help you right now. Tell me what's happening.

T: They're rigging it. Fixing it. I can tell. I can just...feel these things. Like my income...it's how I feel from day to day. The press, they should thank me, thank me for all I've done, but they're after me, with questions, questions. Why? They didn't do that with John Barron!

P: Nurse, LAI Risperidone, stat.

T: I still am not going to withdraw from being President! I'll keep you all in suspense!

P: That's fine, Mr. Trank, just lie back, & we'll all relax...

Continuation of Donald Trump’s notes

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 17:30:00 +0000

We have recently captured the remainder of Donald Trump's podium notes, from last night's debate, excised from the photo above. They are written below:

Be Big. Big league. Big big big!

When think of saying “Wrong!” in middle of H sentence, picture her in planned prison (Rudy)

Remember that N. Korea good like Vlad, S. Korea good like Carrier and Oreo

Don’t get Vlad angry, next balloon payment due in week.

Turkey in Europe not Mideast, Japan in ASIA.

Have Dan call Diebold, use name “Mr. Blue”

Remember, stay cool cool cool like bad hombre like Eastwood cool is tough not weak cool is tough not weak. Narrow eyes like Clint. Say “Hombre” like him, appeal to recent movie fans.

Say that all the ugly grope ladies lied.

Never never never say that won’t agree to vote. Clear blue water. Doral hotel. They are wrong but do to show power. Power! Don’t say, no matter what, that won’t agree to vote. Promised Ivanka. Okay, maybe, but only if she is nasty.

She is so nasty to me.

She shouldn’t even be in debate.

Just me! (Don’t let anyone see this).

Rig all the precincts because she is nasty. She would do it anyway if she could but I am smart!

Call Roger about undercutting Fox on set top box contracts.

You are big league (underlined twice) she is nasty!

No groping on exit.

Trump's Dream

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:36:00 +0000

Trump's Dream
10/20/16
4:20 am

He is standing at the marble podium of a massive, columned, marble edifice.

A crowd of millions stretches before him, so grand he can not see the end, yet formed into a faceless edifice of its own--no individuals, just a dark formless mass.

The wind slightly blows his hair, which has the rich fullness of youth.

"There is only one in the debate now!" he says. "She's in jail! Where she always belonged!"

There is a deafening cheer, barely distinguishable from a scream, & he is in a jail cell, directly in the center of the Roll Call grounds of New York Military Academy.

The bugle calls morning drills. The Headmaster shouts "All home!"

The cadets gather. "I can't get out!" he screams. "I can't!" His face reddens as he bangs the door of his cage.

Roy Cohn appears at the door. "Pick the lock," he whispers, with a snide, conspiratorial, who-gives-a-damn-for-the-rules glee.

Trump looks around his neck. Hanging from a gold lanyard is one of the nails that he & his father would swipe from competing sites in morning Brooklyn walks.

"Put it in" says Cohn, who has become Marla, who has become a pastiche of many of his forced, coerced & unforced conquests. The door opens with a loud squeak; a seemingly endless spray of rust falls to the floor.

"Don't worry" says Cohn. "It happens to all of us."

He wanders into the Courtyard. He is standing before Trump Tower. A group of Polish workers, laborers, carpenters are blocking the gate.

"What are you doing here? You're undocumented!"

The Foreman marches forward. "Everyone's time comes to pay up, Donald."

An army is revealed behind the Foreman. Casino workers, displaced landowners, unpaid bankers, their families & children, hundreds, thousands, then millions of lies, each pushing him towards the water, towards his grandfather's landing point in Queens.

"What do I do now?" asks Trump

"Leave them in suspense" says Cohn with a wry, leering smile, & points to the dark water below.

Unshackled

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:29:00 +0000

When someone has been unshackled, impulsive, unscrupulous, duplicitous, and utterly self absorbed and then threatens to “take the shackles off”–-believe him.

When he has a documented history of deception and evasion since the Justice Department actions regarding racial bias of the 70’s; his use of deceptive and altered contracts with workers, construction companies, laborers, and Atlantic City; and throughout his career–as thoroughly documented by the Blair, Kranish/Fisher, O’Donnell, and O’Brien biographies–it is important to ensure that this pattern does not continue.

It's time to ensure that Trump does not attempt to engage in vote-hacking.

We already have the Justice Department announcing that Russia is attempting to hack into voting systems in 20 states--33 have asked for help--and that they are working on behalf of Trump.

And we have Trump--even in the last debate--treating Russia–who has demonstrably hacked into the DNC and DCCC, as verified by the Justice Department–as his best, warm, cozy friend.

This type of deception has been his métier since the '70s. The essence of the psychopath is disregard for rules and norms–and we have seen this constantly from Trump in his disregard for the Constitution, Federal and State law.

He projects more frequently than most psychopathic types–and will justify such acts on the basis of Nixon-like pretexts that he “had to”, to prevent his fantasized notions that “they” will steal the election from him (for example, in PA)–despite being objectively and empirically far behind.

He has used such justifications throughout this campaign. When he says the election is “rigged”–as he undoubtedly will–he is engaging in the projections that we have seen throughout the campaign. It indicates that he is readying to engage in exactly such actions on his part.

The WaPo article here is instructive: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-government-officially-accuses-russia-of-hacking-campaign-to-influence-elections/2016/10/07/4e0b9654-8cbf-11e6-875e-2c1bfe943b66_story.html

GOP Island

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:19:00 +0000

CAMERA quickly zooms into a tiny island, water dangerously covering its shores, threatening to engulf it completely.

VOICEOVER: Coming from Mark Burnett:

TEXT and VOICEOVER: GOP Island

VOICEOVER: Watch as 10 remaining dead-ender Republicans, the very last holding out for Donald Trump, struggle to survive on justification, rationalization, and cognitive dissonance alone.

On an island that is becoming increasingly smaller day-by-day, the waters creeping up more and more closely to the shore like a stimulant-filled Republican Presidential debater looming behind a Democrat, these increasingly isolated diehards are drawn closer and closer together before the ocean completely covers their tiny atoll.

CUT IN INTERVIEW:

DUNCAN: He seemed so sure. He kept saying "Believe me", and, after all, he had his own University, why shouldn't I believe him? Now...here I am.

VOICEOVER: Watch as the last remaining survivors engage in strategy and manipulations to attempt to survive, only to realize the dire, dark consequences of their machinations:

CUT IN INTERVIEW:

JEFF: I wanted to be the first in. He told me, "Jeff, it will be a great deal, a magnificent deal. I'll make you Attorney General. Little did I know, he had told that to Rudy and Chris too!

VOICEOVER: Watch as they engage in exciting challenges:

-To prove that Trump knows more than the generals about ISIS;
-To justify that it's not political, international, and human insanity to use nuclear weapons in Europe;
-To show that Russia is actually not in Ukraine, not in Crimea;
-To reveal the secret, never-before-revealed Articles 11-20 of the Constitution.

CUT IN INTERVIEW:

MARSHA: Help me. Help me, please. I'm an intelligent woman! How could I have associated myself with this unscrupulous, impulsive, erratic, utterly self-absorbed misogynist? I want to get off!

TEXT AND VOICEOVER: COMING IN NOVEMBER: GOP ISLAND

Debate 2 Summary: First Take

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 03:36:00 +0000

Looming, pacing, sniffing, stalking.

Threatening to jail her; calling her "the devil;" threatening to call the Attorney General; saying that she has "hate in her heart;"

Praising Putin, bizarrely siding with Putin on Syria, continually referring to "the African-Americans."

Filled with grandiose, incoherent rants, completely off-topic, devolving into shouting, at times actually screaming.

Continuing to refer to sexual assault as "locker room talk."

He was asked three times by Cooper: Have you actually done this behavior?

Each time, he refused to answer the question, evading, stating that “people say this,” until finally, pressed for an answer, claiming a denial.

The fact that it took him being asked three times by Cooper whether he had actually engaged in the behavior, refusing to answer the question each time, until, pressed for a direct answer, finally claimed that he had not it is a sure indicator that he has.

Look for the victims. They are out there.

Psychopathic.

CNN/ORC Results: Who won the debate?

Clinton: 57%

Trump: 34%

YouGov Debate Results:

Clinton 47%,

Trump 42%

Trump Tower, October 9, 2016, 4:50 pm

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 21:19:00 +0000

TRUMP TOWER
October 9, 2016
4:50 pm

DONALD TRUMP sits at his desk. Half-eaten bacon cheeseburgers, wrappers, Diet Coke cans surround him. He is holding his phone, leaning forward, both elbows on the desk.

He is sullen.

He is tweeting.

TRUMP (speaking aloud as he tweets): Everyone who has betrayed me will...lose and...burn in an enormous fire...of disgusting losers...and shame!

(Presses SEND button firmly).

(Scowls. Looks forward).

T (shouts): Diet Coke!

AIDE enters, carrying Diet Coke.

A: Kellyanne said to inform you, sir, that three more Senators have withdrawn...

T (Shouting): Out!

AIDE exits.

T: Where was I? Prep. OK, Prep. (Picks up folder. Opens, reads aloud): " Reforms in the context of U.S. relations with GCC states, especially Saudi Arabia usher in a new era of economic diversification...government transparency...(becoming bored)... a lengthy interview..."

(Throws down folder. Picks up phone.)

(Begins again to tweet):

T: (typing, reading aloud): Bill Clinton is the...Rosie O'Donnell...(smiles) of Presidents. He is fat. She is fat. THEY are fat!

(Presses send).

(Sits still. Scowls).

T (shouting): Kelly! Kellyanne!

KELLYANNE CONWAY enters. She appears exhausted, vainly trying to hide her irritation.

C: Yes, Don.

T: What do you think I should tweet next about Bill? About how Lewinsky was fat?

C (attempting to control her annoyance): I don't think you should tweet anything, Don. I think we should stick with the plan. Radio silence until the debate, then...

T: And then BANG! She comes apart, bing bing bing. I know. But we should build, build up, build up the fear, get ready to attack. Right?

C (putting a false lightness in her tone): I don't know, Don. You're the boss. You're the candidate. You decide.

CONWAY exits.

T: (Tweeting): "Clinton is bad. Like Alicia Machado times 10! She and Bill were never nice to me, even at the wedding. Horrible!

(Smiles).

T: That oughta do it.

Trumptanic

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 12:55:00 +0000

RMS Titanic
10/9/2016

The Titanic is drifting within increasingly frozen waters; hull plates are buckling starboard, & nearly half of its watertight compartments have been opened to the sea. Passengers are concerned that the ship is sinking, as are the crew.

Nevertheless, first-time captain, and former host of the radio show "Your Rich Uncle" DONALD TRUMP is entirely sure that he "is the best captain ever" and that he is guiding the ship to "the most magnificent trip ever seen."

TRUMP, First mate KELLYANNE CONWAY, and financier of the ship, STEVE BANNON are on deck. An icy rain is falling.

CHIEF PILOT approaches TRUMP, holding map.

PILOT: Sir, if we continue on this course, we will make direct contact with the Arianne Iceberg at 01800 hours.

TRUMP: (Looking at map). No chance! We're headed for balmy shores! Bermuda, warm, tropic shores, believe me! Straight ahead!

P: You're holding the map upside down, sir.

T: That's...just to get a different perspective, an outsider, a businessman!

P: But your course is heading us straight for the iceberg, Sir.

T: I know how to pilot better than anyone! Better than the Naxy, the Army, the Air Force! Get him out of here! (Sailors forceably remove pilot).

CONWAY: I think he may be right, sir. Remember when we hit the iceberg Curiel? And you said that was because of the Mexicans?

T: (Looking at "Gentleman's" magazine centerfold): No...No...Everything looks fine to me, eh, Steve?

B looks at C helplessly.

B: It was fine when you opened up the "Sailing University" and promised that you could teach people to "sail to the Moon." I stood by you when you fired half the crew because you thought they "looked like Persians" And I even supported you when you said that the Queen had demoted you because she was "bleeding from her whereever." But this is too much!

TRUMP: Looking good! (gives a thumbs up as we hear the ship crash into the berg).

BILLY BUSH (Amidst wreckage): Great job, sir!

Trump Tower, October 9, 2016, 9:12 am

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 11:10:00 +0000

TRUMP TOWER
October 9, 2016
9:12 am

TRUMP is sitting at his desk. Empty McDonalds containers are scattered on the desk & around the room. Kellyanne CONWAY, Steve BANNON, and an AIDE are present.

A: Should I put the Sunday shows on, sir?

T: (Surly): Go ahead. No...leave them off. Go ahead, keep the volume on low.

C: You probably don't need the...distractions, Donald. I'd like to run over the Mideast Policy Briefing again...

T: I've got it. Oil, Saudis, Secret plan, Generals, bomb the hell out of them. I'm fine.

C looks at B helplessly.

B: Look, Don. They're going to come full force on the Access tape, the K-File, god knows what else. You didn't exactly help yourself with the late night tweets...

T: It did help! It helped! Look at Drudge! Look at Breitbart!

B: My people wrote that stuff, Don...

T: It helps! That's the strategy. That's the plan. Attack them 10 times more, 100 times more!

C: Of course, Don. I'd...like you to look at this draft apology...

T: You want me to apologize again, fine. I know how to do it. (Adopts serious mien): 'I'm terribly sorry, truly sorry if I have offended our nation's women...girls..." It's not hard, Kelly.

C: You have to appear genuine, Don.

T: I can appear any way that I want to, Kelly. Besides, they're behind me! Listen to the people in the street down there!

AIDE enters.

A: The demonstrators want their 50 dollars or they're leaving.

C: Let's just go over the Russia briefing...

T: I know it! I know the Russians better than anyone, the Mideast better than anyone, the press better than anyone! Those hypocrites. The press. Any of them would want to, would beg to be with me. It's happened. Tell her, Steve.

BANNON looks at CONWAY, is silent.

T: I will go into the hall. I will be cool & calm, & I will attack her, I will be powerful & sexy & calm and attack her, attack & attack & it's fine. Fine!

A BIG MAC container falls to floor. All is silent.

2016 Daisy Ad

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 04:15:00 +0000

"Daisy Ad," 2016

Transcript:

GIRL (picking flower petals): One, two...

Clip of Trump calling Mexicans "Rapists and criminals;"

G: Three, four...

CLIP of T making fun of a reporter's disability

G: Five, six...

CLIP of T mocking Gold Star parents;

G: Seven, eight...

CLIP of T: encouraging crowd to punch protesters in the face;

G: Nine, ten...

CLIP of Trump stating of Vietnam Veteran John McCain: " I like veterans who weren't captured"

MAN IN NUCLEAR MISSILE OPERATIONS SILO:

M: Ten, nine...

QUICK CUT CLIPS of T stating that "I know more than the Generals on ISIS;" :I have a secret plan to defeat ISIS;" and "I will ask the Generals to come up with a plan in 30 days;"

M: Eight, seven:

QUICK CUT CLIPS of TRUMP UNIVERSITY sign; Judge Curiel; David Duke; Trump Anti-Semitic Ad;

M: Six, Five...

CLIP of T stating: "I refuse to rule out using nuclear weapons on ISIS;"

M: Four, three...

QUICK CUT CLIPS of T praising Vladimir Putin, praising Mussolini, praising Kim Jong-un;

M: Two, one...

QUICK CUT CLIPS of T stating: "If Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her;" "She had blood coming out of her wherever;" "Women? You've got to treat them like s - - t;" "You can do whatever you want, just grab 'em by the pu - - y."

Cut in of nuclear explosion, mushroom cloud.

VOICEOVER: These are the stakes: to make a world in which all of us, men and women, those of all races, ethnicities, and creeds can live, or to go into the utterly self-interested, enraged, vengeful, knowledge-free, impulsive, narcissistic, totalitarian darkness.

Think and vote on November 8th.

The stakes are too high for you to stay home.

Trump's Non-Apology

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 05:43:00 +0000

The very essence of a non-apology, Trump style.

-Many people say that this isn't me.

-Pay attention to someone else--instead of me.

-It doesn't really matter.

-The very words that I spoke--reflecting actions that he has taken again and again--are not really him.

-My mind is not on what I have done wrong, on how I regard our nation’s wives, mothers, and daughters–but, as always, on vengeance.

The truth, obviously, is that he sees nothing wrong with his actions–and he protests the nation’s reaction to them throughout this supposed, disingenuous, hollow, ultimately enraged fraudulent mea culpa.

He is sorry--that he was caught.

These are the qualities that he would have if ever elected President; error, anger, excuses, and forced insincerity in the face of catastrophe.

He is characterologically unable to reflect; to actually see any of his actions as wrong; and to do anything but deflect, minimize, and disclaim responsibility.

The worst qualities for a nation.

Arrogant, impulsive, out of control, thin-skinned and defensive even when faced the most serious of issues.

Utterly, thoroughly, unquestionably unqualified, emotionally and cognitively, to be President.

TRUMP EMERGENCY NEWS CONFERENCE: OCTOBER 7, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 00:36:00 +0000

PRESS: Mr. Cosby, Mr. Cosby....

TRUMP: Alright...alright...calm down...calm down. Calm down or I'll grab you by the...

KELLYANNE CONWAY enters from right wing. Whispers in Trump's ear. Exits.

T: I'm ready to take questions.

P: Your remarks meet the legal definition of Sexual Assault. This is a crime in all fifty states. How can a candidate for President speak proudly of such behavior?

T: Many people have said that this shows my knowledge of the law. This was actually a campaign commercial designed to cleverly show my knowledge of sexual assault.

P: But it was made in 2005!

T: Next question

P: Your own staff has described your behavior as "appalling," that your campaign is "done." Your remarks degrade half of the population--wives, daughters, mothers, children--as well as all those who defend & love them. How can you possibly justify such remarks?

T: Frankly, Kate, I think that the idea that I should respect women, that I should treat them as equals, that I should not talk about sexually assaulting them, is just an example of the political correctness that exists today.

P: You are actually saying that, as President, it is acceptable to degrade women, to describe sexually assaulting them?

T: Hold on...I have a bad mic here. Audio! Audio!

P: Mr. Trump, in the same video, you describe your pursuit of infidelity. What kind of a role model is this for American youth?

T: I'm teaching them the value of initiative, of breaking the rules--even if those rules are amoral, narcissistic, selfish, dishonest & disloyal.

P: It's more than that, Mr. Trump. When you describe grabbing a woman by the genitals without her consent, that is the very definition of sexual assault.

T: Assault is an over used term. I prefer to think of it as giving them the "gift of Trump." And if I should win, that's what everyone will get--whether they want it or not.

Trump's Daisy Ad: First Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (AJL) — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 23:26:00 +0000

You wouldn't hire this person to be your doctor, your lawyer.

To watch your children.

To clean your pool when your children are at home.

He has immediately lost half the electorate.

Then on top of that, all men who defend women from being seen and treated in this abusive manner.

It is repulsive.

It is fundamentally degrading of half of our population.

If Paul Ryan stands beside him this weekend, he may as well write off any hope for 2020.

As well as for his personal character, which will be permanently tarnished.

Wives, mothers, children will all see him standing beside this man.

As has been reported, such actions as described meet the legal definition of sexual assault.

Donald has his Troll Army out in desperate full force.

There's no countering this career-ending debacle.

There's no countering his own words.

As reported by CNN, members of Trump's own staff and former supporters find the actions "appalling,"

Saying: "I don't know how any woman can vote for Trump after this."