Throughout three presidential campaigns, people who’ve voted for Donald Trump have repeatedly said they’ve done so, in part, because he was a “successful businessman.”
Trump was in real estate following the footsteps of his father. His father was not a shining light in building but he was very wealthy and used it to get attention. He schooled Donald in Real Estate and I watched as he grew in power. I am from NY and everyone knew of Donald Trump. He was considered a great real estate mogul. However, his buildings barred people of color, were known for not paying those who were hired to work on them - he would find some fault or other and then walk away from the bill leaving the people he hired to either eat the loss or go bankrupt. He then turned to Atlantic City which was rebuilding from years of loss. Casinos hit the area and Trump built THREE of them. They all were successes at least for a while. I often wondered why a person would build 3 casinos that were in competition with each other. Well first one folded and then another. It put so many people out of work, left contracts unpaid and Atlantic City lost it's cache as being the place to have fun and was no longer a mini Vegas. Does this sound familiar? It does to me - he has now on his revenge tour come back in charge and is dismantling this country piece by piece and the heck with the people, the children growing up here and those that are either starting out or are retired and have dreamed of their retirement that they worked for all their lives. IT'S going to disappear. Just like Atlantic City - oh sure the city is still there a mere shadow of what it was.
Trump is a user and abuser. He takes what he wants and never pays for it PEOPLE do and he is not one of them. Since he is older he now has Elon to help him strip this country of its riches. Yes I am angry - I worked all my life as did my dad and mom and their parents to help build this country and I now see it being taken apart piece by piece. It's disgusting that he is getting away with the rape of this country - but he does know how to abuse now doesn't he.
I hope this Blight will be removed from office ASAP. His obvious support for Putin and his gleeful cruelty are repugnant. But who is going to stand up? Unfortunately, the Republicans will never impeach him - either because they agree with him and his cruel, pro-Russian ideology or because they will betray their own country and throw away their children's future just to stay in power. I will never understand how so many people in the US voted for this Abomination - probably because I don't want to believe that there are that many heartless, ignorant people. I keep hearing that they "didn't know" - well, as you point out in great detail, nobody had to look too far to find evidence of his incompetence and true intentions, and there were plenty of people (many of whom were his former employees with first hand knowledge) who were shouting their warnings from the rooftops. I guess you get what you pay for .......
I hope you are right but we are no longer the majority. Ever since Don the Con has won Trumpers have come out of the woodwork. People I knew to be on our side have shown their true colors. They are everywhere :(
It is just amazing how he has consistently continued to fool people without consequences. A con man who is running this country just as the mob bosses he and his father worked with to build in New York. The mob way is the only way he knows-threatening, extorting and bullying. He is the school-yard bully on steroids. And he doesn’t care who he hurts along the way.
I used to think it was people just didn't know the difference. But I have sadly come to realize Drumpf is beloved by the majority of the voting block :(
As a lifelong voter, just an 89 year old Democrat, I knew way before this past election that. He was a loser in every way! If I questioned my thought, all I had to hear was the Project 2025 that had been designed with someone like him as president to implement it! I am so sad. I am spending my time, calling, emailing and staying informed and communicating with young people who I hope to make the removal of this traitor happen! Thank you, John, for speaking the truths!!!!
We should have expected exactly what Elon did to Federal workers. After all Don Devine, head of OPM during the Reagan RIFs was on the Project 2025 team. Those RIFs were heartless and the Republicans appointees were derisive as well as heartless. Reagan just smiled as he did his Republican dirty work. But he didn’t destroy the government. Donald Devine lived to help the fat cats and Trump - with musk- do that. And this time around Devine may be succeeding.
I would love to jettison him. To Mars. With Elon. And the rest of his cabinet. I have been writing to my representatives. I have been disseminating useful information. And nothing keeps happening. We get occasional good news about yet another courageous judge blocking yet another nightmarish executive order. But that doesn't seem to stop these people.
The GOP Congress is sitting between us and the Trump administration. I completely agree with you - we can't wait another 4 years. We can't even wait another 2 years. There is literally no guarantee we'll still have elections. But what else can we do? We are already doing all the right things. It should be crystal clear where this man is taking this country. But with Congress determined to let him, all we have to hope for is a strategically placed brick falling on his head in the right place at the right time.
What Elon is doing is against the law. 45-47 is violating the oath of office to see that the laws are faithfully executed. The Constitution and laws on the books are meaningless unless they are enforced. The lockstep MAGAts in Congress will not exercise their oversight powers to hold this lawless mob boss president accountable. Representatives and Senators RAN FOR THEIR LIVES!!!!! Then they still voted not to certify Biden’s election and then refused to convict the mob boss for insurrection, making him ineligible to run again.
Wake up America! Care about all our neighbors not just those who look like and act like you. A friend once said you can be republicans if nothing is different or challenging about you. Shame on all of us who ignore and walk away from those in need.
All true. And we could reasonably expand our understanding of Trump's behavior and motivations by including many of the corporate CEOS in the tech world, in agribusiness, Big Pharma, fossil fuel companies, for-profit medicine, etc. We as a people have been not completely passive as these Trump Similars have passed out the bribes, fought safety measures and erected barriers to programs and products which would have been beneficial across the board. Our problem is not Trump, it is the mindset and behaviors of all these men. IMO we could take a good hard look at our passivity in the face of all this, then begin to act on our own behalf with real passion and energy. We know better, but we've been distracted.
It’s human to grieve, to feel helpless and outraged, but our work goes further than that.
It’s hard to acknowledge Trump as a symptom. It’s hard to examine the ways that we carry (and are carried by) the collective dis-ease that he embodies.
How has our passive consumerism
helped create this monster? How does our own lack of empathy contribute? How does our projection—our need for the “other,” less worthy than we are—help to perpetuate the zeitgeist of racism, sexism, and all the other “isms” that poison our world?
We need to be activists and show up in the world, but inner work is also required. However that work manifests will be different for each of us, but you’re so right. We can’t let ourselves stay distracted.
John, it’s refreshing to be reminded of trump the FAILED businessman. And you are correct to state that he is here to do to US what he perfected over the years: sucking the host dry and skating away unaccountable. Maybe THAT’S what he meant when he said “The Eighth Wonder of the World”. He’s always wondered how people could be so stupid. But damn glad they are. And will screw them happily all the way to the off-shore bank account.
Given the factual soundness of this report and the limited power each of us has to respond effectively to it, a few days ago, I wrote to my congressman advocating that he and other Democratic Members of the House daily or weekly file articles of impeachment, definitely against Trump and as appropriate, also against Vance. They should be amended or revised each time there is evidence of yet another high crime or misdemeanor. Although the Republicans won’t currently advance any of these filings, they become a matter of lasting public record, and if conditions continue on the current trajectory, a national culture of resistance will plausibly develop. In that case, Congress might acquire the nerve to act as it is Constitutionally empowered (and expected) to act by impeachment and conviction of these incumbent officers. I am convinced that mere “handwringing” is an ineffective response, but I believe that if enough of us persist in doing what, perhaps little, each of us can do to resist the Trump/Vance/Musk power grabs, there is a plausible chance that Democracy can prevail.
Filing Articles of Impeachment daily or weekly is an excellent idea. Thank you. Unfortunately my own Congressman is Jeff Van Drew, who we elected as a Democrat, but who changed parties as soon as Trump took office the first time. Writing to him to ask him to impeach Trump would be laughable. There are other House members from NJ to whom I can write, even though I’m not in their district.
I don’t think he fooled many of the people who voted for him. They heard what he was saying and knew his history. They voted for hate thinking that it would only affect the othered .Big surprise when the consequences of voting for hate affected them as well .
“This is your life” (an old TV show)… Donald Trump. Excellent review John. The truth tastes bitter in the pudding of today’s president. At 79, Trump is managing his life and responsibilities as he always has - to bankruptcy. Wake up America! He is an incompetent Captain at the wheel who is running the Ship of State onto the rocks. A courageous crew can take over command. A vocal opposition and action (by citizens, Congress and the true Rule of Law) can turn this country to a better, smart and compassionate course for the common good, not only for our selves, but for our friends and allies as well. In this darkness and dangerous time, let’s turn on the lights, listen and respond accordingly, “We the People!”
For the rest of my life I will never understand how so many people fell for his crap. I'm now left wondering what has happened to that part of humanity that he is who they chose to believe in. The folly of the few is having dire consequences on the many. Lord, forgive them because they know not what they do.
I have a family friend who used to own an upholstery (I think) business in Florida. Many years ago, trump came into their business and ordered drapes. When they were completed, he came in to pick them up. He took them, said they weren't up to his standards and walked out the front door without paying. Once a slime ball....
I've yet to see how much Musk's "efficiency" is costing us--and I don't expect to because that would expose them as the frauds they are. Firing and rehiring, doing and undoing, is anything but efficient. Makes me feel like I am suffocating.
I strongly blame National media for never pointing this out to the country. They appear to be afraid of being called leftist. The idea that Trump was a successful businessman came entirely from him portraying one on The Apprentice. He was gifted $2,00,000 on his 21st birthday and blew it.
Trump was in real estate following the footsteps of his father. His father was not a shining light in building but he was very wealthy and used it to get attention. He schooled Donald in Real Estate and I watched as he grew in power. I am from NY and everyone knew of Donald Trump. He was considered a great real estate mogul. However, his buildings barred people of color, were known for not paying those who were hired to work on them - he would find some fault or other and then walk away from the bill leaving the people he hired to either eat the loss or go bankrupt. He then turned to Atlantic City which was rebuilding from years of loss. Casinos hit the area and Trump built THREE of them. They all were successes at least for a while. I often wondered why a person would build 3 casinos that were in competition with each other. Well first one folded and then another. It put so many people out of work, left contracts unpaid and Atlantic City lost it's cache as being the place to have fun and was no longer a mini Vegas. Does this sound familiar? It does to me - he has now on his revenge tour come back in charge and is dismantling this country piece by piece and the heck with the people, the children growing up here and those that are either starting out or are retired and have dreamed of their retirement that they worked for all their lives. IT'S going to disappear. Just like Atlantic City - oh sure the city is still there a mere shadow of what it was.
Trump is a user and abuser. He takes what he wants and never pays for it PEOPLE do and he is not one of them. Since he is older he now has Elon to help him strip this country of its riches. Yes I am angry - I worked all my life as did my dad and mom and their parents to help build this country and I now see it being taken apart piece by piece. It's disgusting that he is getting away with the rape of this country - but he does know how to abuse now doesn't he.
I hope this Blight will be removed from office ASAP. His obvious support for Putin and his gleeful cruelty are repugnant. But who is going to stand up? Unfortunately, the Republicans will never impeach him - either because they agree with him and his cruel, pro-Russian ideology or because they will betray their own country and throw away their children's future just to stay in power. I will never understand how so many people in the US voted for this Abomination - probably because I don't want to believe that there are that many heartless, ignorant people. I keep hearing that they "didn't know" - well, as you point out in great detail, nobody had to look too far to find evidence of his incompetence and true intentions, and there were plenty of people (many of whom were his former employees with first hand knowledge) who were shouting their warnings from the rooftops. I guess you get what you pay for .......
WE stand up WE the people
I hope you are right but we are no longer the majority. Ever since Don the Con has won Trumpers have come out of the woodwork. People I knew to be on our side have shown their true colors. They are everywhere :(
The Republicans refuse to do the right thing by impeaching and removing this lawless thug.
It is just amazing how he has consistently continued to fool people without consequences. A con man who is running this country just as the mob bosses he and his father worked with to build in New York. The mob way is the only way he knows-threatening, extorting and bullying. He is the school-yard bully on steroids. And he doesn’t care who he hurts along the way.
Remember at heart all bullies are cowards
Trump is the “User and Abuser in Chief”
I used to think it was people just didn't know the difference. But I have sadly come to realize Drumpf is beloved by the majority of the voting block :(
If any person is a parasite, it’s 45-47.
As a lifelong voter, just an 89 year old Democrat, I knew way before this past election that. He was a loser in every way! If I questioned my thought, all I had to hear was the Project 2025 that had been designed with someone like him as president to implement it! I am so sad. I am spending my time, calling, emailing and staying informed and communicating with young people who I hope to make the removal of this traitor happen! Thank you, John, for speaking the truths!!!!
We should have expected exactly what Elon did to Federal workers. After all Don Devine, head of OPM during the Reagan RIFs was on the Project 2025 team. Those RIFs were heartless and the Republicans appointees were derisive as well as heartless. Reagan just smiled as he did his Republican dirty work. But he didn’t destroy the government. Donald Devine lived to help the fat cats and Trump - with musk- do that. And this time around Devine may be succeeding.
I would love to jettison him. To Mars. With Elon. And the rest of his cabinet. I have been writing to my representatives. I have been disseminating useful information. And nothing keeps happening. We get occasional good news about yet another courageous judge blocking yet another nightmarish executive order. But that doesn't seem to stop these people.
The GOP Congress is sitting between us and the Trump administration. I completely agree with you - we can't wait another 4 years. We can't even wait another 2 years. There is literally no guarantee we'll still have elections. But what else can we do? We are already doing all the right things. It should be crystal clear where this man is taking this country. But with Congress determined to let him, all we have to hope for is a strategically placed brick falling on his head in the right place at the right time.
What Elon is doing is against the law. 45-47 is violating the oath of office to see that the laws are faithfully executed. The Constitution and laws on the books are meaningless unless they are enforced. The lockstep MAGAts in Congress will not exercise their oversight powers to hold this lawless mob boss president accountable. Representatives and Senators RAN FOR THEIR LIVES!!!!! Then they still voted not to certify Biden’s election and then refused to convict the mob boss for insurrection, making him ineligible to run again.
Wake up America! Care about all our neighbors not just those who look like and act like you. A friend once said you can be republicans if nothing is different or challenging about you. Shame on all of us who ignore and walk away from those in need.
All true. And we could reasonably expand our understanding of Trump's behavior and motivations by including many of the corporate CEOS in the tech world, in agribusiness, Big Pharma, fossil fuel companies, for-profit medicine, etc. We as a people have been not completely passive as these Trump Similars have passed out the bribes, fought safety measures and erected barriers to programs and products which would have been beneficial across the board. Our problem is not Trump, it is the mindset and behaviors of all these men. IMO we could take a good hard look at our passivity in the face of all this, then begin to act on our own behalf with real passion and energy. We know better, but we've been distracted.
Such a thoughtful insightful response,
Leigh!
It’s human to grieve, to feel helpless and outraged, but our work goes further than that.
It’s hard to acknowledge Trump as a symptom. It’s hard to examine the ways that we carry (and are carried by) the collective dis-ease that he embodies.
How has our passive consumerism
helped create this monster? How does our own lack of empathy contribute? How does our projection—our need for the “other,” less worthy than we are—help to perpetuate the zeitgeist of racism, sexism, and all the other “isms” that poison our world?
We need to be activists and show up in the world, but inner work is also required. However that work manifests will be different for each of us, but you’re so right. We can’t let ourselves stay distracted.
John, it’s refreshing to be reminded of trump the FAILED businessman. And you are correct to state that he is here to do to US what he perfected over the years: sucking the host dry and skating away unaccountable. Maybe THAT’S what he meant when he said “The Eighth Wonder of the World”. He’s always wondered how people could be so stupid. But damn glad they are. And will screw them happily all the way to the off-shore bank account.
Given the factual soundness of this report and the limited power each of us has to respond effectively to it, a few days ago, I wrote to my congressman advocating that he and other Democratic Members of the House daily or weekly file articles of impeachment, definitely against Trump and as appropriate, also against Vance. They should be amended or revised each time there is evidence of yet another high crime or misdemeanor. Although the Republicans won’t currently advance any of these filings, they become a matter of lasting public record, and if conditions continue on the current trajectory, a national culture of resistance will plausibly develop. In that case, Congress might acquire the nerve to act as it is Constitutionally empowered (and expected) to act by impeachment and conviction of these incumbent officers. I am convinced that mere “handwringing” is an ineffective response, but I believe that if enough of us persist in doing what, perhaps little, each of us can do to resist the Trump/Vance/Musk power grabs, there is a plausible chance that Democracy can prevail.
Filing Articles of Impeachment daily or weekly is an excellent idea. Thank you. Unfortunately my own Congressman is Jeff Van Drew, who we elected as a Democrat, but who changed parties as soon as Trump took office the first time. Writing to him to ask him to impeach Trump would be laughable. There are other House members from NJ to whom I can write, even though I’m not in their district.
I don’t think he fooled many of the people who voted for him. They heard what he was saying and knew his history. They voted for hate thinking that it would only affect the othered .Big surprise when the consequences of voting for hate affected them as well .
“This is your life” (an old TV show)… Donald Trump. Excellent review John. The truth tastes bitter in the pudding of today’s president. At 79, Trump is managing his life and responsibilities as he always has - to bankruptcy. Wake up America! He is an incompetent Captain at the wheel who is running the Ship of State onto the rocks. A courageous crew can take over command. A vocal opposition and action (by citizens, Congress and the true Rule of Law) can turn this country to a better, smart and compassionate course for the common good, not only for our selves, but for our friends and allies as well. In this darkness and dangerous time, let’s turn on the lights, listen and respond accordingly, “We the People!”
Excellent comment!
For the rest of my life I will never understand how so many people fell for his crap. I'm now left wondering what has happened to that part of humanity that he is who they chose to believe in. The folly of the few is having dire consequences on the many. Lord, forgive them because they know not what they do.
Everything Trump touches dies.
His self- destructive tendencies turned outward.
Thank you for speaking truth with eloquence.
I have a family friend who used to own an upholstery (I think) business in Florida. Many years ago, trump came into their business and ordered drapes. When they were completed, he came in to pick them up. He took them, said they weren't up to his standards and walked out the front door without paying. Once a slime ball....
I've yet to see how much Musk's "efficiency" is costing us--and I don't expect to because that would expose them as the frauds they are. Firing and rehiring, doing and undoing, is anything but efficient. Makes me feel like I am suffocating.
If someone is STILL using the “he’s a successful businessman” argument, this post should wake them the hell up. Unfortunately, I fear it’s too late.
I strongly blame National media for never pointing this out to the country. They appear to be afraid of being called leftist. The idea that Trump was a successful businessman came entirely from him portraying one on The Apprentice. He was gifted $2,00,000 on his 21st birthday and blew it.