That screed from Trump - take a moment to re-read - is the language of delusion. What adult, what normal human being, talks like that? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the President of the United States!
I don't think anything I see in American politics with Trump in the White House is going to surprised me now. But threatening massive war crimes when you have the power to commit them if you choose to is not funny or an acceptable negotiating. tactic. It's like a father threatening to rape a teenage daughter during a serious disagreement. Doesn't matter how serious the disagreement you just don't do that. You shouldn't even think of saying that.
As for the 25th Amendment. That requires large numbers of his cabinet to say he's clearly unfit. This cabinet has been selected for loyalty above all else. They've shown resolute fealty with North Korean level grovelling to the Dear Leader. I simply cannot see large numbers of these spineless creeps upending the cult leader. It just ain't going to happen.
It is an insult to imply that “sales is a zero-sum game” based on deception.
I spent over 30 years in sales selling water and process treatments and services to various industries. While this may be more specialized than a most cited example of “car dealer”, there are principles of sales that all salespeople (should) admire and aspire to. Long term customers are built from meaningful productive relationships and sustainable value propositions. At a more granular level-- from individual traits of knowledge and experience, reliability, integrity, and credibility over time. The best sales groups and individuals engender perceivable and repeatable value. These principles can be applied across a universe of sales, relationships, and yes, diplomacy and politics.
Across my experience, credibility and integrity, based on honesty in relationship and transactional terms, are the most important. Simply, customers do not like people (or suppliers) that are perceived as deceptive, dishonest, overly aggressive, and/or do not “deliver”.
The idea of sales being the hard sell, based on some zero-sum game of deception and ultimatums? Admittedly, some salespeople do employ these tactics (and some softer variants), often in single transactional relationships, but that is not what long term trust and relationships are built on. Ordinary people, and indeed multiple other parties, shirk from these tactics and “walk out of the car dealership”.
Let’s be clear, experienced salespeople are ordinary people who (should) possess a wide range of observational, listening, and negotiation skills to create sustainable relationships. While I am just a salesperson, I think I can say there is no place in international negotiations for ultimatums in building sustainable relationships. Certainly not threatening total destruction of any negotiable asset. These are not single transactions, they are a series of transactions based on follow-through, honesty, credibility, trust, and quantification. “Trust but verify”.
Does anything that the current administration has done (currently and ranging back years) read to you as engendering “experience”, trust, reliability, credibility, or integrity? Why would anyone want to do business with such an organization?
Your customers were fortunate to have you, Dan, working side by side with them, conscientiously helping them be successful. Would you mind if I kept a copy of your tribute, because it reminds me of my dad, how he approached his salesmanship as an advisor and fellow problem-solver to his stainless-steel, sheet-metal, copper and brass customers. He also worked damn hard, rising from the sales ranks deep into upper management. And after he retired, he carried his understanding of people, and innate hospitality, to his local VFW post, where he'd welcome the younger veterans.
I watched my dad in action on the many business trips I accompanied him on as a child and teenager. I learned much from how he'd interact with his customers, never talking business over lunch, for example, drawing them out about their families and interests. And I learned from how they responded to him.
That's how I know he would appreciate every word you wrote, how you felt while writing it. He'd give you a "like" if he could.
A child’s denial gambit eventually leads to a timeout rather than a cookie. Trump couldn’t pull off this latest con and is now caught in his own web. But, Jared can move ahead with more development proposals for him.
Liz Dye cites a NYT's article in which DJT, talking to Tucker Carlson about any upcoming strikes on Iran, says, "I know you're worried about it, but it's going to be ok....Because it always is." Based on what we know of DJT's entire adult life, a life of commission without commensurate consequences, this is his overarching operating principle: I know you're worried about my decisions, but I'm going to be ok. Because I always am.
“…before he tarnishes the conservative brand completely?” Done a long time ago. The party is populated by extremist fascists. Of course, if the brand is conserving the oligarchy of the slavery era, then I suppose they could be considered conservative in that way.
Nearly everyone remembers exactly where they were when 9/11 occurred (of course, I acknowledge that a generation of people are too young to have witnessed it).
Hatred of the United States in the Middle East must be on steroids once again. Will there be a 2.0?
Trump's failures are the most expensive of any President ever. On top of the costs of his crazed immigration assaults in murders and injuries, the losses from his failure to deal with Covid. his random and stupid tariffs, his crazy tax cuts for the filthy rich, sickness and injurt from loss of our medical and scientific establishment, we now have the costs of his stupid attacks on Iran.
How much will this cost: "5. Reparations to Iran for war damages."
And that's on top of the cost of all the missiles, bombs, drones, lost aircraft, and other military costs.
And more important: how many dead and wounded people? I know morality doesn't mean anything to this regime, but it matters to each of us as a human being. And that's gone.
That screed from Trump - take a moment to re-read - is the language of delusion. What adult, what normal human being, talks like that? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the President of the United States!
I don't think anything I see in American politics with Trump in the White House is going to surprised me now. But threatening massive war crimes when you have the power to commit them if you choose to is not funny or an acceptable negotiating. tactic. It's like a father threatening to rape a teenage daughter during a serious disagreement. Doesn't matter how serious the disagreement you just don't do that. You shouldn't even think of saying that.
As for the 25th Amendment. That requires large numbers of his cabinet to say he's clearly unfit. This cabinet has been selected for loyalty above all else. They've shown resolute fealty with North Korean level grovelling to the Dear Leader. I simply cannot see large numbers of these spineless creeps upending the cult leader. It just ain't going to happen.
He has elevated cabinet members above anything they could have imagined, e.g. Pete Hegseth, Linda McMahon; they’re not going to give that up.
It is an insult to imply that “sales is a zero-sum game” based on deception.
I spent over 30 years in sales selling water and process treatments and services to various industries. While this may be more specialized than a most cited example of “car dealer”, there are principles of sales that all salespeople (should) admire and aspire to. Long term customers are built from meaningful productive relationships and sustainable value propositions. At a more granular level-- from individual traits of knowledge and experience, reliability, integrity, and credibility over time. The best sales groups and individuals engender perceivable and repeatable value. These principles can be applied across a universe of sales, relationships, and yes, diplomacy and politics.
Across my experience, credibility and integrity, based on honesty in relationship and transactional terms, are the most important. Simply, customers do not like people (or suppliers) that are perceived as deceptive, dishonest, overly aggressive, and/or do not “deliver”.
The idea of sales being the hard sell, based on some zero-sum game of deception and ultimatums? Admittedly, some salespeople do employ these tactics (and some softer variants), often in single transactional relationships, but that is not what long term trust and relationships are built on. Ordinary people, and indeed multiple other parties, shirk from these tactics and “walk out of the car dealership”.
Let’s be clear, experienced salespeople are ordinary people who (should) possess a wide range of observational, listening, and negotiation skills to create sustainable relationships. While I am just a salesperson, I think I can say there is no place in international negotiations for ultimatums in building sustainable relationships. Certainly not threatening total destruction of any negotiable asset. These are not single transactions, they are a series of transactions based on follow-through, honesty, credibility, trust, and quantification. “Trust but verify”.
Does anything that the current administration has done (currently and ranging back years) read to you as engendering “experience”, trust, reliability, credibility, or integrity? Why would anyone want to do business with such an organization?
Their behavior is that of organized criminals, not professional salespeople.
Your customers were fortunate to have you, Dan, working side by side with them, conscientiously helping them be successful. Would you mind if I kept a copy of your tribute, because it reminds me of my dad, how he approached his salesmanship as an advisor and fellow problem-solver to his stainless-steel, sheet-metal, copper and brass customers. He also worked damn hard, rising from the sales ranks deep into upper management. And after he retired, he carried his understanding of people, and innate hospitality, to his local VFW post, where he'd welcome the younger veterans.
I watched my dad in action on the many business trips I accompanied him on as a child and teenager. I learned much from how he'd interact with his customers, never talking business over lunch, for example, drawing them out about their families and interests. And I learned from how they responded to him.
That's how I know he would appreciate every word you wrote, how you felt while writing it. He'd give you a "like" if he could.
Of course you may copy. Thanks for your memories and kind words.
A child’s denial gambit eventually leads to a timeout rather than a cookie. Trump couldn’t pull off this latest con and is now caught in his own web. But, Jared can move ahead with more development proposals for him.
Liz Dye cites a NYT's article in which DJT, talking to Tucker Carlson about any upcoming strikes on Iran, says, "I know you're worried about it, but it's going to be ok....Because it always is." Based on what we know of DJT's entire adult life, a life of commission without commensurate consequences, this is his overarching operating principle: I know you're worried about my decisions, but I'm going to be ok. Because I always am.
...someone always bails me out"
“…before he tarnishes the conservative brand completely?” Done a long time ago. The party is populated by extremist fascists. Of course, if the brand is conserving the oligarchy of the slavery era, then I suppose they could be considered conservative in that way.
"Vance’s unsubtle effort to distance himself from this disaster confirms that he’s always been a soulless ghoul without principles or loyalty"
While the 25A is still a unlikely scenario this fact makes it more plausible at some point.
Thanks. Well done. Perfect kicker.
I thought the Larry Loomer dig was funny, but my sense of humor is warped.☺️ We are in quite a conundrum, aren’t we?
“I’ll take Sedition and Treason for $2,000, Alex..”
Thanks, Liz❣️
Nearly everyone remembers exactly where they were when 9/11 occurred (of course, I acknowledge that a generation of people are too young to have witnessed it).
Hatred of the United States in the Middle East must be on steroids once again. Will there be a 2.0?
My guess is yes, especially as this administration dismantled the groups that monitored terrorism.
Hear, hear! The man is nuts and, as such, a menace to the world.
Trump's failures are the most expensive of any President ever. On top of the costs of his crazed immigration assaults in murders and injuries, the losses from his failure to deal with Covid. his random and stupid tariffs, his crazy tax cuts for the filthy rich, sickness and injurt from loss of our medical and scientific establishment, we now have the costs of his stupid attacks on Iran.
Read the Iran proposal. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/world/middleeast/iran-10-point-proposal-trump-us-ceasefire.html
How much will this cost: "5. Reparations to Iran for war damages."
And that's on top of the cost of all the missiles, bombs, drones, lost aircraft, and other military costs.
And more important: how many dead and wounded people? I know morality doesn't mean anything to this regime, but it matters to each of us as a human being. And that's gone.
All Republicans support that demented old man.
I still think Trump planned to install Shah, Jr in Iran.
TACO Tuesday? Sure bet. Predictably certain. Self aggrandizement at its worst.
Regarding the 25th Amendment, I highly recommend this https://www.defiance.news/p/trumps-team-wont-invoke-the-25th
Liberate the Iranians? Like they are liberating Americans? Hahahaha