monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

It is not a matter of Covid-19 being the fault of Trump. The fault comes from the overall handling of the virus and the widespread outbreak.

His poor performance in handling this is where his fault can be found.

You are blaming Trump for allowing the governors to do their job.

Trumps plays the climate-denial playbook on a pandemic. But with this deadly virus the effect is more quickly visible.

I’ll say it one more time. The pandemic is not Trump’s fault. His downplaying it from the very beginning until now, and his failure to mount any kind of comprehensive federally centralized program to combat it - IS his fault.

You people cannot seriously believe that the serving president, during whose watch this catastrophe is taking place, shouldn’t bear any responsibility for it.

How does that work in your minds? Anything good that happens under Trump is due to his leadership, but the damage from the worst pandemic in a century is everyone’s fault but his?

Your president was being impeached at the start of the infection, and got lambasted by his attackers (Pelosi et al) for closing down incoming visitors from China. Pelosi even called him a racist for doing so. Want some links?



50 states with their own governors and 337 million individuals, and you expect the president to mount a campaign for them all to follow? Over half the nation won't follow anything he says or requests.

Each state in Australia has handled the epidemic in their own way, and are now arguing about when to open the borders again. That's how a democracy works, snood.



It's not an invasion from outer space, or a financial attack from corrupt bankers, dude. It's as common as the cold, from which, the virus springs. Coronavirus. One of many.



It's Pelosi who is standing in the way of Trump's financial disaster relief package. Or don't you bother reading facts?



We've only had the one epidemic this century, and it's still a long way short of the numbers killed every year by CVD (one American every 37 seconds) but I'm sure you can figure out some way to blame your president for that, as well.

So what? The impeachment was carried on by Congress and the president's legal team. Clinton managed to lead the country during his impeachment. Trump managed to find plenty of time to campaign.


So what?


apfactcheck

In addition, 40,000 USAmericans were exempted from the ban, allowed to return, and very few of them were tested.
nyt

Nor did he prevent hundreds of thousands of travelers from Europe from disembarking on the East Coast, which directly led to the huge rates of covid in the NY metro area.


Well, maybe he is, since he only showed concern about travel from China while travel from Europe was allowed to continue.


Yes.


No, covid-19 doesn't "spring from the cold". It's a corona virus like the cold, but it's zoonotic in origin.


No, it's McConnell and the Senate Republicans who are standing in the way of Pelosi's relief package.


So what? CVD isn't a communicable disease, that's a meaningless comparison.

So the Democrats are at fault. They caused the pandemic in America.



Being put on trial is hugely distracting and disruptive.



So the Democrats are at fault. They caused the pandemic in America.

Not according to Trump:

breitbart

The virus is not man-made, yes. As President, Trump's describing the deadly virus as a flu is his fault. You don't know how heroic those medical workers were who fought against the dangerous virus at the very front. They risked their lives and they were true heroes like courageous firefighters (I used past tense because now vaccines are already available to protect them), they desperately needed wide support from American people. Yet Trump's downplaying the formidable enemy as a flu greatly compromised American people's support of these heroes. Further, the downplaying unneccsarily exposes American people to greater risk of COVID-19 and speeds up the spread of the virus. It is Trump's fault.

Market getting excited about a Biden Presidency.

Judge rejects bid to shield Trump from Carroll lawsuit

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that President Trump can be personally sued for
defamation in connection with his denial while in office of a decades-old rape allegation.

The judge, Lewis A. Kaplan of Federal District Court in Manhattan, rejected the Justice
Department’s attempt to step into the case and defend the president, and his ruling
means that, for the moment, a lawsuit by the writer E. Jean Carroll can move forward
against Mr. Trump, in his capacity as a private citizen...

Neither Democrats nor Republicans seemed to believe that, instead commending or condemning her confirmation as a victory for conservatives and a defeat for liberals.

Yeah...that is the way it is for many.

I am hopeful that she does what she promises.

If so, we will have justice. If not, our justice will be tainted.

Gotta see what happens.

Al Capone didnt contract with the Purple Gang if he didnt expect them to do his "rub outs"

Yeah really. It’s not as if anyone’s been hiding why they pushed for her, and what’s expected of her. And, from the way she’s acting, what she is willing to do.

Yer right.

I'm counting on Trump being a **** up and screwing up a sure thing.

Nothing is different about Barrett's being placed on the court and every other judge placed there. The left cries doom and gloom whenever a conservative is confirmed and the right cries doom and gloom whenever a liberal is confirmed. Our country has yet to fall apart. For a number of years the "liberal" judges had a majority and now the shoe is firmly on the other foot. No big deal. Wait a few years and it will swing the other way. I am pretty sure the country will survive.

Bottom line is this. If democrats controlled the presidency and the senate in a similar situation, they would have done exactly what was done by the republicans in nominating someone and pushing it through. So if that is the only objection to the Barrett nomination, then y'all are seriously warped in your thinking.

A Chinese scientist says it is. She is a whistle blower and has been on Tucker Carlson twice.

Anderson Cooper said the same thing along with other talking heads on CNN.

And why wouldn't I know that? It has been said daily. Keep in mind it is also the profession these people chose.

I see, the virus knows it is being downplayed and has acted accordingly. Sounds pretty dumb to me.

It is China's fault for not containing it and for producing it in a lab most likely with world chaos in mind. Blaming Trump helps China.

So you are saying that because the Republican Senators almost to a person engaged in one of the most hypocritical political acts ever...

...the Democratic Senators also would.

I think not. I think the Democratic Senators would be above that degree of hypocrisy. I would have hoped the Republican senators would have been.

And I will say this with certainty: If the Democrats did do such a thing, my condemnation of them would be loud and without question. I suspect the condemnation of many on this side of the fence would be the same.

This entire episode WAS LEGAL...perfectly in accord with the Constitution...

...BUT AN ACT OF HYPOCRISY OF SUCH MOMENT that it will have repercussions stretching for decades.

The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump
Edited by Bandy X. Lee. M.D., M.DIV.

In Relationship with an Abusive President
by Harper West M.A., L.L.P.

PP. 244-259
As "Amelia" describes her husband's behavior in my therapy office, it immediately strikes me as emotionally abusive, although she acts as if his behavior were completely normal.

"Justin" can be harshly critical, calling her a "fat loser" and her home cooked meals "a disaster." If she asked even reasonable questions, he lashes out at her: "You're always so negative and critical." If she states a fact he disagrees with, he accuses her of a making a "fake" stories. Despite Justin's family and financial security, he is joyless and scowls much of the time.

She describes Justin as being successful at business, very decisive, and a strong leader. She hesitates to confront him because she has learned that it leads to arguments escalating, with no resolution. She is always the one to compromise.

This couple is a composite of many cases where the pattern of abuse ranges from subtle to glaring. Not coincidentally, this couple is an analogy for the current relationship between America and a psychologically unstable, emotionally abusive president.

Domestic abusers and President Donald Trump share common personality traits because they share common human drives, emotions, and reactions. These characteristics negatively impact relationships, whether interpersonal or with an entire country, and they must be addressed for the health of those being harmed.

Some mental health professionals have Associated Trump with a variety of diagnoses, such as narcissistic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, delusional disorder, malignant narcissist, and some form of dementia.

To avoid this categorisation system and to simplify and focus on the character flaw that is at the core of these personalities, I will call these types of people Other-blamers.

The cause of their behaviors is low self-worth, which leads them to have poor shame tolerance. They learned in childhood to manage feelings of inadequacy by adopting unhealthy coping mechanisms to forestall or avoid shaming experiences.

Poor shame tolerance causes behaviors associated with the just-mentioned DSM disorders, including vindictive anger, lack of insight and accountability, dishonesty, impulsivity, entitlement, paranoia, lack of remorse and empathy, self-importance, and attention-seeking. Trump is an extreme example, but "subclinical" versions of this behaviour exists in millions of people, including domestic abusers.

Despite their toxic behaviour, Other-blamers rarely voluntarily agree to therapy because of their aversion to the shaming experience of self-awareness and accountability, yet they are quite often the subject of the therapy of others.

Other-blamers instinctively seek out those willing to be controlled, manipulated, or intimidated, this sets up relationships with submissive people who will not challenge, correct, or blame them. Dictators throughout history have surrounded themselves with a coterie of family members members and sycophants who avoid questioning the leader for fear of his angry retribution.

For extreme Other-blamers, elevated "fight or flight" reactivity can lead to shame driven rage and abusive violence.

Trump's first wife, Ivana, accused him of raping her in sworn deposition testimony, an accusation she later softened, as a part of a lucrative divorce settlement, but did not completely retract. This alleged violence fits with the personality of someone fearful of rejection and living with elevated anxiety who might be triggered into violent rage.

This pattern of escalating instability is concerning when considering Trump. As the pressure of governing and of Investigation such as that of alleged collusion with Russia increase, he may be overwhelmed by fear, which will further limit his cognitive and prosocial capabilities. His behaviors may become increasingly volatile and unpredictable.

Fear-driven behaviors and a lack of insight are exactly the opposite of what we should expect of a safe, dependable partner or a leader.

With shame and fear as the primary emotions driving Other-blamers, a lack of accountability becomes their most obvious and destructive character flaw.

They have difficulty being introspective and acknowledging the effect of their behavior. Other-blamers do not like to be held accountable because they do not hold themselves accountable.

In general, Other-blamers do not believe they must play by the same societal or relational norms as others, which can be disorienting to partners. Trump's refusal to release his tax returns or comply with ethics violations is clear evidence of this thought process.

Other-blamers stubbornly refuse to admit fault, even if the facts are staring them squarely in the face. Or they admit fault reluctantly, but only after much lying and excuse-making.

Unlike Harry Truman, who placed a sign on his Oval Office desk stating, "The Buck Stops Here," Trump appears to be completely lacking in accountability. He regularly shifts the blame to others and never seems to apologize for any of his lies and mistakes. Trump's blame-shifting is so predictable that he can barely make one statement without a deflection. Trump's tendency to ridicule facts or the opinions of others is another way of avoiding dealing with a situation honestly.

Unfortunately, abusers and authoritarians such as Trump do not like laws, which are ultimately about holding people accountable. This worldview is a danger to our democracy founded on the rule of law.

An Other-blamers inability to apologize clearly signals to others a lack of conscience and empathy. Compassion, kindness, and altruism are pro-social traits and moral behaviors that are largely innate. Yet those described as sociopaths and narcissists are often noted for their lack of remorse, guilt, or empathy.

Other blamers often have difficulty attuning into the emotional status of others because as one Other-blamer admitted in a rare moment of self-awareness, "I care more about being right then doing the right thing for the relationship."

And this is exactly what is happening name and Trump's relationship with America. He cares far more about sheltering his fragile psyche then doing what is right for the country. Trump's lack of empathy has been on display for decades, with well-documented bigotry, greed, name-calling, intimidation, and vindictiveness.

Because he is in emotional survival mode, Trump fails to notice that his ranting press conferences or bullying tweets are destabilizing. His goal is merely to lash out so he can feel better about himself in that moment. Trump has no concern that his divisive hate speech leads many to fear for their safety and liberty. He is unconcerned about the long-term effect on the country. He is too busy being right at any cost to notice that his lies and accusations are damaging his relationship with the citizens he is leading.

Trump has no apparent moral urge to care for others or serve his constituents. He may cite a "America First" slogans, but he has no real understanding of the selfless giving in true patriotism. Trump got 5 deferments during the Vietnam war, yet he has repeatedly verbally attacked war heroes. His policies emphasized cruelty toward the less fortunate and then abdication of caring stewardship of the Earth's resources.

Otherg-blamers exhibit entitlement, which is closely linked to depersonalization and a lack of accountability. Trump seems to believe he is above reproach, once stating that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any voters.

Most abusers try to hide socially unacceptable traits; they are often polite to others but abusive to a partner. Sadly, Trump makes no effort to mask his verbal abuse. He feels entitled to publicly shame and demean. Name-calling with comments of "loser" and "lock her up" wear a staple of his campaign. He appears unrestrained by any sense of moral propriety, which indicates a very dangerous, extreme abuser who does not even attempt to plaster over his ill-will with a sociopath's charm. He cannot even pretend to be good-natured, despite all his popularity, wealth, and power.

Other-blamers lie to exaggerate achievements in an attempt to seek approval, deflect the blame, and avoid accountability. They become adept at outright deception, lies of omission, twisted responses, denial, and subject changing.

Author Tony Schwartz has said about Trump that "lying is second nature to him...More than anyone else I have ever met, Trump has the ability to convince himself that whatever he is saying at any given moment is true, or sort of true, or at least ought to be true".

Humans have a survival-oriented need for trust in relationships: "Can I really count on you when it matters? Do you have my back?"
That is exactly what is causing distress for many Americans since Trump's election. They sense, correctly, that he will impulsively betray us to achieve his aims, even if it is not in the best interest of the country.

Other characteristics of abusive Other-blamers include:

* Placing high value on personal loyalty, surrounding themselves with "yes men." Trump relies almost exclusively on family members as advisors, even though none has government experience.

* Isolating their partners and often convincing their victims that others do not have their best interest at heart. Throughout the campaign, Trump created an "us-versus-them" mentality in his followers, belittling anyone who might weaken his hold on those followers hearts and minds.

* Being attracted to power and tending to misuse it. They use and authoritarian style of speaking that gets others to doubt reality. Trump boldly repeats lies so that the truth has little opportunity to flourish.

* Promoting an image of success. Trump's gold-plated lifestyle and obsession with crowd sizes and vote counts provide ample evidence that protecting his delicate ego takes precedence.

A fundamental problem with a trump presidency is not merely that his poorly thought-out policies may harm us. It is that his character defects will normalize immoral other-blaming behaviors and encourage their full expression among those who may have previously been held in check by expectations of socially acceptable behavior. If the recent uptick in racial violence is an indicator, Trump has given his followers a green light to act out.

Just as the trauma of witnessing domestic violence damages children, an emotionally immature president can affect the future of our nation regarding moral behaviour, cultural stability, and psychological wellness.

We must resist, not only to contain Trump's behaviors, but also to signal to his followers that abusive behavior is not appropriate. Unfortunately, now that millions of Other-blamers have been encouraged by Trump to misbehave, it may be impossible to get that Genie back in the bottle.

As a country, we are attempting to apply Democratic rules of law to Trump. If Trump refuses to play by the rules, and the courts and Congress do not hold him accountable, we citizens have little recourse, which will cause us to have the sense of helplessness desperation of an abused spouse.

This narcissistic president is doing what all narcissists do: sucking the air out of the room. When in relationship with an Other-blamer, one must spend one's time and energy arguing about the arguing, rather than living peacefully and productively. Trump will continue to have a toxic effect at the individual and global level, not just through his harmful ill-considered policy decisions, but through increased anxiety and the diversion of attention from other issues.

A true leader or a caring spouse manages his or her behaviors and emotions in a mature, temperate way. The country will have less ability to focus on solutions to complex problems until we get rid of the Other-blamer in chief we are in relationship with. The coarsening of society and the loss of civility and empathy will likely be irreparable in the near-term. We can only hope that we break up with this abusive president before he breaks up the country.