The Former Trump Presidency Thread

[Isgrimnur]

[The Meal]

Trump wants to add a space czar. The dude really has a hardon for all things Russia.

It's about John Denver. Apparently the end of verse 4 tells us how this'll go.

[Sepiche]

Well, it was probably only a matter of time before they trotted out this this old excuse.

President Trump has vowed to "do something" about the violence in games and films watched by younger people.

In a meeting at the White House on school safety, President Trump said the violence played a role in shaping the way people saw the world.

The meeting was held the week after a school shooting in Florida in which 17 people died.

Many experts say research has not demonstrated a link between video games and violence.

[El Guapo]

Well, it was probably only a matter of time before they trotted out this this old excuse.

President Trump has vowed to "do something" about the violence in games and films watched by younger people.

In a meeting at the White House on school safety, President Trump said the violence played a role in shaping the way people saw the world.

The meeting was held the week after a school shooting in Florida in which 17 people died.

Many experts say research has not demonstrated a link between video games and violence.

The best part is when Trump suggested that there should be some sort of ratings systems for movies (seriously).

[pr0ner]

Apparently Trump's CPAC speech was his usual style stump speech full of his greatest hits and blatant lies. MOTS, really.

[msduncan]

What is wrong with this? I routinely take notes just like these into business meetings when I'm talking to a customer about concerns or seeking feedback.

[Enough]

What is wrong with this? I routinely take notes just like these into business meetings when I'm talking to a customer about concerns or seeking feedback.

I tend to agree. I mean really, as I'm sure MSD will agree, there are so many other areas POTUS is richly deserving derision. This is more of gotcha journalism that all presidents get, aka not all that big of a deal. At least they were trying to help him be a comforting presence.

[Isgrimnur]

What is wrong with this? I routinely take notes just like these into business meetings when I'm talking to a customer about concerns or seeking feedback.

That picture is everywhere, but I haven't seen anyone comment on the most notable thing: we have plenty of samples, and that list is absolutely not his handwriting.

Off of my initial research, he doesn't use lower-case letters, especially noticeable on the letter R.

[Grifman]

What is wrong with this? I routinely take notes just like these into business meetings when I'm talking to a customer about concerns or seeking feedback.

Yeah, I can't stand Trump, but I think the media chastising him over this is ridiculous. He's going to have a meeting with a lot of different people talking, all with their own issues and agendas that could go a lot of places. I don't see a problem with him making sure that he has his own points and as a reminder that he asks the questions he feels important to ask of the participants. It would be so easy to get lost in the discussion.

[RunningMn9]

Who cares whose handwriting it is? If someone tried to prep him, *good*. If he used that prep, *good*.

The usage of notes (even someone else’s notes), is not a bad thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[YellowKing]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

[msteelers]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

This.

[msduncan]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

On the surface it might look like that, but I have shorthand for all kinds of things. That bullet might have been meant to remind himself to go over his next steps and how he's planning to address their concerns with them. Or, an exercise I do frequently, to repeat back what he's hearing from them to them so that he doesn't miss anything.

[El Guapo]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

On the surface it might look like that, but I have shorthand for all kinds of things. That bullet might have been meant to remind himself to go over his next steps and how he's planning to address their concerns with them. Or, an exercise I do frequently, to repeat back what he's hearing from them to them so that he doesn't miss anything.

FWIW I think this is more an opportunity to make fun of Trump, as opposed to a serious criticism (though I'm sure that there are some #HotTakes out there on this too).

[Max Peck]

Maybe Trump's hearing is failing, and due to his addled cognitive facilities he needs a reminder to lie to people about being able to hear what they just said, in a literal sense. I mean, "I hear you" in the sense of "I have empathy for your pain" or "I understand where you're coming from" is a namby-pamby liberal mollycoddler expression -- an alpha like Trump would never use it.

[Zarathud]

It's that these notes are quite basic. I live and die by my notes from meetings, but they cover substance.

It is Trump's own fault that he is considered an intellectual lightweight who can't read. It is Trump's own hubris after criticizing Obama for using a teleprompter to deliver an eloquent speech.

[GreenGoo]

You take notes into meetings where you need to make sure all relevant points are covered so that there are no arguments later about what was covered (also why minutes exist).

These notes are to keep Drumpf from appearing like himself, a narcissistic, unaware, anti-intellectual, apathetic, empathy-less, bored, self indulgent, empty suit.

The idea that he had any idea how to handle a meeting with bereft grieving families without someone giving him instructions is ludicrous given a year's worth of evidence.

Business meetings with vendors are exactly like providing comfort, support and empathy for people undergoing tremendous psychological trauma.

I reject everyones' attempt to normalize his notes in this situation. This is not normal, or needed, for almost anyone who has spent 70+ years of life on this earth surrounded by other human beings.

Unless you think you need notes talking to your own families about loss, why would you suddenly need them when talking to other peoples' families?

[msteelers]

I would love notes on how to talk to my family about loss. I went to a funeral on Wednesday and spent most of the 2-hour ride thinking about what to say. In the end I managed a weak “sorry”.

[RunningMn9]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

Again, I sort of get it, but if all the things that this man has done to the Office and the Country, a reminder from his staff to be a goddamn human being doesn’t make the list.

[Smoove_B]

But it does help reinforce the narrative that he's a tone-deaf out of touch self-centered septuagenarian.

[Sepiche]

Again, I sort of get it, but if all the things that this man has done to the Office and the Country, a reminder from his staff to be a goddamn human being doesn’t make the list.

I think you underestimate how much bandwidth the American public has for being both outraged by his actions and amused by his buffoonery.

[GreenGoo]

I would love notes on how to talk to my family about loss. I went to a funeral on Wednesday and spent most of the 2-hour ride thinking about what to say. In the end I managed a weak “sorry”.

By the time you're 70 you've had some practice.

[Unagi]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

Again, I sort of get it, but if all the things that this man has done to the Office and the Country, a reminder from his staff to be a goddamn human being doesn’t make the list.

Why not? The list isn't limited to a certain number. We can list them all, what's the harm?

[Max Peck]

I would love notes on how to talk to my family about loss. I went to a funeral on Wednesday and spent most of the 2-hour ride thinking about what to say. In the end I managed a weak “sorry”.

Pro-tip: Don't sit there looking bored and disconnected, with the notes dangling from your tiny fingers for all to see.

[RunningMn9]

Why not? The list isn't limited to a certain number. We can list them all, what's the harm?

Because including dumb things like this is petty and would undermine the list by including worthless things like this on it.

[Unagi]

I hear you.

or rather perhaps #ihearyou is a nice ironic phrase that could actually say a lot.

[Grifman]

I think the derision comes from the last note, "I hear you." As if his empathy has to be written down so he can remember to use it.

I take notes into vendor meetings as well, but I don't have to write down, "Tell them to have a safe flight back."

Saying "I hear you" to a bunch of shooting victims is a bit more consequential than telling someone to "have a nice flight". I've been in large discussions before and it is very easy to forget the obvious points you want to make. I don' know how many times I've thought, "Shoot, I mean to say X before I finished". People give Trump crap for not being prepared and here he is prepared and now people give him a hard time for it. Again, it's ridiculous.

[Unagi]

Trump, the man, didn't prepare for any of this. Kudos to the folks in his administration for getting that point on his list though.

I think what you guys are seeing and reacting to is mostly that no one want's Trump to score any god damn points because 17 kids were killed. Not in any way should he earn a single god damn point in this event. Just cause.

[YellowKing]

People give Trump crap for not being prepared and here he is prepared and now people give him a hard time for it. Again, it's ridiculous.

I plan to give him crap at every opportunity because the guy is an incoherent moron and a danger to the country. If some of them are unfair, then boo hoo. The guy gets ZERO benefit of the doubt from me. He's an atrocious human being.

[Holman]

The dumb list is just part of Trump's whole package of narcissism and insincerity.

Obama showed up and spent a long time with the families collectively and then individually. His public words were stirring. There was never any doubt that he cared. (This was something that Trump and the Republicans actually mocked him for.)

Trump shows up and spends about half an hour with all of them before cutting out for a disco-themes fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago that night. In public he needs flash cards.

There's at least one account from a victim who describes Trump as stilted and inattentive even while he was talking to her.

The list on its own is a little thing, but it's a marker of the general soullessness that makes him unworthy of respect, let alone the presidency.

[Blackhawk]

I tend to agree that it is a funny thing to point out, but a silly thing to focus on. The more we make arguments based on easily dismissed nonsense, the less weight our real arguments carry. Wolf, wolf, wolf.

[msduncan]

On a completely unrelated note, I'm getting severe lag when typing a post on OO. It's only on this forum. Anyone else experiencing this?

[Skinypupy]

There are a few traits I would expect in someone who claims to be the leader of the free world. Being able to naturally show empathy towards victims of a horrible tragedy in your country without needing cue cards is one of those. YMMV.

[milo]

On a completely unrelated note, I'm getting severe lag when typing a post on OO. It's only on this forum. Anyone else experiencing this?

Yes

[Kurth]

You take notes into meetings where you need to make sure all relevant points are covered so that there are no arguments later about what was covered (also why minutes exist).

These notes are to keep Drumpf from appearing like himself, a narcissistic, unaware, anti-intellectual, apathetic, empathy-less, bored, self indulgent, empty suit.

The idea that he had any idea how to handle a meeting with bereft grieving families without someone giving him instructions is ludicrous given a year's worth of evidence.

Business meetings with vendors are exactly like providing comfort, support and empathy for people undergoing tremendous psychological trauma.

I reject everyones' attempt to normalize his notes in this situation. This is not normal, or needed, for almost anyone who has spent 70+ years of life on this earth surrounded by other human beings.

Unless you think you need notes talking to your own families about loss, why would you suddenly need them when talking to other peoples' families?

I agree with all of this. Are Trump’s notes a big deal? No. But they are further evidence (as if needed) that Trump is entirely deficient as a President and a person.

As said before, these aren’t notes with details about proposed policy or notes with personal details about the victims that might help Trump make a connection. They didn’t include difficult to remember details about anything. They were crib notes on how to be a decent human being, something I would hope the President of the United States would not need in this context.

Also, how stupid can you be to bring these notes into that meeting and display them for all to see? In some ways, that’s doubly bad. Not only does he need notes on basic empathy, he isn’t even self aware enough to realize that needing those notes should be a source of embarrassment.

[Sepiche]

On a completely unrelated note, I'm getting severe lag when typing a post on OO. It's only on this forum. Anyone else experiencing this?

Yes

I'm not seeing it, but my wife posted on another forum that uses the same software and is getting the same slowdown.

I'd guess it's a bug with the forum software, or some remote process they use running slowly.

Edit: Also try updating your browser and if that doesn't work try hitting the page without extensions enabled.

[GreenGoo]

Here's a scenario. Your spouse was killed in a car accident or died after a long fight with cancer.

The mayor of your town meets with you to express his sorrow and to tell you they are going to fix the intersection or set up a fund for cancer research.

Your world has been devastated, and during the meeting, the mayor sits back, crosses his arms, checks his notes and tells you that he hears you.

You then see his notes with the words "I hear you" written on them.

Are you comforted? Are you understanding that it's an awkward situation and the mayor might not know what to say to you? Do you think to yourself "well I need notes to meet with vendors, and this is basically the same thing". Do you vote for him in the next election?

[Smoove_B]

Are you comforted?

As someone that has been schooled in and has professionally used crisis-communication skills, once of the worst things you can do during an emergency is fake empathy. With that said, "I hear you" isn't an attempt at being sympathetic or empathetic. Instead, it's a neutral statement that (at best) could trend towards sympathy. By saying it, you're simply providing feedback to the person(s) impacted. It's an important first step, but it's not the end point. After telling someone you're hearing them, you then follow up with your response in how you're going to help. If you can empathize and truly relate to what they've experienced, it's appropriate to share that. If you can't, you can certainly be a human and let them know that not only have you heard them, but you acknowledge the gravity of the situation and that you want to help (sympathize).

Some people are naturally good at this; others need training and practice. Handing the leader of the free world a crib sheet with a reminder - that he seemingly is unable to even consider or discreetly hold - is embarrassing.

In summary, it doesn't rate in my top 10 complaints of Trump. Maybe not even top 50. But it absolutely underscores just how awful he is and what a terrible choice he was for someone to be in this type of position.

[Blackhawk]

In summary, it doesn't rate in my top 10 complaints of Trump. Maybe not even top 50. But it absolutely underscores just how awful he is and what a terrible choice he was for someone to be in this type of position.

That I agree with. It adds an exclamation point - to the end of a novel.

[GreenGoo]

In summary, it doesn't rate in my top 10 complaints of Trump. Maybe not even top 50. But it absolutely underscores just how awful he is and what a terrible choice he was for someone to be in this type of position.

No one is calling for impeachment based on some notes in his hand. I take exception to Rmn9 and others who suggest criticizing him for not being able to handle a delicate situation weakens other criticisms, like trying to start a nuke fight with NK. I consider it a very real problem of his. It doesn't mean every president has to be able to handle a crisis telephone line, but it does show another quality that he is sorely lacking. At this point I am unsure of what, if any, skills Drumpf has, besides riling up those who want to be riled up.

As you say, it's just another example of what a hollow human being he is. That said, he could do some real damage to people who are traumatized. He shouldn't be allowed to address the victims or their families on television, let alone in person.

Why on earth would a fully actualized human being have to fake empathy in this situation?

I fully understand the nature of the expression "I hear you". It only works when supported by other statements. If you simply read the notes 1 at a time and waited for a response, then read the next one, Drumpf might be able to pass a turing test. Any sort of off the cuff, attempt at an emotional response from him is most likely to set the machine's alarms off.