Is madness Trump's method?

[Magical Realist]

An enlightening and refreshingly non-partisan analysis by Michael Smerconish of Trump's methodology since the Iran war began. Not sure I totally agree with it though. But hell, I'll entertain possibilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCgSrQUjgrs

[Syne]

No, the threats are still necessary... for Islamists, who only understand threats and strength.
And yes, for the hundredth time, this is straight out of Art of the Deal. Maybe one day the left will quit being shocked by things expressly spelled out almost 40 years ago.

If you want to know how Trump negotiates, read this excerpt from The Art of The Deal (1987) about Trump preventing a woman's farm from foreclosure:

"I explained that I was a businessman from New York, and that I was interested in helping Mrs. Hill. He told me he was sorry, but that it was too late. They were going to auction off the farm...

That really got me going.

I said to the guy: 'You listen to me. If you do foreclose, 'I’ll personally bring a lawsuit for murder against you and your bank, on the grounds that you harassed Mrs. Hill’s husband to his death!'

All of a sudden the bank officer sounded very nervous and said he’d get right back to me.

Sometimes it pays to be a little wild."

- Donald J. Trump, The Art of The Deal
- https://x.com/RubinReportShow/status/204...9426577638

[Magical Realist]

There is nothing at all original or ingenious about threatening people to get what you want. It's simply the coercive blather of a bully. The extortion method of the Mafia.

[Syne]

Well, are you going to quit being shocked every time it happens?
Or still offended and appalled every time?

I assume any amount of strategy involved is just completely lost on the TDS.

[Magical Realist]

I'm not shocked at all. It's par for the course as far as Trump goes. But I WILL always point it out and make fun of it as the immature and simple-minded approach it is.

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[Syne]

Dealing with savages in terms they understand is "immature and simple-minded"? @_@

[Magical Realist]

Dealing with savages in terms they understand is "immature and simple-minded"? @_@

You've obviously never dealt with other human beings who have values different from yours.

[Syne]

Dealing with savages in terms they understand is "immature and simple-minded"? @_@

You've obviously never dealt with other human beings who have values different from yours.

You obvious don't understand such cultures.

[Magical Realist]

Dealing with savages in terms they understand is "immature and simple-minded"? @_@

You've obviously never dealt with other human beings who have values different from yours.

You obvious don't understand such cultures.

Calling human beings of another culture "savages" is not understanding them at all. That's what they called Native Americans while they were slaughtering them. It's what they called Africans before they enslaved them. Congratulations. You're continuing a fine tradition of hateful dehumanization there.

[Yazata]

There's the carrot-and-stick aspect.

If the opposite party looks willing to do as you want, offer the carrot.

If they look determined to do what you don't want, bring out the stick.

I suppose that it can look like inconsistent veering back and forth, but it all makes sense in context. It's absurd to think that carrots should always be offered for some kind of vague moral reason or something, no matter what the opposite party does.