So Trumpty Dumpty says it wasn't him on the phone posing as a spokesman. He says his tax returns are nobody's business either.
I hear his campaign is coming out with a song:
It ain't me, it ain't me, no, ain't my voice that's on the phone
It ain't me, it ain't me boys, blowin' on my own horn.
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, at all.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.
I'm not sure Cap. This is a beloved song from an important time that now belongs to the veterans themselves and was even played on the White House lawn for 2014's A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt you remember all the fuss when Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Zac Brown played it at The Concert for Valor just weeks before that. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought the song fit GWB quite well. After all, Shrub was twenty-three years old in 1969. They sure didn't point the cannon at him!
For all of its raw power as an anti-Nixon protest song and all-around balls out rock 'n roll anthem, it is way too good for the likes of Trump. Maybe after November we can all sing, "And you know something is happenning, but you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Trump?"
It's fun to read John Fogerty's take on people using his song to belittle GWB.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-fogerty-addresses-fortunate-son-concert-for-valor-controversy-20141113
But I think there's no doubt that Trumty is a spoiled, egotistical brat with no sense of responsibility. I do compare him to that Bastard Bush, also the spoiled, irresponsible and weak minded scion of a rich and powerful family.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to offend anyone but when he told us his taxes were not our business, the taxman comes to the door line just reached out and grabbed me.
I think he's just the kind of sociopath that needs to glorify and justify himself with a war, just like Bush and apparently the Pentagon is seething but they can't protest. Only retired people like Petraeus and Panetta can and I think we'll be hearing more if the chance of this cheap Napoleon wannabe gets closer to the white house.
Rage does seem to provide a certain deep satisfaction followed by that welcome release of pent up frustration with what has become the ever present idiocy of many in the American electorate.
ReplyDeleteDrumpf is one strange and troubled piece of work.
I think that rage and release thing is addictive. It's not only the ultra right pushing that junk either.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed Captain. Finding the middle more comfortable even as I type this. The head just seems to stay clearer in the middle. Something about finding balance methinks.
ReplyDeleteBack in the Middle Again. . . Wasn't that a Gene Autry song - or maybe it was Roy Rogers. But that huge empty area in the political middle has got a lot of room left with all the extremely extremist screamers on both sides.
DeleteNah, it ain't him, fer sure.
ReplyDeleteLOL, good one, Capt!
But this is me, Elizabeth, your old friend from the long-defunct Middle of Nowhere, stopping by to drop off this for your, er, enjoyment? Not the right word, but will have to do:
https://medium.com/@Elamika/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being-a-narcissist-251ec901dae7#.fjtv89wql
I also started blogging again, unfortunately and reluctantly (yes, because of Drumpfzilla) here: https://goodmarriagecentral.wordpress.com/
But enough about me. I'm glad to see the old -- only in a manner of speaking! -- "faces" and hope that you are doing great, individually and collectively.
Cheers and talk soon!
I will be over there to have a look. I've been on the edge of quitting for some months now, but I'm still hanging in there. The question is whether to watch the continued decline of my country from inside or from a safe distance.
ReplyDeleteWell that was truly brilliant and although you didn't mention any, I can think of a number of domestic subjects who are nicely dissected by that scalpel of yours!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Captain.
ReplyDeleteOf course I/we had one subject in mind in particular: Trump. He is archetypal in his pathology. We thought Bush&Co. were bad (and the psychopathic war criminals were unspeakably awful, lest there be any doubt); but in comparison with Trump, Bush (for one) was an almost saint, with the emphasis on "almost."
For a psychologist / observer of human nature, social and political behaviors, etc., this is an unprecedented opportunity to see the processes behind our social pathology (but also attempts to counteract it). But it is also scary as hell, because there is a very real potential of a catastrophe to ensue.
In terms of learning whatever lessons we may (could, should) learn, this could be an excellent chance to teach about narcissistic psychopathy -- its inner workings, the destruction it wreaks, and the narcissistic collusion it produces in the so-called normal people. We have it demonstrated so clearly every day, it hurts (really).
And yet almost no one, not in the mental health professional circles, wants to talk about it, openly or at all. The best we get is some lame acknowledgments of the man's narcissism, followed by "But every leader is narcissistic."
It is unconscionable, I believe, but it is also further proof of the psychopathization (yep) of the American mental health industry. We have the (psychopathic and narcissistic, a good number of them) psychologists that are created by and serve very well the corporatist/ psychopathic culture we live in. I suppose it cannot be otherwise, however, as we see this everywhere in the world, not just in the US.
I have a post or two to write about it, although I'm under no illusion that pointing it out would change anything or even be noticed. Still, we must do what we can.
P.S. Spread the news of that paper, if you can. And also see the links I included there to my co-author's papers. He is a remarkable man, of the "genuine article" kind. Spent his life dealing with narcissists and psychopaths in power, foreign and domestic, trying to heal the suffering they create world-wide.
Elizabeth! So nice to see you back in the bloggerhood! I'm afraid I haven't contributed much here in some time as life issues became a priority but I am hoping to get back in the game, especially in this very critical election year. Love the article, fascinating and validates my own views on narcissism. I hope I spelled that correctly... I am bookmarking your blog.
DeleteHey, rockync! Glad you liked the article. It is my/our hope that it helps people understand what's what about narcissism, so that they can recognize it and protect themselves at least. And of course prevent Drumpfzilla from becoming preznit. (brr...)
DeleteLife interferes with blogging, doesn't it. Whoever would imagine, eh? ;)
My, it really is good to reconnect with you, guys. Make new friends, but keep the old.
I found myself thoroughly engrosses while reading your article. Its relevance to the 2016 election and the individual candidate it targeted is obvious.
ReplyDeleteI also found myself thinking back on the many individuals encountered in business as well as personal acquaintances that demonstrated some of the characteristics of narcissism. A few hit close to home.
At any rate, I took the liberty of e-mailing several copies to individuals I am close.
Well done Elka. Thank you for sharing the article. I never would have ran across it had you not linked it here.
Thank you, RN! Long time, no see -- hope you've been well. (Same for all dear Swash Zonians!)
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, those characters are everywhere around us, but most visibly (usually) in positions of power. They are drawn to it like flies to honey.
Thanks for forwarding to others! Please, let's continue our educational efforts. They may make some difference, somewhere -- one never knows.
I'm speculating that, a narcissistic person being an ideal consumer, the irresistible might of consumerism will produce enough of them to push anyone else to the margins. Every generation seems to be more self-centered and more susceptible to peer pressure. People like Trump and Hitler (there I said it) thrive by flattering the dumbest, the angriest and the most soaked in self pity. Nothing in our world rewards anyone for clear thinking, honest arguments or the practice of examining any opinion that seems plausible and emotionally satisfying. Any lie, any anecdote, any supporting opinion by someone of no qualification is enough, so "we don't trust Hillary" creates all the mistrust you'll ever need to put some rude beast in office.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what point I would stand on today, in an effort to move the Earth - the Earth that rotates on its hub of stupidity, ignorance, anger and greed. I don't even know where to go wehn it all falls down.
A resounding yes to all you've said, Capt.
DeleteWe cannot move the Earth, I don't think, but we do have a responsibility to try, in however small ways, won't you agree? Otherwise there isn't much point to our existence. Or so I tell myself.
I've been trying! but like Archimedes, I have little to stand on. I'm an old, tired and possibly broken man and if I had a coat of arms its motto would say Vox Clamantis in Deserto.
DeleteA while ago I read Thinking Fast and Slow and thought perhaps the psychologist has a lot to say about the process and pathology of ordinary life and thought, but who reads? Who cares? Football and Circuses, Prince and Beyonce and beer. Can anyone be heard over all that? Doctor Phil perhaps, Doctor Oz and maybe Doctor Bonkers, but we all live in our bubbles and we don't listen to anything outside and everything we see through the bubble is distorted.
Be tryin'. What do you have to lose?
DeleteIf there is one thing I'm learning, ever soo slooowly, is that we never know how our words and deeds may influence someone "down the road." I mean good words and deeds; we know what the bad ones do. While it is painfully true that almost nobody listens and most don't care -- and that's nothing new, really -- there may be one or two people, or more, who will hear and care.
I don't mean to be pep-talky -- as an early March born woman (= well known depressives and schizophrenics; seriously -- there is bona fide research showing that to be true) I'm probably the last person to try to cheer up others, so I won't do that. But, well, we cannot all do great things, we can only do small things with great love and all that other crap, you know. ;)
I thought "Thinking Fast and Slow" was probably a good book. It would be better if it weren't so slow (and maybe if I could finish it, I'd appreciate it more). Twitter, that's where it's at today, I hear. 140 (or 120?) characters or less. How's that for thinking fast -- or else.
P.S. LMAO @ Dr. Bonkers! I think I know him (or her?).
We cannot move the Earth, I don't think, but we do have a responsibility to try, in however small ways,...
DeleteAgreed on both counts. It has been occurring to me more and more lately that the effort must start by moving oneself, something many are not inclined to do. A truly inspirational and principled leader can have a significant impact on those who tend to remain inert. Unfortunately a leader with those qualities have not appeared on the horizon for some time now.
We can remain hopeful and maybe influence one or two to shake the tree.
There really was a Dr. Bonkers who sold "Egyptian Oil" to cure what ails you. One of the icons of American Marketing, like P.T. Barnum and Donald Trump. I actually Read Kahneman's book twice -- and took notes. Didn't know that about march babies. What about February? Perhaps we're a month ahead?
DeleteDown the road - there's a North Carolina hillbilly song by that name. Doc Watson recorded it in the 60's, but he's gone now and my own road is running out of pavement. I might have a better shot at changing the Earth's orbit than changing mankind's intractable destructive urges. Since we all live in bubbles, isolated like parallel universes, perhaps I should just accept that and spend my time and effort in my own: my garden, my family, my books. It all comes to nothing anyway.
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.