Joe Biden is Trying to Lose

[Dill]

(03-12-2020, 06:40 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: And no one assaulted that person either. I've seen the video.
IF someone had assaulted him right then and there as Trump said that, then Fred might have a talking point. But I'm pretty sure most people knew he was being sarcastic. Many anti-Trump people keep taking him so literally, and for Dems to claim they are smarter, it's just like a double slap that they can't see the sarcastic remarks. But I will admit Trump's speeches have gotten worse.

What Dems complain about is the poor judgment Trump uses in making statements he does as president. Even a joke from him can send the stock market plummeting or send pipe bombs to his opponents.

E.g., when he said "Russia, if you're listening . . ." during the campaign.  Everyone knew that he was not "really" speaking to Russia, and yet soon after came the DNC hack and dump.  But when Democrats complained, Trump supporters immediately insisted it was "only a joke," and how foolish to take such statements seriously-- as if that somehow salvages Trump's poor judgment and self discipline.

Trump rattles off jokes and threats like he is simply an ordinary bully loudmouth shouting at the tv in a New York sports bar, with no wider consequences. And his supporters seem to see it that way too. He may be a bully loudmouth, but he is not in a sports bar. He represents the nation when he speaks and the whole world is listening. His statements not only have a performative effect, they signal the rest of the world what the U.S. tolerates, and when his statements contradict other departments and spokespersons of the exec, that signals disorganization and dysfunction--and for some foreign actors, that is an opportunity.