Trump:An American dream mini TV series

[seek10]

We have almost 2+ years of Anti-Trump propaganda, I feel tired of it, even started feeling sympathy to this guy. In fact, after looking at this stupid Kavanaugh saga, I even contemplated of voting in mid-term election (First election voting in my life, if i do).

Today, I watched this 2017 Netflix 4 part series just a means to understand his temperament. Since, I didn't know much about his past, thought I will watch it. If one followed his past, probably nothing revealing. This is more of main stream footage and interviews with people who worked with him.

This is Netflix documentary, so i was expecting lot of spinning against him, but didn't felt that bad. I see the temperaments he displayed in those days playing out in his present day to day acts - twitter rants or trade war with China, hyperbolic sales pitches like "Fantastic", "Successful", cold and hot decisions with North Korea and Putin, dealing with politicians etc. It looks to me he is selfish billionaire, knows how to use system for his benefit, never hesitating to take on politicians or media or controversy or fearing to say what he wants to say and taking PR points, taking risks and reaping benefits, all along knowing that things can go other way.

Episode 1: Manhattan: 70's are the days NYC is reeling under downturn with violence, lack of funds and massive public worker lay offs. He starts his construction business with renovation of bankrupt regency hotel with 160 million dollars tax breaks from the NYC over 40 years. He takes the help of powerful mafia lawyer to sway the decision in his decision. Later he picks up a location to make Trump tower, fights with NYC mayor in the court for the tax benifits he thinks he is entitled.

Episode 2: Gambling: Trump about his new Casino business in Atlantic City in 80's: Some quotes I thought interesting

- "Atlantic city right now is at great turning point, it is gone to go one way or other and I am gonna damn well make sure it goes the other, we want to make it fabulous place" ( He is not blind

- Narrator on the competition between his 2 Casino's in Atlantic city: "Donald was really amused by the rivalry, I think it is part of his management style. People fighting with one another is a good thing. He had two properties that were on the verge of warfare with each other and they were owned by the same guy"

- Reporter on Trumps' buys: "Trump is an irresistible story for any reporter. There is some seductiveness to it, even if I cringe"
- Trump: "If people screw me, I screw them.. I screw back in spades". I mean is there some thing wrong with that? Tell me, Is there some thing wrong with that?
His book "Art of the Deal" writer: He has a binary view - predator or victim. If you are not a predator, you are a victim. I think he is a sociopath. Doesn't make a distinction between right and wrong" - { I don't know Trump is a Sociapath or not, thought he seems to motivate people work hard for his grand visions, but seems to dump them after that}

When asked about his troubles in paying the bills for Tajmahal contractors: "The news gets away with murder, the news media, they get away murder. I don't stand for it when they write false and malicious stories"

Episode 3: Citizen Trump

His favorite movie" "citizen Kane". Trump says "Citizen Kane was really about accumulation and at the end of accumulation, You see what happens and it's not necessarily all positive. I think he learned in Kane that may be wealth isn't every thing, because he had the wealth, but he didn't have the happiness."

Episode 4: Politics: He goes to MN to understand the Jessie Ventura tactics from his successful 1998 Minnesota Gubernatorial election. Some tactics they say they are "fight with media, it gives media coverage", "people tired tired of status quo will vote to alternative candidate". He coined the possibility of running in every election and dropped out. After Obama 2nd term election in 2012, he immediately registers his slogan 'Make America Great Again" slogan for 2016 elections

As a whole, I get the feeling that he seems to have lot of experience in handling media very well. The way he made money or built his business, I thought "An American Dream" may be appropriate.

 

[Cosmos]

Recently I thought it might be worthwhile to re watch some of the documentaries about Donald Trump and his biography while looking at some youtube videos in which his body language and handling of meetings with other leaders and difficult situation both verbally and rhetorically is "analyzed". If you just ignore the rather mindless and stupid "self-help advice" this guy gives, those are actually (at least partly) quite interesting observations. So I went looking for some biography material about Trump and watched the following two (keeping in mind that a lot is probably missing in them and that it is probably rather superficial):

There are a number of things about Trump and his life as well as his public persona that strike me as very interesting. First one being that he seemed to have the idea to become president already in his mind very early on in his career. From that perspective, it seems a lot of Trumps "crass", "simple" and "over the top" rhetoric over the years was not just an accident but rather a persona he developed consciously to build up a reputation that would make it likely at some point that people would vote for him. Also, the bombastic way in which he talks and presents himself pretty much fits into the way americans think and live. The way he presents himself seems to be tailored to the american mindset. In stark contrast, there is also a private Trump that doesn't strike me as that bombastic at all, but rather deep, sensible with a great deal of heart, decency and sense of what is good and bad. You definitively get the sense that he had a plan all along and put it into action step by step, over many decades, by playing the system and media to his advantage. He even made a number of test runs in the past to prope how best to go about a presidential campaign.

The second thing I find rather interesting is that a real humane, big-hearted and smart kind of being seems to shine through if you listen closely. A guy who actually is humane and really wants to do something good for people. At one point (pretty early) he even said "maybe that's why god set me on this earth" in regards to his ability to create many jobs and make the lives of people better. A guy on a big mission.

The third thing that strikes me here again as rather interesting is the way many people view him; a rather simple minded and bombastic egomaniac. A lot of that perception seems to be based on what appears to be "simple minded" language he uses, especially in public settings. In stark contrast though, there also seems to be a pretty deep thinker with a good sense of humor in private. If you just listen to him speak nowadays publically, without much knowledge about anything else, you can easily get away with thinking about him as a "simple minded egoist/narcissist". Is it that simple though? I don't think it is. Actually I'm rather amazed about that guy. That also brings me again to Jordan Petersons take on him and his personality which again is in so much contrast to the public perception of him:

On a side note, it is also interesting that he was put into military school early on (and was rather successful) and that his rich parents seemed to want him to know what real life is and gave him jobs and things to do with and around normal people on the street. He also seems to have raised pretty good children and wanted them to value small things and not spoil them.

 

[DianaRose94]

Recently I thought it might be worthwhile to re watch some of the documentaries about Donald Trump and his biography while looking at some youtube videos in which his body language and handling of meetings with other leaders and difficult situation both verbally and rhetorically is "analyzed". If you just ignore the rather mindless and stupid "self-help advice" this guy gives, those are actually (at least partly) quite interesting observations. So I went looking for some biography material about Trump and watched the following two (keeping in mind that a lot is probably missing in them and that it is probably rather superficial):

There are a number of things about Trump and his life as well as his public persona that strike me as very interesting. First one being that he seemed to have the idea to become president already in his mind very early on in his career. From that perspective, it seems a lot of Trumps "crass", "simple" and "over the top" rhetoric over the years was not just an accident but rather a persona he developed consciously to build up a reputation that would make it likely at some point that people would vote for him. Also, the bombastic way in which he talks and presents himself pretty much fits into the way americans think and live. The way he presents himself seems to be tailored to the american mindset. In stark contrast, there is also a private Trump that doesn't strike me as that bombastic at all, but rather deep, sensible with a great deal of heart, decency and sense of what is good and bad. You definitively get the sense that he had a plan all along and put it into action step by step, over many decades, by playing the system and media to his advantage. He even made a number of test runs in the past to prope how best to go about a presidential campaign.

The second thing I find rather interesting is that a real humane, big-hearted and smart kind of being seems to shine through if you listen closely. A guy who actually is humane and really wants to do something good for people. At one point (pretty early) he even said "maybe that's why god set me on this earth" in regards to his ability to create many jobs and make the lives of people better. A guy on a big mission.

The third thing that strikes me here again as rather interesting is the way many people view him; a rather simple minded and bombastic egomaniac. A lot of that perception seems to be based on what appears to be "simple minded" language he uses, especially in public settings. In stark contrast though, there also seems to be a pretty deep thinker with a good sense of humor in private. If you just listen to him speak nowadays publically, without much knowledge about anything else, you can easily get away with thinking about him as a "simple minded egoist/narcissist". Is it that simple though? I don't think it is. Actually I'm rather amazed about that guy. That also brings me again to Jordan Petersons take on him and his personality which again is in so much contrast to the public perception of him:

On a side note, it is also interesting that he was put into military school early on (and was rather successful) and that his rich parents seemed to want him to know what real life is and gave him jobs and things to do with and around normal people on the street. He also seems to have raised pretty good children and wanted them to value small things and not spoil them.

Your first video is a Fox special, so it's a bit like watching a documentary about Obama or Clinton on CNN. As for the second video, reading comments it seem the video isn't the right one. Personally, I'm not particularly impressed by Trump. It really isn't that hard to stay rich or get richer when your parents are millionaire. At least, Trump wasn't stupid to squander his wealth like some spoiled rich kids who suddenly feel like money isn't important. Besides, a lot of the things he says, like that quote about his management style bolded by seek10 or that quote about getting revenge on people who screw him and the predator and victim thing, he just sounds like a rich man who was born rich and was never really put in a real position of disadvantage.

To me Trump is the perfect president for the Kardashian generation. Just like America's most famous family, he understood early on the power of the media and that notoriety could be sold like cupcakes. Whether Trump truly is a good businessman is debatable. But this is irrelevant as Trump just like the Kardashian got that if you're a celebrity, hype and shameless and constant self-promotion was more important than what you actually sold. Also, he has a good grasp of his audience. The average American person is a crass individual with vulgar thinking abilities. He gave this person exactly what they wanted. Spunky slogans, snappy speech, and a lot of entertainment.

If the question is whether Trump is smart? Well, he's certainly not stupid. He wouldn't where he is if he were. This can't be said for the average person. As for Trump being narcissistic and egostical, to be honest, some profession attract specific personality type or rather, you cannot enter some profession if you don't have specific traits. I think politics is one of the fields where only people who are more narcissistic and egoistical than the average person can enter. I mean you have to be extremely cocky to believe that millions of people would want to vote for you and make you their Head of State. Why you? What is so special about your person? You can't sustain that kind of belief if you don't have an inflated sense of self imo.

As for Trump's children, I guess they had senses enough to enter their father's business instead of pursuing silly hobbies and squandering their father's wealth. Except for that, I don't know -- when your father is Trump, you really have to be dumb and spoiled to not be rich and successful yourself. I mean their father gave them all executive positions in his various business. How do you bungle that? I have a soft spot for Ivanka, but that's purely for shallow reason (I like her style). But objectively, at 24, she became an Executive Vice President for one of her father's business. Unless, you're retarded, you should be set for life. And to be honest, even if their father didn't give them positions in his own business, you have to understand that all of them were part of Manhattan gilded elite. Their parents' friends are very wealthy, their own friends are super wealthy. They would have easily been able to get C-suite position even with no experience via this circle of connections. That happens all the time.

 

[Cosmos]

Your first video is a Fox special, so it's a bit like watching a documentary about Obama or Clinton on CNN.

That might be the case, at least partly. Having said that, Fox has a pretty good track record, compared to the liberal media, over the last couple of years, of being far closer to the truth. Tucker Carlson is just one example. Doesn't mean that they are propaganda free or anything, just that for American media standards (which is very low to begin with), they are currently far ahead of CNN and Co. I still don't think though that it is reasonable to compare Trump to anyone like Obama or Clinton on a fundamental basis.

Personally, I'm not particularly impressed by Trump. It really isn't that hard to stay rich or get richer when your parents are millionaire.

Are you sure? I wouldn't feel comfortable to make such a generalizing statement. I don't think it is always that black and white. I can't say how easy or difficult it is to achieve anything, let alone to become a president in america, if one is rich or not, if I've never walked in those shoes. At most, I can imagine that it might not be as easy as most of us would think for anyone in that position. For me at least, having followed him and politics and geopolitics in general over the years quite closely, coupled with what the C's have said, I can't help to be impressed by what he has achieved to this day. As said elsewhere, for an American president, so far he has stood against another war against all odds. Which must be hard as heck in that environment.

To me Trump is the perfect president for the Kardashian generation. Just like America's most famous family, he understood early on the power of the media and that notoriety could be sold like cupcakes. Whether Trump truly is a good businessman is debatable. But this is irrelevant as Trump just like the Kardashian got that if you're a celebrity, hype and shameless and constant self-promotion was more important than what you actually sold. Also, he has a good grasp of his audience. The average American person is a crass individual with vulgar thinking abilities. He gave this person exactly what they wanted. Spunky slogans, snappy speech, and a lot of entertainment.

Well, I think you are onto something there. One could also ask it the other way; if that described state in America exist, which for all practical reasons seem to be the case, didn't Trump actually had to present himself exactly like he did, to even have the slightest chance against established politicians within the system? How else could he have done what he did in this day and age in America, being a non politician with peculiar views (that don't accord to the establishment perspective)? He just used what was there and capitalized on it in order to become president. His use of Twitter is just one perfect example of this.

If the question is whether Trump is smart? Well, he's certainly not stupid. This can't be said for the average person. As for Trump being narcissistic and egostical, to be honest, some profession attract specific personality type or rather, you cannot enter some profession if you don't have specific traits. I think politics is one of the fields where only people who are more narcissistic and egoistical than the average person can enter. I mean you have to be extremely cocky to believe that millions of people would want to vote for you and make you their Head of State. Why you? What is so special about your person? You can't sustain that kind of belief if you don't have an inflated sense of self imo.

Again, I wouldn't feel comfortable to make such a generalizing statement. Putin is a perfect example, would you also put him in that category just because he is a politician? While it is likely true that many in such positions are in there because they have these traits and nothing else that propels them, I wouldn't say that anybody who attempts such a position is automatically more narcissistic and egoistical than the average person. In fact, I think in certain cases, Putin being one, it could quite as well be the exact opposite. Caesar might be another such example.

 

[DianaRose94]

That might be the case, at least partly. Having said that, Fox has a pretty good track record, compared to the liberal media, over the last couple of years, of being far closer to the truth. Tucker Carlson is just one example. Doesn't mean that they are propaganda free or anything, just that for American media standards (which is very low to begin with), they are currently far ahead of CNN and Co. I still don't think though that it is reasonable to compare Trump to anyone like Obama or Clinton on a fundamental basis.



Are you sure? I wouldn't feel comfortable to make such a generalizing statement. I don't think it is always that black and white. I can't say how easy or difficult it is to achieve anything, let alone to become a president in america, if one is rich or not, if I've never walked in those shoes. At most, I can imagine that it might not be as easy as most of us would think for anyone in that position. For me at least, having followed him and politics and geopolitics in general over the years quite closely, coupled with what the C's have said, I can't help to be impressed by what he has achieved to this day. As said elsewhere, for an American president, so far he has stood against another war against all odds. Which must be hard as heck in that environment.



Well, I think you are onto something there. One could also ask it the other way; if that described state in America exist, which for all practical reasons seem to be the case, didn't Trump actually had to present himself exactly like he did, to even have the slightest chance against established politicians within the system? How else could he have done what he did in this day and age in America, being a non politician with peculiar views (that don't accord to the establishment perspective)? He just used what was there and capitalized on it in order to become president. His use of Twitter is just one perfect example of this.



Again, I wouldn't feel comfortable to make such a generalizing statement. Putin is a perfect example, would you also put him in that category just because he is a politician? While it is likely true that many in such positions are in there because they have these traits and nothing else that propels them, I wouldn't say that anybody who attempts such a position is automatically more narcissistic and egoistical than the average person. In fact, I think in certain cases, Putin being one, it could quite as well be the exact opposite. Caesar might be another such example.

In regards to Trump, when I said that it wasn't that hard to stay rich or get richer when you're rich to begin with I was only talking wealth, not about becoming president of a country. Put it that way, is it easier to become rich when you're poor or when you already come from a rich background? From what I've seen, if someone is already well-off/ wealthy, unless they've been spoiled stupid and don't want to work, they should be able to make something of themselves and usually depending on how wealthy there family is, even if they act stupid, instead of hitting the hard ground, they will have cushion to soften their fall.

Oh yes, definitely someone could be propelled to become a politician by other things than their ego. What I was trying to say is that even if someone has a very high opinion of themselves and feel above others in some ways, that doesn't mean that they're necessarily bad or that they can't do good deeds.