I have to take Donald Trump seriously. We all do. Some Americans are convinced by him.
The Pope has taken him seriously. And said what he had the right to opine, that he thinks he is not a Christian.
I think that such plain talking is the way to take on people like Trump. Their beliefs are so anti-social and so beyond the fringes of what any wisdom tradition could endorse that they have to be challenged at their very core.
I think Pope Francis trumped Donal Trump. And I wish more would so the same.
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Have to say I agree. The man has plugged in to the angry frustration of ‘the little people’ who have been badly hurt by the adventures of the banking fraternity and is reflecting it back at them. Along the way the underlying rascism is being prodded and enhanced. Anything to deflect attention from the culpability of th wealthy. Heaven help USA or the ‘devil’ will for sure.
Some of the most compasionate and christian people I know are aetheists. Trump is a self-serving mongrel who hides behind a patina of christianity but has no real knowledge of what it is to actually be one. There is so much in the media about muslem terrorists, more needs to be said about christian terrorists like Trump.
Alas, it isn’t JUST Trump, but the whole Republican Party. Consider this from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which characterizes the whole Republican Party as a “hate group”. Shocking stuff.
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/2016/02/18/southern-poverty-law-center-republican-party-is-now-a-hate-group-2/
I’m not looking forward to the media campaign against Hilary Clinton or Bernie Sanders: it will surpass all previous excesses and sink to unimaginable depths.
It might work.
In which case, all hail President Trump. Or someone who blusters less, and is more effective in malevolence: the other front-runners are in many ways worse than Trump.
I worry that the amount of Americans who think Fart is the answer to their problems goes beyond ‘some’. BTW calling him Trump is too polite. Every time the man opens his mouth, something foul is emitted so Donald Fart is his working name to me.
Sorry to lower the tone of your blog Richard. Delete if you think I’ve been naughty.
I live with teenagers
I have come across your humour before 🙂
I’m about to start living with said teenagers so I’m just gearing up Richard for what is come very soon!
They’re all right really
Just been out bird watching with one of them
He pretends not to be interested but oddly when there looks to be anything good about wants the binoculars he refuses to carry in a hurry
PSR- I think the technical term is: ‘mouth farting’. Seriously though, we can see the Trump phenomenon throughout Europe as well even though (in typically American fashion) Trump represents the most vulgar form of it. A stressed population needing easy answers that require no reflection is always dangerous. Neo-liberalism (which Trump thrives on) is happy to let this stuff run as long as the spotlight isn’t on it, it will let dangerous red herrings abound.
You notice how the other GOP presidential contenders said very little when Trump was calling all Mexicans rapists, being a misogynist lout, talking about banning Muslims from travelling to the US and mocking NYT reporter Serge Kovaleski neuromuscular disease?
Yet when he actually does tell the truth about the lies about WMD and the Iraq War and 9/11 happening under Bush’s watch, they all throw their toys out of the pram, even though it appealed to the GOP base!!
Trump is a repellent rabid coyote (hat tip Stephen King), but he is ironically forcing the GOP to face some of their past disastrous policy.
I don’t think Trump will be president because I think most Americans, especially the younger generation, will not permit it.
But Richard is right, this is not time for complacency.
You’ve got to admit though, it’s a bit rich coming from a man who lives in a walled city!
I’m all for calling out evil, prejudice and hypocrisy wherever it exists – but those in glass houses must be very careful indeed and make sure that their own house is fully in order at the same time as questioning others.
Bit controversial, but as an atheist I think I’m entitled to that viewpoint.
Looks like Trump’s dad set the tone for him: theconversation.com/woody-guthrie-old-man-trump-and-a-real-estate-empires-racist-foundations-53026
The whole of the US political scene is a mess. The current government led by the Democrats is anything but democratic and under the thumb of the Big Banks there.
The Republic party is stuffed full of RINOs and again is under the same coproratist control.
Trump is outspoken and spelling out a few home truths. He is self interested, vain and no doubt arrogrant. However, he is self funded and beholden to no one. he has broken ranks from his fellow billionaies hence he is subject to constant attacks by the corporate controlled media.
Trump is brash and outspoken and will ruffle the feathers of the establishment – what a refreshing change!
As for the Pope’s comments, rather oddly perhaps I don’t attach much weight to them.
He too is simply a pawn in the scheme of things. Please don’t forget he is part of one of the richest establishments in the world, which is shielded by walls up to 200 feet tall. I’d like to know what tangible support the Vatican have provided during the refugee crisis.
If Trump is part of the move to sweep away the current US establishment then whatever his faults are that will be a job well done.
Given the current economic position of the US, it is in no position to adopt its current open door immigration policy.
Accused of not being a christian by the pope is a bit like being accused of not being a member of the flat earth society by a subscriber to `conspiracy now!` magazine.
Fortunately there are many other reasons for not backing the trumpster.
The only thing I can say in Trump’s favour is that he says ‘the average American is being ripped off’.
Americans have fewer holidays, patchy sick pay arrangements, a low minimum wage, little or no growth in the purchasing power of wages for the last 20 years, poor unemployment benefits and expensive health care. We know why and Trump is not giving the same diagnosis and not suggesting effective solutions. But he is pointing it out and I think it’s a lot of his appeal.
The other Republicans are not saying that, unless it is to blame Obama and call for lower taxes to “stimulate the economy”.
Most of the others are defined by what they are against e.g. gun control, abortion, same sex marriage, Iran treaty , Muslims in general.
Yes- but Trump’s version is just a rehash of ‘you too can live the dream.’ In other words ‘bullshit.’ (George Carling: ‘It’s called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.)
The Trump empire is built on rentier economics-he’s part of the rip-off machine himself -now if he was to stand up and ‘fess’ all that up that would be something else.
agreed Simon
Maybe Trump is being clever
http://freethoughtblogs.com/singham/2016/02/19/is-donald-trump-playing-a-deep-game/
probably not.
“I have to take Donald Trump seriously”
I was about to condemn you and unleash some strong words, but fortunately you provided a bit of context and you, like me, mean to “take him seriously” as a threat and a worry, as opposed to believing that his nasty brand of politics has any place in civilized society. America is angry, and the danger is that that anger spills over into stupid voting.
Interesting article on the financial backers of the main US presidential candidates, perhaps illustrating why only Trump and Sanders can “talk straight” even if it is from opposite ends of the political spectrum and they are their own men when it comes to their choice of words.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/billionaires-behind-the-2016-presidential-elections-money-behind-major-candidates-rubio-cruz-trump-bush-clinton/5509553