I said over and over again Trump is a vicious, brutal psychopath, quite cunning with excellent street smarts. He will kill as many Americans as it takes to get what he wants.

back in 2019

After her statements, people were screeching about how dangerous he was and could be, if left unchecked

listening to constituents is important

what sociopaths are, how dangerous they are and it seems only a few like yourself truly understand. I mistakenly married one and barely got out alive. They will slit someone's throat without a care in the world and then sit and have coffee next to the body like nothing happened. If the cops come they will lie and deny and if that seems not to be working they will claim it's not their fault and that someone/something made them do it. Furthermore when they go to the step of putting off blame they will also say they are blameless because nobody stopped them.

They feed on the upset, pain and misery they can cause and they plan it and manipulate others both to be co-perpetrators and victims. They never, ever take real responsibility for themselves. They lie as easily as they breath and they lie about inconsequential things like what time a TV program came on or if there is canned soup in the pantry. Part of the lying is that they use it as a mechanism to draw you in for manipulation purposes. They know you will engage with them and they will start pushing buttons like guilt, sympathy, anger etc. and these responses "feed" them and they use this as part of a validation and sense of power and control within themselves.

If you do not engage with them it drives their anger to unbelievable levels and they will lash out. This is why in extreme cases like Crumb the 1st he is always looking at the TV and media for his name and things about him to be mentioned. He desperately needs people to react to him and so the more outrageous things he says and does he knows he will get a larger and larger "feeding".

There is nothing much to be done to change them from a mental health perspective. As you said they are very cunning and any display of seeming "ignorance" is actually likely calculated by them to generate comment, outrage etc. so they can "feed". Sort of like the old "Star Trek" episode where an alien being foments conflict and negative emotions because it feeds on them and draws strength.

But there are many more non psychotic psychopaths.
Intelligent, calm, focused.

Yes you have described them very well.

And yes the psychopath does not get into therapy.
Everyone else around them has to get into treatment.
Spouses can be destroyed mentally and physically.

Yes they are superb con artists.
People think they are marrying or electing a decent normal person.
Instead they reveal themselves as monsters and it is a nightmare life.

I am glad it sounds like you are recovered to some extent.
I know some of the scars are permanent.

Yes it takes awhile to get "clear" enough to see things for what they were. Once in a great while there is still a bad dream or PTSD sort of experience but it passes quick. 30+ years after I'm wiser.

They make their victims feel crazy by disconnecting them from reality.
Like Trump does all the time.

Drugs and car are high lethality attempts.
Thank god you got away.

I questioned for years after whether leaving was the right thing to have done.

We can see Trump do it as well.
Up is down.
Down is up.
Good is bad.
Bad is good.

War is peace.

But I have to admit-- I am shocked at how quickly we have slid into authoritarianism!

The biggest shock is how quickly everyone with power and money folded, bowed and kissed ass.

People wonder how Hitler was allowed to rise. Well, now we see it can happen here & now, and exactly how.

Except we also have billionaires.

Salem witch trials, Hitler, McCarthy, etc etc.

Now we know first hand how all of these things happened.
No longer a mystery.

Yes, he is a dangerous sociopath.

But there is more at play. The country is organized as a society in a manner that encourages sociopathology. It is sick. It was sick from the moment Europeans set foot on this continent. Not because the people at that time were arbitrarily sociopathic but because the organizing methodology which grew out of the collapse of the feudal system allowed wealth (former nobility) to determine that the stratification of society would be cast in stone under the new system. Attempts to alter that stratification were met with obstruction at best and violence at worst.

While this country can and has made halting steps to level the playing field it will always have a large element that will resist it. That element will also apply any means of coercion, persuasion and violence to keep status quo or reverse any gains.

This country is sick. It suffers from a mental health crisis.

Generally weak minded people - those with primarily a transactional ethos - are easy to manipulate because they don't operate on
principle. Bad religion also plays a part in the toxic environment because it encourages the "just world fallacy." By way of metaphor, we now know that many parasites will colonize a person's intestinal track and actually change the chemistry of the gut to make it more habitable for the parasite. Often the changes are not noticed until really dire symptoms are occurring. As our environment and national
discourse declines, it serves to amplify the most sociopathic elements because their plan is uncomplicated by concern for the environment or fellow citizens. These are simple transactional beings. No philosophy can explain their motivations because it aims too high. It is all about what is good for them at this moment, as horrifying as that sounds.

investigation. The hair on the back of my neck stood up when I realized what I was dealing with. They can fake being human but they aren’t. They have no empathy and I mean none.

But some of us didn't.

Most people think he is just a bumbling fool.

Professionals know a ruthless psychopath when they see one.
And know the danger level.

There was no way they would be able to impeach Trump and remove him from office and she knew it would be a waste of time to try.

TWICE.

Maybe direct your Pelosi ire toward Moscow Mitch and the rest of the criminal MAGAts in the Senate who let him off. TWICE.

And thoroughly disgusting on a site meant for supporting Democrats.

and the current senate minority leader can write letters. That's some genius trolling.

when the Supreme Court was at stake, in the general election between Hillary and the sociopath.

I guess she changed her mind.

he really isn't the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. He's quite learned in the art of prevarication, and media/dullard manipulation, but as far as World History, American history, or even actual current events, he's a complete ninny.
He is, without question, very dangerous, though.

He is probably illiterate.
He also has no intellectual curiosity, no judgement, no practical common sense.
He is not academically smart at all. I doubt that he is able to read.

He is lazy and irresponsible

I doubt he showed up for any of his college classes.
His father must have bought his degree.

He believes he is the smartest man in the world.
Only his opinion matters.

But he is quite cunning, charming, good con man.

People underestimate Trump as their own peril.

You do not become the most powerful man in the world by being stupid.

I have been warning about this for a long time.

That means "self over all" as far as aquiring information. He is a mix of stupid and cunning. Street smart is right.

I warned people starting in June 2015 that he was the front runner. Nearly everyone laughed in disbelief, including educated GOP supporters. I juat knew when I heard his second campaign speech.

frequently argue about things without defining terms, making true, productive argument difficult if not impossible.

Intelligence is an important term that is thought to mean different things by different people. Even among those who study or work in the field of education or brain science.

I tend to believe something I learned in a course or workshop I took ages ago. The premise was that there are multiple "intelligences," including ones like Social, Emotional, Mathematical, Liguistic, etc. We all have a profile of our measure of strength in each intelligence.

I believe it was Howard Gardner's theory and there were supposedly 7 intelligences. Now his theory includes 8:
https://www.verywellmind.com/gardners-theory-of-multiple-intelligences-2795161

Anyway, imo the Felon in Chief is definitely stupid in certain ways, meaning weak in many of the various human intelligences. However, as you said, he is smart in other ways. Diabolically gifted in some areas.

Personally, I don't find him the least bit charming, but I know some people do. Still, I'm sure he's strong in whichever intelligences make one good at lying, cheating, stealing, etc.

With many variables and components.

Yes trump is a woefully ignorant person.
He is lazy and not intellectually curious.
The world around him is of no interest unless it benefits him personally in some way.

I think he is barely literate and may not be able to read and comprehend beyond a 5th grade level.

But he is quite gifted in manipulation, conning, grifting.


He is a gifted career criminal.

He has now become the most powerful man in the world. And has total immunity for any crimes he commits past, present, future.

It is 100% certain that a stupid man could not have pulled this off.

and replaces really good, honest, dedicated people with deplorables.

and would damage our country to the bone. Stop listening to republicans and their stupid supporters

Even though now that I think about it, my comment doesn't necessarily contradict yours, if you catch my drift...

poses to this country, it's people or the planet?

I think it's against the rules to call out specific posters, so I don't believe I can do that...

But you're a pretty prolific poster here, so I don't see how you could miss it...

except for a few I like to torment regularly

the usual suspects

And we simply 'hear' everything else as noise if convenience dictates.

this threat more seriously.

to the likes of Donald Trump before. There's never been a republican who was as hell-bent on total fascist control of all aspects of power in this country before. To paraphrase an ancient Oldsmobile commercial, "This isn't your father's republican anymore."
The republican party is dead. Trumpublicans now rule the roost, and we've never seen anything like this in the U.S. before.

Democratic voters have have always said he was fascist a Nazi and a traitor,

ABOVE IS BULLSHIT
No that is not true, not true at all. If you want proof just look right here over the years since 2016.

Thank you again for this post.

Oh, and another way you can know not everybody said this is how much shit Hillary had to put up with when she ran for president, if everybody on the left knew this then why did many trash her constantly. Sigh😡

It sits deep in many people, even some Democrats,
especially so-called "moderate" ones.

I think Dante should have the lowest level of hell
for moderates.

The very worst white males - the white males who lobby hardest for their continued privilege. The white males whose life work is excluding who is subject to constitutional rights. The white males who believe in white males first for everything.

As I've pointed out here before, there's a reason why most polling will show a preference for republicans on issues like the economy and foreign policy even though republicans are terrible on both fronts. We've seen the graphs. I call the that distorted preference the white man's pass. The worst white men get all the passes, all the credit, and the least of the blame.

Not even white male Democrats get the same leeway as the worst white males. It's guilt by association. Look at the difference in how Joe Biden (a competent man with a stutter) was treated regarding his age while a conman nearly just as old who tells one fantastic lie after another was given the white man's pass.

And now for my slideshow
When your group looks like picture A, particularly to other white Americans, you get all the doubt, all the challenge, and most of the blame. When your group looks like picture B you get all the passes, credit, and the least blame.

PICTURE A


PICTURE B


Thanks for the opportunity to expand you your post.

Well done

I knew what the sonofabitch was from day one and I've never wavered. I've never wavered because his intentions have always been crystal clear. He wants to be a dictator. He's got an ego unmatched, and he's a spoiled brat with a bunch of stolen money that he throws around.

All of this started because Obama humiliated him at the White House Press Corp dinner. It was THAT childish.

Dumb people are entirely willing to throw our whole way of life away because they can't be bothered to read and stay informed, much less get to the voting booth. MAGA's found camaraderie with other like minded racists and they love the unity more than the discord that their racism and hate sows.

I have friends who say that "everything is going to be all right" and "you're just being crazy". I remind them of when they made fun of me for warning that we would lose Roe, and their response was that was never going to happen. Bullshit. It happened and Project 2025 is in full swing.

Don't tell me that something can't happen. There are no remaining safeguards and it is all ALREADY happening right in front of our very eyes. If you want to tell me something constructive, then tell me how we go about stopping it. Yes, we can stand in the streets and protest, etc., but does that really make a difference at this point? Are people EVER going to "get it"????

for your post, telling it like it is!

the fact that they are to blame. The Democrats and Independents that didn't support Kamala Harris. How bad did they think she was going to be in comparison?
No, this wasn't on you. Propaganda helped them to fool themselves into believing they were right.
How else can you explain 98% continued support from the Republican party in spite of the facts of the last 8 months. It's denial because otherwise the result would be tremendous guilt and taking responsibility for this debacle and the future destruction of our Democracy.

It's a runaway train without brakes and everybody continues eating in the dining car because they can't face what's coming. And then there are those trying to make the train go faster completely aware of the destruction that lies ahead.

MAGAt Republicans are to blame. They emboldened him, coddled him, enabled him, lied for him, and cheated for him. To this day.

JFC.

I do partly blame Democratic, and Independent voters for not showing up more last year!

I very much appreciate the message. But am put off as a Christian by your using Jesus' name in profanity.

I said I appreciated his message. I did not miss his point.

but it's BAD WORDS that gets you riled?

yeah OK

Trump can SHIT ALL OVER THE CONSTITUTION but DON'T USE ANY BAD WORDS!!!!!!!!!

HOO BOY

about five years ago when I gave up with other Democrats telling me to be nice to MAGATs.

Since then I her NOT been nice to any MAGAt. I pretty much tell MAGAts to GFY.

I read all of your posts over those years. I am only sorry that I didn't acknowledge you sooner.

“Have to hold my nose to vote for Hillary“ to admit their part in it and to acknowledge that every time they said that or something similar somebody around them decided not to bother to vote at all, because I mean what the hell if this very political person says Hillary is barely better then why should I bother to vote at all!

We know this happened because of the third-party vote numbers and overall numbers, even though she won the popular vote etc.

Oh by the way do you know what they call the popular vote everywhere on the planet but here?

THE VOTE

I may be a Sanders fan, but I'm not an idiot.

Any Democrat, even a centrist is better than any republican.

What was it they despised about Hillary? Was it that she would’ve been the most liberal and progressive president of all time? Was it because she gave a speech once to rich people?

stubbornly cling to conspiracy theories and disinformation because it makes me feel smart."

You know, selling the same product as Republicans do to their voters, except this from the Left designed to target those on the Left to get them to hate Democrats, and with fewer calories.

Was generated by FAUX news and right wingers.



She was and is one of the most progressive and liberal politicians in America.

By out of the ordinary I mean all politicians are criticized for trying to make everybody happy and sometimes making promises they can’t keep, I mean look at her primary opponent who repeatedly explained what the problems were and those explanations were correct but there was zero chance that person could have done anything about it But nobody would’ve blamed that person if they were unable to accomplish it.

…to vote for Hillary and Kamala, no matter what someone thought about them. A pox on all those Dem voters who didn’t show up.

The religious right fell for it HOOK line and sinker.Plus these same people KNEW what all the Jan 6 traitors were all about. THIS group also knew what judges to go to, and how to stop our good judges in our country. THIS group has ONE GOAL. We better know that. The midterms (i don't think) will help us much, if we don't get very serious about stopping these fuckers. I believe if elections were held in November of 26 we would defeat them hands down. THEY know this and will do everything in their power to stop it, or CHEAT like a bastard to stop it. Again, THEY have a [plan and so far they are winning. I think we all know what has to be done, especially if what i'm saying DOES happen in Nov. of 26. God, i wish i was wrong, but it's the truth.

And people just chuckled.

BTW, here's your JFC



And here's the fascist playbook (couple of versions.

Fascist Playbook. step by step.

10 Small Steps: Executing the Fascist Playbook
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-small-steps-executing-the-fascist-playbook_b_585dfec2e4b04d7df167cfab

The Fascists’ Playbook
https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/08/the-fascists-playbook/

by less than 1%, while Jill Stein received 1% of the vote in those swing states.

It didn't take much.

had they not listened to constant trashing of her by others on the left.

After all, Schumer writes a lot of sternly-worded letters. What else do you want?

From the time it was created in the aftermath of the ESSMB.

Yeah, what you stated happened. There were and are those on that board who likely did and would agree with what you said. One in particular comes to mind.

Moving on from that, the Republican Party has not been an actual political party as we may have been used to in our youth. While the seeds go back generations, even centuries, the blooming started in the reaction to the ‘60’s and the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. It achieved critical mass with the election of the empty suit/piece of excrement known as Saint Ronnie the Dim-Witted. The progression from there was inevitable.

Conservatism is a dogma of death and nihilism. It offers nothing to anyone but a few holders of wealth and their hangers-on. For anyone else it can be summed up as “we got ours. You can fuck off and die.”