Sunday, July 09, 2017

And finally leave it to an Australian journalist to perfectly sum up Trump's trip to the G20 Summit. Update!

I wish that OUR journalists would be as frank when discussing Donald Trump's bullshit.

Update: Here is the transcript.

What we already knew is that the President of the United States has a particular skill set, that he's identified an illness in Western democracies, but he has no cure for it and seems intent on exploiting it – and we've also learned that he has no desire and no capacity to lead the world. 

The G20 became the G19 as it ended. On the Paris climate accords, the US was left isolated and friendless. But given that was always going to happen, a deft president would have found an issue which he could rally most of the leaders. And he had the perfect one – North Korea's missile tests. So where was the G20 statement condemning North Korea which would have put pressure on China and Russia? Other leaders expected it. They were prepared to back it, but it never came. 

There's a tendency among some hopeful souls to confuse the speeches written for Trump with the thoughts of the man himself – he did make some interesting, scripted observations in Poland about defending the values of the West. And he's in a unique position. He's the one man who has something to do something about it. But it's the unscripted Trump that's real: a man who barks out vile in a 140 characters, who wastes his precious days as president at war with the West institutions like the judiciary, independent agencies and the free press. He was an uneasy, lonely, awkward figure at this gathering and you got the strong sense some of the leaders are trying to find the best way to work around him. 

Donald Trump's a man that craves power because it burnishes his celebrity. To be constantly talking and talked about is all that really matters and there is no value placed on the meaning of words, so what's said one day can be discarded the next. 

So what did we learn? We learn that Donald Trump has pressed fast forward on the decline of the United States as a global leader. He managed to isolate his nation, to confuse and alienate his allies and to diminish America – he will cede that power to China and Russia. Two authoritarian states that will forge a very different set of rules for the 21st century. Some will cheer the decline of America. But I think we'll miss it when it's gone. And that's the biggest threat to the values of the West which he claims to hold so dear.

As they say in Australia, good on ya Mate. 

35 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:13 PM

    I have not tired of this video. I cannot stop watching and listening to a consise and articulate and factual report of our stupid president!!!

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    1. Anonymous7:14 PM

      Agree he is "concise and articulate" about Trump. His comments are spot on.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:46 PM

    So it took only Donny and Co. to take down America. Wow.

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    1. Anonymous6:17 PM

      Um, no, you obviously haven't been paying attention because we've been on a steady decline for the last 40 years.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:24 PM

      Not. That's a made up story in your head. We are America. Stubborn. Opinionated. Right now we are infighting but when we see the shit hit the fan we gather and fight.
      The Republicans and the 1 percent are trying to make us decline. They want power over the people. Putin is showing them how its' done.
      Problem is America has become too trusting of politicians. Remember how everyone fawned over John Edwards? That kind of decline.

      Delete
    3. Not to be argumentative, but we, as a nation, have not been on a steady decline for the last 40 years. Rather, we have made progress in many areas --- societally, politically, economically, medically, globally. Unfortunately, there is a certain segment of our population who has rejected empiricism, denounced intellectualism, mocked expertise, embraced inane idiocy, and is utterly lost without a harsh, callous authoritarian to highlight and legitimize its bigotry, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and rancid provincialism. These people are found in every corner of this nation, at every level, and in all 50 states! They are the ones who find comfort & satisfaction in having such a crude,uncouth, crass president. They delight in knowing he is mentally impaired, functionally illiterate, and completely unfit to hold such power & prestige. Finally, they have a narcissistic pig in the White House destroying normative traditions and flouting legal limitations! What joy!

      Meanwhile...

      The rest of us continue to resist with all our might, aware that the plight of the world is in our hands, not Mueller's, not Ryan's, not McConnell's, but those of us who believe in democracy, in justice, in equality.

      If there is a decline, we must work to reverse such a trend. We must oppose the rampant stupidity and gross corruption of lil donnie, the GOP, and their mindless followers. #Resist

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:25 PM

    Can't remember where I saw it (here?) but a more than suitable acronym for a Trump supporter -- MAGATS. They're maggots, all right.

    I applaud this man, but why do I get the feeling that the more journalists DO tell the truth, the greater chance they end up dead?

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  4. Here's a closeup from abc.net.au

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/australian-reporters-devastating-take-on-trump-at-g20-goes-viral_us_59624c0de4b0615b9e9227af?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

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  5. And those holier than thou GOP boys just sit there playing with their puds.... Pick up your tweeters boys and get busy righting things.

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  6. Anonymous6:39 PM

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/07/09/trump-civilian.html
    Trail by Military Court? Even Better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6:52 PM

    Its not only Donald Trump who brought down our country, he had help.

    If Ivanka, Melania, Donald Jr, Jared Kushner and Eric have not been vocal against Donald Trump then that means they side with him.

    Get that effin' family out of Washington DC.

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    1. Anonymous9:13 PM

      Ana Navarro rips ‘Little Boy’ Donald Trump Jr. when he comes for her on Twitter over Ivanka at G-20

      Delete
  8. Anonymous7:01 PM

    We have seen other countries military over throw their government.

    Has any American ever thought they would live and wanted to see the day our military overthrow the current authoritarian regime in the White House and take away all their personal wealth?

    The question is what are they waiting for?

    America is being torn apart from within the White House and everybody is letting the Trump family get away with it.

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    1. Anonymous7:28 PM

      I was mulling over that. I think we have been lulled into a sleep by tv, internet, hollywood movied, greasy food and a false hope that America is untouchable.
      It will take Putin unmarked soldiers to jar us out of that a bit. Right now we are in the conspiracy theory bit of it. You know like the Jewish people when they saw things changing but they just could not believe anyone would harm them.
      We'll wake up soon even though it might be too late.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous7:07 PM

    How can one man destroy a nation.

    Looks like Americans are sitting in their living rooms, eating popcorn and watching it happen.

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  10. Anonymous7:09 PM

    Apparently the Rebublican Party is so excited about having Republican in the White House after eight years that they are willing to sell their souls and America.

    And why aren't we the people and the Democrats not fighting harder against this constant embarassasment? We can't take three more years of this. Nepotism gone rampid. A First Daughter playing dress up on the world stage, a so called President who is friends with Russia and believes a former KGB agent when he says he did not try to interfere with our ellections. who wants to pal up on cyber security with Russia.

    You tell me how far is the Rebublican Party willing to go. We all know if president Obama had Malia stand in [ if she was older] what we would be hearing from them right now.

    What fresh hell is this? How many Americans fought and died just to be pissed on by this idiot so called President. Nobody believes a liar. Nobody trusts are word anymore.I am sick of his entitled brat daughter butting herself into world affairs. We fought against a Monarchy and Trump wants to revive it like some kind of King.

    I repeat, our soldiers did not die to have a war against the press, to have a President who is so shallow he can not rise above anything , who's ego is more important than his citizens .

    Are you proud right now to be an American?

    Do you have to explain yourself if you go to Europe and are asked about Trump?Because they all think we are idiots?

    I want our dignity back!

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  11. Anonymous7:16 PM

    Oh Putin Im in love with you.

    I am pressured to ask you a question so lets get over with it.

    Did you interfere with our election that made me an illegitimate president?

    No.

    Okay, good enough for me.

    So lets sit in this closed room and talk about how I adore you and let the Americans think I'm fighting for them.

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    1. Anonymous8:12 PM

      We have a president who's ego is so big he disses his own intelligence agency to fit his agenda because he wants to believe he won by popular vote.Trump is a complete idiot who can be so manipulated so easily and God or Dog help us.



      Delete
  12. Anonymous7:22 PM

    What we have been witnessing since January is the Trump family giving the American flag, the American people and our American history Golden Showers while enriching themselves and flying to golf courses on Air Force One on our dime.

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  13. Anonymous7:28 PM

    Secretary Mnuchin is on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulos. As he is being interviewed by George you can see two screens reflective on his glasses and you can see his eyes going left to right. Is he reading pre-prepared responses?

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  14. Anonymous7:38 PM

    BREAKING NEWS

    “It’s not the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty close," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”


    Politico:
    Trump reverses course on working with Russia on cybersecurity

    By POLITICO STAFF 
    07/09/2017 09:04 PM EDT

    Updated 07/09/2017 10:19 PM EDT

    About 12 hours after tweeting about possibly working with President Vladimir Putin and Russia on cybersecurity, President Donald Trump tweeted that he does not expect it to actually happen.

    "The fact that President Putin and I discussed a Cyber Security unit doesn't mean I think it can happen. It can't-but a ceasefire can,& did!," the president tweeted Sunday night, referencing a cease-fire that was negotiated for part of Syria. As of Sunday night, the ceasefire was still in place....

    Trump did not explain his rapid-fire flip-flop....

    Trump's suggestion that he would work with Russia was met with widespread skepticism, including by suggestions that it was akin to hiring a burglar who had broken into your house as your security guard.

    “It’s not the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty close," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

    Trump's nighttime clarification drew some interesting reactions Sunday night.

    Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara on Twitter criticized a statement Steven Mnuchin made Sunday morning, in which the Treasury secretary called the Cyber Security Unit a "very significant accomplishment" for Trump.

    "Oops. @realDonaldTrump just tweeted that the super-duper Impenetrable Cyber Security Unit "can't" happen, but he appreciates your loyalty," he wrote on Twitter.



    http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/09/trump-russia-putin-cybersecurity-240342

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous7:42 PM

    I want our country back.

    Send in the Special Forces and attack the White House

    Then televise disgruntled Americans breaking into Trump's properties and reclaiming his emergency get-away gold and jewelry stash he has hidden in his palaces.

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  16. Anonymous7:43 PM

    I don't think America will truly start fighting back until it affects them directly. Americans are very visual and they have to see it before they believe it. I mean Putin in the White House kind of thing. Trump being his obvious puppet is not enough proof for the Trump supporter because they love to rant and rail about Hillary and Obama even to this moment. How dare a woman and a black man try to be in charge.

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  17. Anonymous8:00 PM

    When and how long is it going to take to get rid of this repulsive blight.

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/07/revealed-russian-lawyer-offered-trump-jr-damaging-info-on-clinton-to-get-june-2016-meeting/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous9:29 PM

    We are now in the position like never before to rely on and hope our CIA and FBI are still patriots who remember their job is to protect and serve America above all else and the integrity of the United States of America.

    While we have a President who demeans them.Now you tell me why he would do this.

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    1. Anonymous5:08 AM

      Trump demeans most people and organizations. In psychiatry it is called splitting, to split to an extreme the other is all bad which they think makes them all good.
      Or to smear the other to make self all good. Words are weapons and tools, for Trump as the reporter said words or meaningless. The bottom line is it is manipulation.

      Delete
  19. And within 12 hours of proposing it Trump walks back his Cybersecurity Pact with Russia.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-cyber-security-pact-russia_us_5962da4ae4b02e9bdb0d976e?i8&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

    "Early Sunday morning, President Donald Trump tweeted his support for a new partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin to craft an “impenetrable cyber security unit” that would work to prevent election hacking.

    Some 12 hours later, those plans were dramatically scaled back as the president said even though he discussed them, they “can’t” happen."

    "The abrupt about-face came after a slew of lawmakers lambasted Trump’s proposal to guard against “election hacking and many other negative things.”

    On “Meet The Press” Sunday morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called the plan “not the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty close.” Graham slammed the president for “forgiving and forgetting” Russian tampering in last year’s election, and said the move only increased suspicion of the Trump administration.

    “The more he talks about this in terms of not being sure, the more he throws our intelligence communities under the bus, the more he’s willing to forgive and forget Putin, the more suspicion,” Graham continued. “And I think it’s going to dog his presidency until he breaks this cycle.”

    Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) doubled down on those assertions on “Face the Nation,” saying Sunday he was sure Putin could surely help tackle the issue of cybersecurity “since he’s doing the hacking.”"

    This is how this asshole governs. He puts out trial balloons and if he gets positive feedback he's full steam ahead. If he gets a lot of criticism and pushback he retreats and denies it or rescinds it or blames someone else.

    What a fucking moron we have in the oval office.

    Proud to say *I* didn't put him there.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:24 AM

      "This is how this asshole governs." I will add he also may deny he ever said or did what he did claiming some other is lying about him, making things up.
      Remember tweets saying "crazy Mika" and "psycho Joe"? Trump will also try the tactic of portraying mental illness like an abusive spouse.

      Trump consistently denies, lies even when there is video or audio.

      I can guarantee Trump needs people around him to go along with whatever position he takes. People like this are enraged and vengeful if you remind them of what they said previously about the same thing.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous12:51 AM

    The Trump White House is a lot like a Sears store. A bunch of tools lying around but don't expect any assistance.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous2:16 AM

    Americans say, the only thing that will be going going gone will be don john trump asap.

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  22. Anonymous2:52 AM

    The decline of America
    =========================
    And it only took little donnie 7 months to do it in.

    He wins the president that destroyed America the fastest award!!!!

    How sad for us, the citizens of the USA.

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  23. Anonymous9:09 AM

    i wish our journalists had balls

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  24. Pretty much sums up how all of us in Oz feel about this cretin.

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