Outspoken Trump and Putin critic Anthony Bourdain has died under mysterious circumstances in Europe.
While Bourdain had a troubled past and could have lost a battle with addiction or depression, there’s been no mention of a note.
Bourdain had called out Putin, among other things, as a murderer.
The former Chef turned free-range CNN world correspondent also seemed to fine recently on camera and none of his coworkers seem to have seen this coming. He leaves behind an 11 year old daughter. It would seem he had everything to live for.
Putin is exactly the kind of person who would kill someone he disliked and try to make it look like a suicide. He was in France, well within the established Putin Killing Zone for anyone he feels like off-ing.
I for one am glad its in the hands of French rather than American authorities.
Meanwhile the world has lost an ambassador for tolerance and a voice of resistance to the Trump – Putin Criminality that.s currently holding the us all hostage.
Its not impossible or maybe even unlikely Anthony Bourdain simply took his own life, but the idea Putin would just kill him needs to be analyzed by law enforcement. Again, I’m glad its not in the hands of American authorities because for this I trust the French a lot more.
Here he is allowing an anti Putin dissident to use his show as a platform. Putin is just as vain as Trump but far more ruthless and effective. We know he loves killing off his critics. This is the sort the thing he would hold a deadly grudge about for sure. The man in the interview, Boris Nemtsov, died in a hail of gunfire weeks later. Now, mysteriously, Bourdain is dead as well.
While John Bolton might be the worst influence possible on the new truly unrestrained Trump there’s still 48 hours before he starts. In that time he has a couple of mountains to climb. The whole thing so far has been about as stable and well thought out as a Meth Binge. So what’s hanging over Bolton’s head?
For starters? Cambridge Analytica. This perfect storm of “the story is breaking now” and “Every day Bolton seems to have been more deeply involved” is still intensifying.
The Cambridge Analytica people were apparently crazy low lives running their own “For Hire” political punking operation. And every day that goes by it looks a little more like Bolton knew that and loved it when he hires them.
The Cambridge Analytica story is not controllable by anyone at this point. Most of the investigating is being done by the British, who are pissed as could be at the Cambridge people. Throw in that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg will be testifying before congress later this month about how Cambridge punked Facebook out of 80 million peoples data and counting (thats not gonna go well at all) the story becomes a bunch of flaming bags of shit that have to be stomped on over and over. The latest development was last night when Rachel Maddow reported Cambridge Analytica is coming up as an issue with getting Bolton the security clearance he needs to get this job. This probably won’t get better
The next issue? People are justifiably SCARED of John Bolton’s ideas. Yes, the fact he’s probably crazy is not even the biggest problem. Truth is he’s a complete hawk on everything. You can just google it. A Pre-Emptive war against North Korea (or Iran) is just one crazy idea. Lets face it, it doesn’t sound good. You can’t hear it and think “This guy should be in the president’s ear.”
Then there’s the fact that John Bolton has been an Anti-Russia Hawk too. There’s no problem finding info that backs that up either. I just can’t see Trump liking this once someone finally tells him.
Plus after about a decade on TV puffing about this and that he’s on the record with ideas that are better suited to Fox News Zombies than any sort of National Security Adviser role. His past fire-breathing statements are going to come up and will just be one more thing Sarah Huckabee Sanders will have to get irritated over when she answers questions over it with lies.
Last but not least Trump’s less resolute than ever. He just hired and let go of a pair of Mueller Probe Defense lawyers before their start date ( though they’re on Fox News of late saying they’re still on the case). And of course we all remember Anthony Scaramucci never making it to his start date.
No two ways about it Bolton’s no sure thing…. and I never even bought up that mustache they say Trump hates. If he does get hired he will shave it off right before he gets fired. Trump wont miss the chance to humiliate him and tell him he’ll keep him if he shaves it then fire him on Twitter.
this song parody is my fucking payback to scumbag Trump for destroying my enjoyment of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’. He plays that one without permission and has really sort of misappropriated the meaning in a way that makes me fucking sick
Like everyone else I’ve just had it with lying White Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the daily assault on civility and reality that is her White House Press Conferences.
I admit it, I feel like Trump sends her out there for a bunch of reasons all of which are best summed up by just calling her “really hard to take”.
This post is like 6 weeks old now and I have to keep updating it due to the steady achievement of Reaching A New Low every single day!
These last few weeks its been a tough guess as to whether Sanders or Brad Pitt showers less! Forget soap dodging, thats long in the past. Shes just looks unwashed!
Her hair a filthy matted mess Sarah stumbles to the podium each day sounding just like the overprotective wife of a violent alcoholic. Trump’s not mean and stupid, we just don’t know him the way she does! He’s not ignorant, he’s resolute. And he’s not a liar! He’s just an optimist and its offensive to her we don’t see it that way.
Calls for her to resign are pretty much universal in the wake of her completely uninformed and briskly angry Stormy Daniels disaster. And by that I mean specifically the Stormy Daniels disaster where she seems to have just knowingly lied or repeatedly lied. She seemed completely out of the loop and of course was openly angry at legitimate questions as to whether she was just, you know, lying.
And then days later the meltdown disaster of refusing to apologize for staffers gleefully but prematurely dancing on John McCain’s grave happens (theres still been no real apology). This time rather than out of the loop SHS seemed to be part of an Uncoordinated Refusal of Common Decency where she focused on the fact the meeting details were leaked. So total fail for her there. The Hits keep comin’. Again people said it was past time for Sarah to go. She has no integrity.
But no one’s resigning or getting fired anymore in Trump World. Its almost a badge of honor to the president that Scott Pruitt remains in the cabinet despite having blown tons of cash on Bond Villain stuff like Cone of Silence (to talk to god?) a bullet proof desk, a crazy travel scandal and some illegal raises to unqualified cronies. So Sarah will probably be out there for the duration of the administration. Shes just okay with lying and simply hates the press so shes good with it.
The June 14, 2018 presser was a new low. After using the Bible as a justification to separate children from their parents at the southern border she went low and personal. She denigrated one reporter, CNN’s Jim Acosta, saying; “I realize it’s hard for you to understand…..even short sentences.” This drew some grumbling from the press and someone replied “Thats a cheap shot Sarah” Of course it was. So now personal insults have started to creep in to the ever more rare and ever shorter pressers.
No reason is ever given for why the Presser is always at least 15 minutes late (I think they got it from Mein Kampf) or why the Press Secretary is always “very pressed for time” when the press conference is her actual job.
Then we finally had a reporter lose their composure and demand Sanders answer a question about the incarceration of children separated from their parents by ICE over alleged immigration violations. Rather than respond Huckabee-Sanders simply accused the reporter of simply wanting more TV time and again refused to address the thrice asked question.
Of late the pressers are shorter than ever. In fact “We’re really tight in time” is the first thing Sarah Huckabee Sanders says when she finishes her scathing and untrue opening remarks (on the days she actually goes out there).
When scolding down from her high horse she’s never shy about adding several pejoratives to any statement she might have a high “Insult IQ” and an inexhaustible reservoir of bile and faux disgust. “I think the question’s offensive” she often slurs in her Old Confederacy accent. This sounds even worse when she shifts blame to former President Obama for obvious reasons.
Sean Spicer at least had some shame. Not Huckabee- Sanders. Lying, gaslighting, moving the goal posts and good old Nazi “Them-ism” are favorite tactics.
Does anyone really think her brisk angry nature, her lack of civility and the ease with which she insults reporters aren’t the very reason she was given this job? Let’s be honest the SHS Presser is an assault on all senses.
Spmetomes there’s a ‘Special Guest’ who totally doesn’t need to be there. Usually a deputy cabinet minister. On especially truthless days we get a letter written by a child who admires the president and whose ”going to meet the president”. No pictures ever emerge and no one seems to want to ask why these admiring children sound just like Trump himself. So her opening act is bullshit followed by pure lies.
typical SHS outfit that just enhances every bad thing
If the Presser features someone like a Mnuchin they will jump right in to a very abstract but lengthy story of some sort of prosperity scheme, usually enabled through taking things away from the poorest most vulnerable Americans. This is like watching the trailer for a movie that never should have been made. In other words, it lowers expectations.
Then Sarah herself takes the stage. Its difficult not just to go after her in the way her boss Trump goes after women, because someone that crass could have a field day. She would deserve it for enabling Trump. I don’t need to go there. Instead I’ll stick with the things she controls that make her horrible. Like lying.
You could easily see SHS in this exact outfit
Most days Sarah comes to the White House Press Room podium dressed like a villainness from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. There’s no telling which dysfunctional planet she’ll be dressed like on any given day but certainly we’ve seen Klingon and Romulan inspired outfits. Sometimes she likes a short leather skirt and Go-Go boots with off the shoulder flowing black garments inspired by ancient Greece, which is ironic as the Ancient Greeks had a democracy.
Other times she’s dressed like the Quaker Oats guy’s daughter or something. Another recurring look is something along the lines of Glen Close from Guardians of the Galaxy.
We all know Sara is right-handed based on her completely asymmetric eyebrow tweezing. She looks like 2 different people depending when she turns profile one way or the other. This probably helps keep people’s expectations low as she verbally assaults the White House Press Corpse, belaboring a point like an angry grammar school principal scolding the wild kids in the lunchroom. “Fake News” and “Enemy of the State” are terms we’ve all heard her use again and again.
So at the end of the day if Trump is held legally accountable for all his dickish acts and criminality; will Sarah Huckabee Sanders end up in jail too? It’s not impossible.
With Hope Hicks appearing sort of prison-bound and now long gone from the White House Communications office, what SHS says is more on HER that ever before. While Hope Hicks had her job she simply sat off to the side, phone in hand, glaring at Spicer and later Huckabee Sanders as they dealt with the press. Seemed like Hope Hicks was in very much in charge. Until we hear different it’s a safe bet that the job of ginning up that days lies is Sanders gig now. Sure it still all comes from Trump, but he has some very real problems of his own.
What kind of problems could SHS have? For starters she’s kind of slandered the 19 accusers who claim Trump sexually assaulted them. Yup, she said the words “They’re all lying.” She may have furthered some lies about Stormy Daniels aka Stephanie Clifford a few times in the couple of weeks.
And then there’s stuff much closer to Treason. Like when she knowingly deceives the American people on behalf of Trummp.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders accepts a tax payer paid salary to deliver lies on behalf of a criminal. possibly treasonous president. I for one hope when all this shakes out and people get tossed in jail we get to see SHS showing off the newest Trump fashion jewelry – HANDCUFFS.
We all know Trump is lying. Can anyone doubt Huckabee-Sanders knows that too? How hard could it be to convict her right now of furthering a criminal enterprise? And how much deeper is the hole she’s digging herself into going to be now that she’s that much more responsible for what she says?
The biggest story right now isn’t the speculation Trump is suffering from a cognitive disorder (he is) or that he will BLOW OFF HIS MEDICAL EXAM next week (he so will) but that at his behest the Justice Department has, according to CNN just a few minutes ago, has launched a Criminal Investigation (so maybe at some point even raiding?) the Clinton Foundation. Its a Dictators move and Sessions will, I suppose, have that added to the list of charges he’s confronted with at a future American Nuremburg Trial. For whatever reason the Little Rock location was mentioned conspicuously. Probably just a personal slight.
This frightening move puts him squarely in the corner of other autocrats from Hitler to Idi Amin.
It seem that Money for Access is the purported focus of the probe. It probably turns up nothing. If it does catch even the smallest irregularity trust me SCROTUS trump will let us know. Over and over.
This is much bigger than the indisputable fact that Trump’s got dementia or worse or that he’s Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein rolled up into one.
Separated at birth?
Irrelevant Jeff Sessions has had a banner couple of days. Yesterday he moved to take away the PTSD medicine for every veteran in about 14 states and today he’s attacking a charity.
Why? Because our corrupt presidents charity never remitted and was just a way to enrich himself at the cost of Cancer kids. So of course he’s just sure that the Clinton Foundation is a front as well.
John Adams, who could at least admit he was bald.
Its EASY to believe the president would pass a polygragh regarding his belief that the Clinton Foundation is corrupt. He can look in the mirror and see corruption right there.
So freak out that he’s crazy, I am, but take note that today Trump began persecuting his political enemies with the apparatus of the state.
Liberty has not been so greatly endangered since the Alien & Sedition Acts of 1798 passed by John Fuckin Adams.
Next most disturbing development of the day (its just about 11 am) would be certified (By Paul Ryan
Dana Rohrabacher works for the Russians
and Steve Scalise) Putin Puppet Dana Rohrabacher in the following segment screaming over poor Ana Cabrera that the entire Mueller Probe is directed by CNN and the media. Freedom was nice while we had it I guess.
Well we’ve had 100 Days of Fail from no longer all that new President Trump and wow has it ever been a whirlwind. Storming angrily from Failure to Failure and finding new ways to bottom out in Approval Polls, Trump seems dazed and confused most of the time.
Could it be because he can barely read? Podcast Host David Pakman was early to pick up on this. In early February Pakman examined the compelling visual evidence Trump can barely read or comprehend anything. Trumps only added fuel to the fire on this one, but watch the excellent podcast here before i add some of my own thoughts.
Pakman’s theory is backed up by some convincingly presented evidence.
Since the podcast in February, which is his second on the topic, we’ve all seen Trump doing things that suggest he is either functionally illiterate or has a deep reading comprehension problem.
Most obvious to me is the dead and passionless way he reads when he sticks to the teleprompter on the rare occasions he uses one . Droning and devoid of emotion he needs to go off script every few sentences to bash someone or to get a laugh or cheer of approval from the crowd (which he seems to always desperately need and luxuriate in too long).
Then there’s the verbal and visual tells Trump has that again are eerily close to the bullet pointed checklist from the Canadian Police for identifying Illiterate People.
The Canadian Police Publication on How to Identify people with Low Literacy that Pakman references is an enlightening document. It has numerous checklists and bullet pointed items to help you identify people with low literacy traits uncovered by using Police Science. That’s a pretty good provenance. Most people (maybe not Trump) could easily utilize it to make a decent assessment.
Here’s an excerpt – (Forgive the British style spelling, our friends to the north like to use extra letters as often as possible)
People who have difficulty understanding verbal and written information have other tell-tale behaviours. Many people with low literacy:
• give what seem to be indirect, confused, or irrelevant answers to questions
• act confused or ask questions that do not seem to relate to the problem or situation
• not ask any questions at all (rather than reveal they don’t understand what’s going on)
• nod to indicate they agree or understand something, but then not do what you expect
They may also:
• not show up for meetings or hearings (because they did not understand the instructions on a written notice)
• sign statements or legal documents that they do not understand (rather than admit they have a reading problem)
• look dazed or uncomfortable when someone gives them something to read They may show their confusion when they:
• give the impression that they don’t understand the seriousness of their situation
• become frustrated and angry easily; they may storm out, or become physically confrontational
Is there anything on this list we haven’t seen from Trump in some form? I can’t think of one. certainly “give(s) the impression that they don’t understand the seriousness of their situation’ seems applicable to everything. And getting angry? Remember his meltdown at on the phone with the Prime Minister of Australia when confronted with a complex issue?
Genocide with WMD’s (anthrax laden blankets) against the Native Americans is just one aspect of Jackson’s murderous, racist, removal and extermination policies. He literally tried to exterminate all of the Native Americans east of the Appalachian Mountains. He,, like Trump, was a stranger a compromise and tolerance. Follow this link to the awful tale of the Trail of Tears to learn about how he Death Marched entire Indian Tribes, men woman and children, from areas like Florida to places like Michigan, making no allowances for things like feeding them properly on the way.
In his spare time Jackson continually warred politically with Congress and the Supreme Court; expanding his power at every opportunity. He was particularly out of touch and bellicose about how to run the nations finances and was considered irresponsible. He presided over a major recession which was partly his own fault and probably was only curtailed by westward expnsion and the free labor from slavery.
With these kinds of violent and anger driven behaviors being pretty much the Top and Bottom lines of the Andrew Jackson Presidential Tale of the Tape its safe to say only an idiot could fail to see him as anything but akin to America’s 19th century version of Hitler. Even in the south Slave Owning lunatics like Andrew Jackson are a political legacy most seem content to avoid.
Mentioning he was deeply moved by a visit to Jackson’s home and grave you would have to assume he lacked the curiosity to look at the dates on it or just doesnt know when the Civil War was. Jackson, dead almost two decades before the Civil War is now credited by Trump as working to prevent it. Any sane person would probably reason that Jackson’s prevention of the Civil war would have been to expand and protect slavery, which he loved. Is it possible Trump’s fascination with Jackson is that most statues and memorials have just a one line inscription? Perhaps his most famous and succinct quote was “Our Sacred Union Must be Preserved”. After the War the Union put it on every Statue of him they could find, especially the ones in the Old Confederacy. So Jackson’s whole appeal may be he has a memorable quote. Its almost a tweet. It fits with the Low Literacy theory well. Jacksons one big quote is about as much information as he can remember on a topic he is actually interested in but clearly has avoided reading about.
In examining his personal style and his repeated lauding of another terrible role model, General George S Patton, I detailed how Trump had betrayed he had missed the entire point of the eponymous semi biographical movie about the fiery soldier . A very watchable movie which he often references. The movie clearly paints Patton as a mixed bag of contradictions with as many problems as gifts. Trump misses this entirely.
For good measure I would throw out there that in his hard to follow spoken comments he rarely finishes a sentence, interrupting himself frequently. When all is said and done its hard to auger what he said.
Mangling quotes, some really badly spelled tweets and non stop misstatements of Historical facts have piled up on a near daily basis.
The most frightening part of this is that his illiteracy precludes any historical perspective. So in an analogous situation to say the Cuban Missile Crisis its likely Trump would be freelancing his way through a situation that historical perspective would give him some tried and true options on. The idea he could negotiate his way out of anything seems highly unlikely too. The command of details this demands seems beyond our pitiful So Called Leader.
I was in no way surprised to find out that you were a fan of Black Sabbath. What I am puzzled by is whether or not you understand the context of the lyrics. Visualizing a young Trump blasting rails of high quality cocaine off his desk cranking ‘Snowblind” on an awesome 8 track stereo system is unfortunately as amusing as it gets
Before I get into the reasons I’m concerned by your interest in my favorite band let me just say how proud I am of the members of Black Sabbath for finding an excuse NOT to meet you. You don’t deserve that honor. You’re crazier than Ozzy and never shown the personal character of someone like Tony Iommi. You could learn a lot from Geezer Butlers humility and you’ll always be baffled by the talent of Bill Ward. Even the genius of Dio is something that you could be humbled by, but you’re not a humble man and that’s what frightens me.
Songs like “After Forever” are ALLEGORIES speaking to the powerful, whose ranks you will soon join, warning them to temper their actions or risk a destroyed post apocalyptic world that’s only supposed to exist in their lyrics.
I’m sure you relate to when they sing directly about Mental Illness. Try to understand they are suggesting the troubled seek counseling rather than embrace their Insanity. They may be focusing on a tragic side-note, but don’t miss the overall point- If you’re Crazy admit it and get Help. I don’t think you will do that.
I see you laughing at the Resolute Desk, where great men who mostly tried to avoid War and Strife have sat, belittling the handicapped or women while listening to ‘War Pigs’ and seeing it as an ASPIRATIONAL song rather than a condemnation of people who act the way you usually do. You WILL HIDE YOURSELF away after starting a war. You will never send anyone you care about ‘out to fight’. You’ll leave peril to the poor.
I see a world resembling that described in “Children of the Grave” should you give in to your darker instincts. You worship a ‘Computer God’ in your use of Twitter and every single appearance you make on television could be described as a “TV Crime”.
If you’re not cautious you will be the Fool who brings on Mob Rule. Disturbingly, this seems like something you’d enjoy.
When you won the election, showing there’s certainly are plenty of ignorant people in this country it was politically the Bloodiest of Sabbath’s for our Republic.
I would urge you to listen to the music of Black Sabbath with fresh ears. You’ll find the lyrics to be compassionate and humane and yes, angry and frustrated.
Black Sabbath channeled their anger and frustration into changing the face of Rock n Roll forever. Please, heed the warnings of their music and try to be as compassionate and positively constructive as they are.
Time for some ‘Changes” Donald. You’d be surprised just how different Black Sabbath is than we may think at first listen.
The worst aspects of this problem are that certain coincidences I believe Trump regards as similarities between himself and Patton as portrayed in the movie are now re-enforcing his delusional belief that he is very much like George Patton.
The biggest thing my hypothesis has going for it is if you momentarily embrace it, it explains pretty much everything and holds up to scrutiny from numerous angles. Of course its not perfect, but indulge me and then draw your own conclusion— BECAUSE COMMENTS ARE ENABLED!! Please weigh in if you feel so inclined!
The movie ‘Patton’ is a masterpiece of film making that starts with a very strong Francis Ford Coppola screenplay advised by none other than Patton contemporary and equal- General Omar Bradley himself. An inspired George C Scott gave a brilliant, authentic and career defining performance then blew off accepting his Best Actor Oscar to go to a hockey game, how cool is that? Throw in one of the best movie scores outside Star Wars to move it along from the great Jerry Goldsmith of Star Trek fame. The director was Franklin J Shaffner , fresh off “Planet of the Apes” success.
The fact is Film Appreciation 101 might save the planet were Trump forced to take the course. If he had he would have realized the Ironic Duality of the plot. Simply put the movie is all about introducing the open question of “Is Patton all that is Great and Gallant in the United States Military or is he all that is Wrong and Perverse about War and War Making?”
Why This Movie Is A Dangerous Influence on Trump
Trump’s fascination with Patton is a problem for a bunch of reasons. For one thing George Patton, despite his success, is a TERRIBLE role model for a politician or president. The real Patton was apparently non political, which makes sense. A wise choice since despite a rough charm he had no diplomatic skill or real personal charisma beyond the shock and awe of non stop profanity. While this is fine for a mid 20th century war time general, it’s just awful for a 21st century president!
The root of Trump’s many misconceptions seems to be that he is viewing the movie in a very simple manner. It seems likely Donald Trump never took a single film class. The fact is Film Appreciation 101 might save the planet were Trump forced to take the course. If he had he would have realized the Ironic Duality of the plot.
Simply put the movie is all about introducing the open question of “Is Patton all that is Great and Gallant in the Military? Or is he all that is Wrong and Perverse about War and War Making?” The movie seems to suggest he is both at the same time.
The movie analogizes very well to the 2016 Campaign, though spies play a more prominent role in the current situation, of course.
The characters line up as roughly this- Trump of course is Patton. Egotistical British General Montgomery , equally delusional and insane to only a slightly lesser degree, is ‘Crooked Hillary’. Patton’s very first aide in the movie who dies is BOTH original campaign managers AND Chris Christie (aside from the actual sorrow Patton felt,Trump we know is a stranger to empathy). Cod, his final aide is Kellyanne Conway and racist Steve Bannon. Omar Bradley and the US military are Paul Ryan and the Republicans. The German Military is the over-prepared Democratic Party, including their OP-O Researcher. Rommel is Bernie Sanders, the likely superior field commander made ineffective by a truly incompetent leader.
The movie opens with a ‘Patton Rally’. It’s a composite of Patton’s actual speeches delivered in front of a gigantic American Flag using George Scott’s incredible speaking voice to draw us in as he gives it to his troops in a loud and dirty fashion.
It’s very much a political looking arena and an Academy Award Moment defying the viewer to look away.
When Patton begins to speak he’s commanding and profane. He tells his men their better than anyone their opponents, who are subhuman creeps. He boasts about their training and weapons and says they’re destined to win. He speaks of violence and glory. Again, perfect for a wartime general, TERRIBLE for a president, but of course its not very different from what Trump says at his rallys.
There are some traits both the Man in the Movie and Trump share.
One similarity between Trump and Movie Patton would be the portrayal of Patton as very much Bipolar. He was probably ‘Manic Depressive’ in terms of that time. Both were spotty students at prestigious schools (though Patton was afflicted with dyslexia, an actual learning disability he overcame, showing some discipline and personal character). Both are only functional when attacking. Both are insulated from their mistakes by great personal wealth.
Anti-Patton Cartoon from “Patton” (1970)
Both loved media coverage of and yet bristled at the scrutiny that invites. Both earned the distinction of “Suspected Huge Fan of the Nazis” from the media in their time.
Neither could simply shut up for any length of time. While Trump uses tweets Patton would simply act in an outrageous manner (sound familiar?) til the press couldn’t look away.
Both seem to flirt with the idea of War for War’s sake (the Patton character admits this repeatedly).
Each guy has their own unique religious tastes Whereas Patton’s shown as being deep and sincere Trump’s religous ides are just parroted stuff and the fact he hired Pence. Similarly; Patton’s steadfast belief in re-incarnation and love of all things violent calls into question whether he is actually a christian. In the movie he hits his knees a couple of times but only in the most arrogant way in the most dire moments. This is not unlike Trump being beloved by extremist Christians despite a life of documented debauchery and sexual assaults (and now Stormy Daniels). The climax of this subplot is arguably also the climax of the movie. Patton, frustrated that the reality of the situation didn’t fit with his preconceived plan, basically ORDERS GOD TO CHANGE THE WEATHER AND APPARENTLY PULLS IT OFF. This only
reinforces his extreme vanity and puts a more dangerous edge on his genius.
Of course what we all know today about Patton’s Weather Prayer is that a warm front moved in and the snow simply stopped. That doesn’t blunt the forceful nature of the scene where Patton excoriates a regimental chaplain, telling him to write a prayer “good enough” for God to bother listening. Its very much like Trump’s contempt for the Pope and religion in general. The “Two Corinthians” Fiasco shows Trump has no religious knowledge or convictions but has no problem with rank hypocrisy and is therefore a bit less moral than Patton.
This sequence of the movie is meant to show Patton’s Hubris and psychopathy in pursuit of battle and it’s a very dangerous thing to take it literally as surely Trump does.
Another thing Trump and ‘Movie Patton’ have in common would be a total lack of understanding of whats called “Psychological Warfare”. In the film Patton is apparently baffled as to the importance of his mission leading up to D-Day- to be a weapon of mass distraction . Patton’s use as a decoy convinced Hitler to disregard an Actual Invasion and hold off forces that may well have turned the tide of the War itself , to await a Fictional Invasion that was never going to happen. It was key to pulling of the Allied Invasion of France.
Now consider Trump calling the Generals and the former president stupid repeatedly for broadcasting some details of their plan to destroy ISIS. He simply doesn’t understand the idea that you can cloud your opponents judgement to the point you can predict or even control his actions.
It’s too subtle for the movie character or Trump to grasp.
Both Trump and Patton have a deep disdain of giving out any government healthcare. Patton orders his hospital units not to admit Combat Fatigue, which he considers
Patton “shaming a coward”/ abusing a soldier
cowardice.
This was so insane even to 1940’s medical personnel they simply ignore him. That of course boomerangs on Patton in his version of a “Hot Mic on the Bus” moment. The General loses control of himself publicly and betrays his bi-polar nature and complete lack of empathy during a brutal screaming meltdown.
Of course I am talking of the scene where Patton slaps a ‘cowardly’ soldier in a Field Hospital, disgusting everyone and showing his troops how little he cares about them despite the bravado.
Real life Patton slapped more than one soldier more than one time til they actually had to discipline him and remove him from command. It was just like the self inflicted wound we see Trump give himself all the time.
Patton is benched and used as a decoy until after the D-Day Invasion, the battle he had waited all his life to fight in. He faces it like a pitcher caught doctoring a baseball and forced to miss a playoff start. In other words, with only a minimal thought of anyone else. Again Patton shows his view of war and command to be from the Dark Ages or perhaps early Renaissance at its most compassionate.
In his finest moments of triumph after receiving a new army to command, when prosecuting the war Patton is shown as petty and dismissive of his soldiers well-being and simply thinks of his Army as a whole. To Patton, when people get killed it’s like the Army itself is just trimming it’s fingernails. In other words; it’s a natural ongoing function of war.
Just as important as winning were the laurels and press adulation that came with it. When holding the spotlight Patton is grandiose in his actions while his words are always petty. Demonizing and denigrating his personal rivals, boasting of his the strength of his army. Its much like Trump with the exception of the part it’s actually appropriate for a general to have that attitude in time of war. Trump appropriating the George C Scott version of Patton in a political mode ISN’T appropriate at all, it worked though. A crass and abusive screed of insults and violent rhetoric are the hallmark of every Trump Rally ever
Patton and Trump have contempt for the abilities (and probably even the racial abstraction) of the Russians, despite Trump’s open admiration for Putin. Patton moves himself firmly onto the hot seat in the early postwar moments by repeatedly insulting people, specifically members of the russian military, the US President and that which would become NATO. Sound familiar?
Near the conclusion of the movie Patton is again being a prima donna for the press, riding a prized horse in a Baroque era stable. He’s absolutely embraced the role of Military Governor from a Medieval Perspective. He refuses to denounce the Nazi’s properly and defends his utilization of Hitler’s former minions in his administration. In the characteristically glib manner of a sociopath Patton simply analogizes the Nazi party to the Republicans and Democrats in America. Such is his arrogance he ignores the way the press are manipulating him and plays bluntly to them making a bellicose implied case for war and just basically checking off boxes on the list of traits of “Unfrozen Caveman Warlord”. The career of Patton is gutted by his insane statements and brutal medieval view of war, deemed just too out of touch with the 20th century to be any longer tolerated.
The movie closes with the disgraced Patton reflecting in how the Romans would celebrate a victory with a triumphant parade through Rome itself and a warning that all Glory is Fleeting.
Disturbing Conclusions and Thoughts-
It’s my theory that Trump see’s the story of Patton as that of an American who couldn’t lose cause he was an American and that he was an exceptional person who prospered BECAUSE he broke all rules and civility rather than IN SPITE OF THIS. I believe he sees his kooky Cabinet of Billionaire Ass kissers as equivalent to Patton’s highly trained and battle proven staff officers. This dangerous delusion casts crazy ex-General Flynn in the role of Omar Bradley, something so far from the truth it would be laughable of it weren’t absolute reality.
Based on his overtly displayed misunderstanding of the movie Trump shows he is dangerously militarily primitive and most comfortable with methods and ideas more commonly associated with the Nazi Germans than 20th century Americans.
Patton is a terrible role model for even most soldiers as he was always succeeding at he expense of higher all around casualties. He declined peaceful solutions whenever possible. He was always one mistake from disaster but circumstance connived him a series of unlikely wins. As a role model for a president Patton is a disaster.
Like Trump, Patton’s glory should never eclipse the incompetence of his enemies. It requires some historical perspective to understand. Patton was set loose in western Europe with a veteran army and ample supplies. Even more decisive the Germans are mandated by Hitler ONLY to plan against Patton in an area where they expect the Invasion that never comes in Calais. Rather than ever accepting that they must fight Patton they become intimidated and willfully ignorant of the reality due to Hitler’s rapid mental decline from seriously insane to non functional maniac between about 1942 and early 1944. Patton directly benefits. As far as the recent campaigns analogize think of this as being roughly the same as Hillary not going to states she considered ‘safe’, like the vaunted Democratic “Blue Wall” of reliably Democratic states , each of which she then lost by less than an under-attended football game worth of people. We know Trump appreciates this misstep because its one of his favorite riffs to go on from the ongoing “Thank You Rallies” that are a veritable torchlight parade for the guy.
Also like Trump, Patton did have a staff of soothsayers, but again, they were highly competent top notch merit promoted staff officers with great expertise as well. Trumps rag tag group of advisers is anything BUT top notch or Highly Competent.
Another unavoidable conclusion from the movie is that current 21st century Americans are actually LESS civilized than Americans of the mid 20th century, 75 years ago, or at the very least the Americans of 1970 when the film is made. Being at war since 9-11 surely is somewhat to blame for this. This suggests that assertions about a cult of ignorance and a desire to literally turn back the clock to early post world war 2, before the integration of the military, by the Trumpists are very much real and accurate.
There is still time to avoid the fate of the Germans and the fate of Patton, which is the final spoke of this wheel. Patton’s death was in a freakish car accident. Its long been imagined and even said that the General was killed by the CIA’s predecessor the OSS. If you watch the movie you’ll end up a little torn by that because clearly he was an enemy of peace in every form. Could Trump’s disdain for the Intelligence community and peoples sensibilities be such that there is action taken against him as well?
It was a nightmare everyone thought would end with a diminished Donald Trump losing the election and bringing down the Worst and Wildest Elements of the Right with him. Instead a Celebration of Ignorance and an arcane Electoral System conspired into the most unlikely of events – An Electoral College landslide for Billionaire Donald Trump.
Suddenly a completely intolerant and egotistical man is about to take the Oath of Office and become president, something most Americans couldn’t fathom as late as Election Day.
Trump’s apparent fascination with and documented allegiance from the Alt-Right is maybe the most unsettling aspect of his millieu.
A prime voice of this group is court documented wife beater, all but admitted White Supremacist and Creature from The Breitbart Lagoon- Steve Bannon. A man as removed from civility as he is from his last shower Bannon is an unsightly mess inside and out. He would be repulsive enough without adding in his position as the Trump campaign manager and Show Runner. His prominance in Trump’s terrible coven of advisers is truly disturbing as he has proudly and purposely been as Machiavellian as possible. An outright flake like General Flynn is scary enough, but Bannon has all the hallmarks of a dedicated straight up Nazi.
Trump chums the waters with meaningless personal conflicts the media rushes to cover to try to change the scene. He may yet pull this off too. Part of his success is the broken nature of America’s media and even more deeply its flawed (and soon to be gone?) public education system.
All of Trumps Cabinet picks are head scratchers, but its Bannon most of all; conspicuously disheveled, weeks past a haircut and days removed from his last shave; who is the most revealing member of the Inner Circle. As mentioned earlier he is a leading figure in the American Nazi Movement, or as they call themselves in 21st century Weimar America, the Alt-Right. These guys are cleaned up Klansmen with a pseudo intellectual updated and Americanized version of the old Nazi “Stab in the Back Myth” and all the familiar ideas regarding racial superiority.
The idea that Bannon has a non deniable job (he’s a personal adviser to the president) in the White House is way more legitimacy than Bannon or his ‘Philosophy’ deserve. Congress can hate on him all they want should they choose to, there’s no stopping his being a member of Trump’s inner circle. This is made only slightly less infuriating by the sobering fact the Democrats are basically classified as an ‘At Risk Species’ in Washington, toothless and declawed like never before. Thanks to that it’s not like Bannon or any other sociopath Trump decides to add to his cabal will have that much trouble getting confirmed by the very friendly and very Republican congress if their position should call for it.
Don’t worry, it gets even worse.
Unpleasant people litter Trumps inner circle. An Inner Circe that might include Vladimir Putin. No one but Donald Trump and his lackeys seem to have any confusion about the FACT that Russia tried or maybe even succeeded in tampering with the vote and vote totals. They were clearly shown by their actions to be biased toward Trump. Trump chums the waters with meaningless personal conflicts the media rushes to cover to try to change the scene. He may yet pull this off too. Part of his success is the broken nature of America’s media and even more deeply its flawed (and soon to be gone?) public education system. Many graduate with no analytical skills and a penchant to believe anything they hear so long as its lurid enough to hold their attention.
Some of the problems Trump’s heading for result from his own double talk and double standards. For instance, scoffing at Immigrants makes it sort of difficult for him to use his actual wife as First Lady. He’s totally cool with it though as he has a maudlin back up plan. Instead of a First Lady we will get a Mount Rushmore of Arrogance in the form of his adult children, each less likable than the last. Throw in adolescent Cyber Security Expert Barron for good measure. Somehow they’re gonna run his businesses too. The Press Conference to explain how that would happen just never took place though,much like the press conference where he was going to release his taxes failed to materialize. Look for these two events to remain perpetually ‘about two weeks’ into the future.
principal scolding the wild kids in the lunchroom. “Fake News” and “Enemy of the State” are terms we’ve all heard her use again and again.
Now consider Trump calling the Generals and the former president stupid repeatedly for broadcasting some details of their plan to destroy ISIS. He simply doesn’t understand the idea that you can cloud your opponents judgement to the point you can predict or even control his actions.
Instead a Celebration of Ignorance and an arcane Electoral System conspired into the most unlikely of events – An Electoral College landslide for Billionaire Donald Trump.
get a Mount Rushmore of Arrogance in the form of his adult children, each less likable than the last. Throw in adolescent Cyber Security Expert Barron for good measure. Somehow they’re gonna run his businesses too. The Press Conference to explain how that would happen just never took place though, much like the press conference where he was going to release his taxes failed to materialize. Look for these two events to remain perpetually ‘about two weeks’ into the future.
