AP: I do want to talk to you about the 100 days.Trump takes control of the interview, depriving Pace of control of the narrative arc. Don't let Pace pace it.
TRUMP: Good.
AP: I want to ask a few questions on some topics that are happening toward the end of the interview.
TRUMP: Did you see Aya (Hijazi, an Egyptian-American charity worker who had been detained in the country for nearly three years) …
AP: Can you tell me a little bit about how that came about?He's bragging, taunting Obama, using the benevolent, suffering woman — Hijazi — as the centerpiece for his dance of triumph.
TRUMP: No, just — you know, I asked the government to let her out. …
TRUMP: You know Obama worked on it for three years, got zippo, zero.
AP: How did you hear about this story?How did you hear about it? Why is that the question?
TRUMP: Many people, human rights people, are talking about it. It’s an incredible thing, especially when you meet her. You realize — I mean, she was in a rough place.There's absolutely no, zero, zippo explanation of why Trump was able to get results when Obama worked on it for 3 years and got nothing. There's an unclear spot in the audio recording at this time, but it seems as though Pace may have suggested that Trump can pal around with guys like el-Sissi, because the next line in the transcript is:
AP: Did you have to strike a deal with (Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah) el-Sissi over this?
TRUMP: No. No deal. He was here. He — I said, “I really would appreciate it if you would look into this and let her out.” And as you know, she went through a trial. And anyway, she was let go. And not only she, it was a total of eight people. …
TRUMP: Yeah, it’s funny: One of the best chemistries I had was with (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel.I'm guessing he said that to deflect Pace's implication that Trump can pal around with autocrats. (My phrase "pal around" stirred memories of something they used to say about Obama. Google autocompletes my "Obama pals around with" search with: "terrorists." It's a phrase coined by Sarah Palin.)
Trump controls the interview by shifting from el-Sissi — don't think I gave him anything — to Angela Merkel. Now, that was some surprising chemistry, he wants us to know....
TRUMP: ... Because, um, I’m at odds on, you know, the NATO payments and I’m at odds on immigration. We had unbelievable chemistry. And people have given me credit for having great chemistry with all of the leaders, including el-Sissi....And we're seeing that "chemistry" in this interview. Trump has controlled it thus far, keeping it centered on his success. Maybe Pace is letting him feel comfortable. Her next question, however, is puffy:
AP: Do you feel like you have changed the office of the presidency, how the presidency can be used to effect change?He's not answering the question asked but the question he thought he'd hear. And I think the first 100 days is very meaningful. Not the rounded off number, 100. It's just a number. But the beginning of the presidency. It's especially meaningful in his case, because he frequently asserted that he'd do things immediately, on day one, and so fast your head will spin.
TRUMP: I think the 100 days is, you know, it’s an artificial barrier. It’s not very meaningful.
Trump returns to the topic of his "chemistry" with world leaders. "I’ve developed great relationships with all of these leaders." I guess that's the 100-day accomplishment he wants people to notice (instead of pointing out things he hasn't done). Who can check the work that's happening at the "chemistry" level?
Well, then, what about his "chemistry" with Congress? Pace asks: "Do you feel like you’ve been able to apply that kind of a relationship to your dealings with Congress as well?"
TRUMP: I have great relationships with Congress. I think we’re doing very well and I think we have a great foundation for future things....Relationships. That's the most important thing. Pace presses him:
AP: You did put out though, as a candidate, you put out a 100-day plan. Do you feel like you should be held accountable to that plan?Okay, he'll do items. You want items? He can do items. But Trump proceeds to talk over Pace, and then get back to his "relationships" theme:
TRUMP: Somebody, yeah, somebody put out the concept of a hundred-day plan. But yeah. Well, I’m mostly there on most items. Go over the items, and I’ll talk to you …
TRUMP: But things change. There has to be flexibility. Let me give you an example. President Xi, we have a, like, a really great relationship. For me to call him a currency manipulator and then say, “By the way, I’d like you to solve the North Korean problem,” doesn’t work. So you have to have a certain flexibility, Number One. Number Two, from the time I took office till now, you know, it’s a very exact thing. It’s not like generalities. Do you want a Coke or anything?Now, that is specific: Coke! I love how he switches things up. High to low.
Maybe Kim Jong-un would like a Coke. Maybe that's part of the chemistry. You know, secret formula and all that. Maybe President Xi was disarmed when the President of the United States suddenly expressed concern that he might desire a Coke.
AP: I’m OK, thank you. No. …Trump goes on about President Xi, and Pace finally restates the 100-day question:
AP: So in terms of the 100-day plan that you did put out during the campaign, do you feel, though, that people should hold you accountable to this in terms of judging success?Trump remains in control of this interview, because he takes this opportunity to go on at length about Neil Gorsuch — a great man... a great, great justice of the Supreme Court... a young man... a President's highest calling is the nomination of a Supreme Court justice. He then shifts to the military, another go-to topic. He's building the military. He's saving money.
TRUMP: No, because much of the foundation’s been laid. Things came up. I’ll give you an example. I didn’t put Supreme Court judge on the 100 (day) plan, and I got a Supreme Court judge.
Pace had asked earlier whether Trump has "changed the office of the presidency," and now she puts forward another "change" question: "how do you feel like the office has changed you?"
TRUMP: Well the one thing I would say — and I say this to people — I never realized how big it was. Everything’s so (unintelligible) like, you know the orders are so massive. I was talking to —What? Is he talking about the literal size of the office, the room, and the big leather folders that contain the pieces of paper that are the orders? That's weird coming from a man who was always talking about how big — huuuge — things were. Pace prompts him to make sense:
AP: You mean the responsibility of it, or do you mean —Oh, Jesus Christ. It's as though a child has become President. Or do all Presidents think such things, but only Trump lets the thoughts flow right through to the open air?
TRUMP: Number One, there’s great responsibility. When it came time to, as an example, send out the 59 missiles, the Tomahawks in Syria. I’m saying to myself, “You know, this is more than just like, 79 (sic) missiles. This is death that’s involved,” because people could have been killed...
This is involving death and life and so many things.... So it’s far more responsibility. (unintelligible)... The financial cost of everything is so massive, every agency. This is thousands of times bigger, the United States, than the biggest company in the world.Uh, yeah... Now, I'm picturing the man wandering around amazed — This President of the United States thing, it's a big deal.
TRUMP. ... It’s massive. And every agency is, like, bigger than any company. So you know, I really just see the bigness of it all, but also the responsibility. And the human responsibility. You know, the human life that’s involved in some of the decisions.Yes, indeed it is.
Pace asks him to compare business to government: "Is there anything from your business background that just doesn’t translate into the presidency, that just simply is not applicable to this job?"
TRUMP: Well in business, you don’t necessarily need heart, whereas here, almost everything affects people... In fact, in business you’re actually better off without it.It's the story of a man. A businessman. A businessman who found his heart....
AP: What’s making that switch been like for you?
TRUMP: You have to love people. And if you love people, such a big responsibility....
I'm not surprised that he leaps from that — which sounds like a pitch for a Hollywood movie — to the subject of how mean the media is to him:
I used to get great press. I get the worst press. I get such dishonest reporting with the media... I’ve never had anything like it before. It happened during the primaries, and I said, you know, when I won, I said, “Well the one thing good is now I’ll get good press.” And it got worse. (unintelligible) So that was one thing that a little bit of a surprise to me. I thought the press would become better, and it actually, in my opinion, got more nasty.He was a heartless businessman, and the press loved him, loved his heartlessness. Then, he found his heart. As President... of the United States. And the press... hated him. Heartless, they loved him. When his heart was overflowing with love... they hated him.... So that was one thing that a little bit of a surprise to me. That's your story line, biopic moviemakers. He's handing it to you.
Next question: The Wall.
TRUMP: I don’t know yet. People want the border wall. My base definitely wants the border wall, my base really wants it — you’ve been to many of the rallies. OK, the thing they want more than anything is the wall. My base, which is a big base...I know. I saw that New Yorker cover...
I think my base is 45 percent. You know, it’s funny. The Democrats, they have a big advantage in the electoral college. Big, big, big advantage. I’ve always said the popular vote would be a lot easier than the electoral college. The electoral college — but it’s a whole different campaign (unintelligible). The electoral college is very difficult for a Republican to win, and I will tell you, the people want to see it.I love how flexibly he retreats to the nearest comfort zone. But he comes back. The Wall was the topic:
They want to see the wall, they want to see security. Now, it just came out that they’re 73 percent down. … That’s a tremendous achievement. …He means — it took me a minute — border crossings are 73% down. I see how his mind leapt. He was trying to substitute the abstraction "security" for the concrete thing, The Wall. If border crossings are already down 73%, then in some more-real-than-real sense, we already have The Wall. Why have a wall construction when you have a constructive wall?
Look at this, in 100 days, that down to the lowest in 17 years and it’s going lower. Now, people aren’t coming because they know they’re not going to get through, and there isn’t crime. You know the migration up to the border is horrible for women, you know that?Again, here's that flexible stream of consciousness. Why not plug in caring about women? But Trump abandons the feminist argument for The Wall and shifts to the cost. He's seen the number $24 billion, but "I think I’ll do it for $10 billion or less."
TRUMP: That’s not a lot of money relative to what we’re talking about. If we stop 1 percent of the drugs from coming in — and we’ll stop all of it.He can't possibly believe he could stop all drugs from coming in. Other politicians layer in weasel words: I believe we can stop nearly all of it. But Trump goes ahead and states something in strong terms. I guess it's like the big ask in The Art of the Deal. Then later he'll assert that he's done so much that it's basically the same as what he said he would do. He's already showing us that about The Wall. He's almost claiming that he has already built The Wall. It depends on what the meaning of The Wall is. If there's something stopping people from crossing the border, we essentially have The Wall. If we've reduced border crossings by 73%, we've stopped everyone, it's almost fair to say.
And as for drugs, they're so bad that even if we only stop 1% of the drugs with The Wall, it's worth it:
That’s a tremendously good investment, 1 percent. The drugs pouring through on the southern border are unbelievable. We’re becoming a drug culture, there’s so much. And most of it’s coming from the southern border. The wall will stop the drugs.And The Wall only needs to stop 1% to be worth the money spend. Who's going to argue that The Wall didn't stop 1%? Win!
Pace tries to pin him down about whether he'll sign the spending bill if there's no money for The Wall, and Trump says "I don’t want to comment." Pace asks what he'll say to his base if there's no money for The Wall. Trump says his base "understands the wall is going to get built," and shifts immediately to how cheap it's going to be: "$10 billion or less. "A bit more if it's "a super-duper, higher, better, better security, everything else."
I'm skipping over some things: NATO, Le Pen, NAFTA.
Wikileaks: "Do you think that arresting Assange is a priority for the United States?"
TRUMP: When Wikileaks came out ... I found it very interesting when I read this stuff and I said, “Wow.” It was just a figure of speech. I said, “Well, look at this. It’s good reading.”Great phrase (and great phrase format). I don’t support or unsupport. I don't X or unX.
AP: But that didn’t mean that you supported what Assange is doing?
TRUMP: No, I don’t support or unsupport.
Anyway, as for arresting Assange, it's up to the Attorney General:
TRUMP: I am not involved in that decision, but if Jeff Sessions wants to do it, it’s OK with me. I didn’t know about that decision, but if they want to do it, it’s OK with me.Pace asks about "Dreamers." And how does that fit with what he said about "heart"?
TRUMP: No, we aren’t looking to do anything right now.... We are not after the dreamers, we are after the criminals.Heart.
AP: And that’s going to be the policy of your administration to allow the dreamers to stay?
TRUMP: Yes. Yes. That’s our policy.....
AP: A lot of the dreamers have been hoping to hear something from you. I don’t want to give them the wrong message with this.
TRUMP: Here is what they can hear: The dreamers should rest easy. OK? I’ll give you that. The dreamers should rest easy. …
ISIS:
TRUMP: We have a very strong plan, but we cannot talk about it, Julie....Pace asks if Trump thinks he has "the right team in place for your next 100 days."
AP: Can you say generally what the strategy is? Should people —
TRUMP: Generally is we have got to get rid of ISIS. We have no choice. And other terrorist organizations.
TRUMP: Yes. I think my team has been, well, I have different teams.That sounds as though he has some problems!
I think my military team has been treated with great respect. As they should be. I think my other team hasn’t been treated with the respect that they should get.I guess he's talking about the media again. This is another one of those examples where his unfiltered thoughts pour out and he hasn't taken care to give us the context he enjoys with himself inside his own head.
We have some very talented people, and very diverse people.Pace is nicely prodding him to make sense. He said he had "different teams," then mentioned the "military team," then said "my other team." That sounds as though the "different teams" are only 2 teams — the military and everyone else.
AP: Do you mean your White House team when you say that?
TRUMP: Yeah, my White House team. I think Reince (Priebus) has been doing an excellent job. I think that, you know, this is a very tough environment not caused necessarily by me.Explain! He doesn't. He switches to talking about the election!
Although the election has, you know, look, the Democrats had a tremendous opportunity because the electoral college, as I said, is so skewed to them. You start off by losing in New York and California, no matter who it is.Yikes. It's like he plugged in an old tape loop from the rallies.
If, if Abe Lincoln came back to life, he would lose New York and he would lose California. It’s just the registration, there’s nothing you can do. So you’re losing the two biggest states, that’s where you start. OK. The Electoral College is so skewed in favor of a Democrat that it’s very, very hard. Look at Obama’s number in the Electoral College. His numbers on the win were … but the Electoral College numbers were massive. You lose New York, you lose Illinois. Illinois is impossible to win. And you look at, so now you lose New York, Illinois, no matter what you do, and California. Right. And you say, man. Now you have to win Florida, you have to win Ohio, you have to win North Carolina. You have to win all these states, and then I won Wisconsin and Michigan and all of these other places, but you remember there was no way to, there was no way to 270.The question was about whether he had the right team in place going into the next 100 days. It's as if he's groping over the unasked question whether he had the right team in place for the 100 days before the last 100 days.
TRUMP: So she had this massive advantage, she spent hundreds of millions of dollars more money than I spent. Hundreds of millions … Yeah. Or more, actually because we were $375 she was at $2.2 billion. But whatever. She spent massive amounts of money more and she lost. Solidly lost, because you know it wasn’t 270, it was 306. So there’s anger. But there was massive anger before I got there, so it’s not easy for a White House staff to realize that you are going into a situation where you are going to be at no, where are going to get no votes. I mean, here’s a judge who is No. 1 at Columbia, No. 1 at Harvard and an Oxford scholar. And he got three votes.What? He's suddenly talking about Neil Gorsuch?!
AP: Three Democratic votes, but yeah.Pace is letting him get away with being scarily disordered. She's acting as though he's answering her questions. She's playing along. Break through all what?
TRUMP: Three Democratic votes. OK. He’s an Oxford scholar at the highest level. The No. 1, you know, one of the great academics, one of the great writers. No bad decisions with all … nothing. He’s like a …
AP: Do you think that you can break through that? I mean this —
TRUMP: Yeah, I do.Is she turning into Trump — mirroring his style of speech, accepting the leaping from topic to topic without transitions?
AP: Is one of the biggest challenges for a president.
TRUMP: I think (I) can to an extent.To an extent! I'm actually amazed that he used some weasel words. He normally just says he can do things. If it turns out, later, he can't, he'll explain it then.
But there’s a, there’s a basic hard-line core that you can’t break though, OK, that you can’t break through. There’s a hard-line group you can’t break through, you can’t. It’s sad. You can’t. Look, I met with Congressman Cummings and I really liked him, a lot. Elijah Cummings (of Maryland). I really liked him a lot. And during the conversation because we have a very strong mutual feeling on drug prices. He came to see me, at my invitation, because I saw him talking about, he came to see me about drug prices because drug prices are ridiculous. And I am going to get them way, way, way down and he liked that. He said you will be the greatest president. He said you will be, in front of five, six people, he said you will be the greatest president in the history of this country.That's interesting but I don't know what it has to do with whether he has the right team in place for the next 100. I guess it shows what we see throughout this interview, that Trump is in control. He takes control (and Pace lets him).
AP: He disputed that slightly.
TRUMP: That’s what he said. I mean, what can I tell you?
AP: Yeah.
TRUMP: There’s six people sitting here. What did he, what, what do you mean by slightly?
AP: He said, he said that he felt like you could be a great president if and then —
TRUMP: Well he said, you’ll be the greatest president in the history of, but you know what, I’ll take that also, but that you could be. But he said, will be the greatest president but I would also accept the other. In other words, if you do your job, but I accept that. Then I watched him interviewed and it was like he never even was here. It’s incredible. I watched him interviewed a week later and it’s like he was never in my office. And you can even say that.
With no question asked, Trump proceeds to brag about his ratings when he's appeared on the Sunday morning talk shows.
TRUMP: You know Chris Wallace had 9.2 million people... It’s the highest they’ve ever had. On any, on air, (CBS “Face the Nation” host John) Dickerson had 5.2 million people. It’s the highest for “Face the Nation” or as I call it, “Deface the Nation.” It’s the highest for “Deface the Nation” since the World Trade Center. Since the World Trade Center came down. It’s a tremendous advantage.Ugh. I hate seeing 9/11 randomly tossed into a boast like that — especially after the cheap joke "Deface the Nation." You don't follow lighthearted foolery like that with the World Trade Center. You don't use World Trade Center as a benchmark for high ratings!
The media rant flows on without mediation from the media person in the room.
TRUMP: I have learned one thing, because I get treated very unfairly, that’s what I call it, the fake media. And the fake media is not all of the media. You know they tried to say that the fake media was all the, no. The fake media is some of you. I could tell you who it is, 100 percent. Sometimes you’re fake, but — but the fake media is some of the media. It bears no relationship to the truth. It’s not that Fox treats me well, it’s that Fox is the most accurate.Oh, jeez. It really does look like a movie script for a character who is losing his mind. Whatever. Whatever. In the meantime, I’m here and they’re not. Terrible. He's babbling about his pride and his hurt feelings on top of a terrorist attack. Hold the problem of terrorism in the forefront when you are talking about terrorism. Don't lapse into licking your own tiny wounds — media words that meant next to nothing.
AP: Do you believe that? That Fox —
TRUMP: I do. I get treated so badly. Yesterday, about the thing, you know when I said it’s a terrorism … it may be. I said it may be a terrorist attack and MSNBC, I heard, went crazy, “He called it a terrorist attack.” They thought it was a bank robbery. By the way, I’m 10-0 for that. I’ve called every one of them. Every time they said I called it way too early and then it turns out I’m … Whatever. Whatever. In the meantime, I’m here and they’re not.
TRUMP: ... The one thing I’ve learned to do that I never thought I had the ability to do. I don’t watch CNN anymore.No, he didn't. (I checked the transcript.)
AP: You just said you did.
TRUMP: No. No, I, if I’m passing it, what did I just say (inaudible)?Pace mixed up CNN and MSNBC.
AP: You just said —
TRUMP: Where? Where?
AP: Two minutes ago.
TRUMP: No, they treat me so badly. No, I just said that. No, I, what’d I say, I stopped watching them. But I don’t watch CNN anymore. I don’t watch MSNBC. I don’t watch it. Now I heard yesterday that MSNBC, you know, they tell me what’s going on.That's right. He said "and MSNBC, I heard, went crazy." I heard. Just when I think his thoughts are a jumble, there's something that shows how sharp and accurate he can be.
TRUMP: ... I never thought I had the ability to not watch. Like, people think I watch (MSNBC’s) “Morning Joe.” I don’t watch “Morning Joe.” I never thought I had the ability to, and who used to treat me great by the way, when I played the game. I never thought I had the ability to not watch what is unpleasant, if it’s about me. Or pleasant. But when I see it’s such false reporting and such bad reporting and false reporting that I’ve developed an ability that I never thought I had. I don’t watch things that are unpleasant. I just don’t watch them.So he doesn't watch TV all the time? Or is he one of those people who just watch Fox News all the time?
TRUMP: And I don’t watch things that I know are going to be unpleasant. CNN has covered me unfairly and incorrectly and I don’t watch them anymore. A lot of people don’t watch them anymore, they’re now in third place. But I’ve created something where people are watching … but I don’t watch CNN anymore. I don’t watch MSNBC anymore. I don’t watch things, and I never thought I had that ability. I always thought I’d watch.I think he's made his point. He doesn't watch. I get it.
TRUMP: I just don’t. And that’s taken place over the last year. And you know what that is, that’s a great, it’s a great thing because you leave, you leave for work in the morning you know, you’re, you don’t watch this total negativity. I never thought I’d be able to do that and for me, it’s so easy to do now. Just don’t watch.He doesn't watch. He thought it would be hard, not watching, because it's about him. But now he finds he can just not watch. And it's great. He broke the habit. It was about him, so he had to watch, but it was always bad. But he figured it out. Just don't watch.
Posts
104 comments:
Calvin Coolidge he is not.
He is the Fastest President on earth. The only question is whether his followers can keep up with him. The poor Dems are dizzy and just show a shit eating grin in place of making a reasoned opposition.
I've read what PowerLine said about it and I agree.
I'm glad he stopped watching CNN and MSNBC. There is no way they can be helpful to him in any way
One of the last things he said was that he doesn't watch CNN anymore. THAT has probably shaken up that network like nothing before. Watch their ratings go into free fall once the word gets out.
Compare this transcript to the interview of Hillary you posted over the weekend -- with Brianna. Hillary sits docilely (sometimes with a fake grin plastered on her face) while Brianna rambles on and on at the start with the preamble to a question. I can't imagine Trump doing that.
Interviews are so much more interesting when the person being interviewed takes control and you watch the press person struggle to regain the upper hand. That's hard to do with Trump, I think.
I'm so happy, still, that the Clinton Machine was defeated.
Powerline called him a "human hurricane". That's good.
Look up 'Trump British Accent'. His words dubbed. Fascinating. Similar to the gender reversal play Althouse has mentioned a few times.
Here is Power Line's John Hinderaker's conclusion, "the more I have listened to Trump and, especially, read transcripts of his speeches and interviews, the more I am impressed by the fact that if you look past his gee-whiz real estate developer style and his generally-overlooked implicit self-deprecation, what Trump is telling us is usually very smart."
Agree 100 percent.
Q: Did you ship millions of tax payer dollars on secret pallets to Egypt to secure her release?
A: No.
"Look up 'Trump British Accent'. His words dubbed. Fascinating. Similar to the gender reversal play Althouse has mentioned a few times."
I've blogged that already. You could find it in the archive easily and see what we all said at the time.
This presidency is like the best Tom Wolfe novel he's never written come to life. What a page turner...
Beats Hillary by more today, would win the popular vote too, according to the WaPo's poll they just published. I don't think he is perfect, but I have not regretted my vote, that's for sure. I live in Florida half the year, and I like seeing Air Force One at the airport.
That poor interviewer lady. The lefties are going to hate her for doing this, and for not being rude and obstreperous.
Off topic .... Tim in Vermont lives in Florida half the year. Brought a smile to my face.
The "do you want a coke" sentence stood out to me when I first read it, but my sense was that he was offering a coke to the reporter. Like he was being hospitable. I thought it a great moment, because he humanizes the reporter and acts like a host.
Though, it was also a reflection of how he responds in particular ways to particular situations. I wonder if the question got him to remember to personalize even this meeting.
If he was talking offering cokes to the leaders he's meeting with that changes the moment in the interview quite a bit.
The guy is FUN.
Think what a drab disaster a Hillary! presidency would be.
Aaaaaiiiiiii !!!!!!!
"That poor interviewer lady. The lefties are going to hate her for doing this, and for not being rude and obstreperous."
She's a lefty too. Powerline has written about her and her bias AP articles.
sojerofgod said...
One of the last things he said was that he doesn't watch CNN anymore.
Here's what I propose: Trump hires Bill O'Reilly. They set up a fake "old school" cathode ray tube TV cabinet in the Oval Office. Bill O'Reilly then does The O'Reilly Factor show live in person from inside the hollowed-out TV cabinet while Trump watches the program.
Just imagine the reaction!
"A businessman. A businessman who found his heart...."
One thing that many have observed about Trump is that he is interested in people and talks to ordinary people everywhere he goes.
Hillary, when Bill was president, had a rule that no one in the White House was allowed to look at her.
"Do you want a Coke or anything?"
Too funny.
Blogger Paddy O said..."The "do you want a coke" sentence stood out to me when I first read it, but my sense was that he was offering a coke to the reporter."
That's how I read it.
Hillary, when Bill was president, had a rule that no one in the White House was allowed to look at her.
4/24/17, 8:31 AM
In fairness, it must have been pretty easy for the staff to avert their eyes from Hillary.
Imagine Melania Trump issuing the same order - now, that would be difficult!
"The "do you want a coke" sentence stood out to me when I first read it, but my sense was that he was offering a coke to the reporter. Like he was being hospitable. I thought it a great moment, because he humanizes the reporter and acts like a host."
I agree that he was offering the Coke to Pace. I hope my text isn't ambiguous.
I added a few more words a the Coke spot so you wouldn't misread it.
I'm stream of consciousness like Trump. There are leaps.
Had she been interviewing me, I would have said: "Do you want a beer or anything?"
" The fuel, the oil, so many different things. You saw the editorial they had in their paper saying they cannot be allowed to have nuclear, you know, et cetera."
If China is cutting off the oil and gas sold to North Korea, then that is real NEWS.
"I'm stream of consciousness like Trump. There are leaps."
Yeah, I misread your intent. Your blog responses are really great, the best, I've heard other people talking about how great they are.
Fire Spicer and hire O'Reilly. It would be the most fun ever.
The ice between Althouse, and the Donald begins to melt.
Speaking of Trump/British accent and also the Trump/Clinton role reversal play...
As I read this transcript, I imagine the Trump words being spoken by a Miss Universe contestant in one of those beauty-pageant blooper videos. With a beautiful blonde, with deer-in-the-headlights eyes, rolling our words that are barely sensible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojQtfU5W_mE
dreams said...
"That poor interviewer lady. The lefties are going to hate her for doing this, and for not being rude and obstreperous."
She's a lefty too. Powerline has written about her and her bias AP articles.
Precisely my point. She let them down. They will be ruthless in their revenge.
No discussion of North Korea beyond references to chemistry with the Chinese. NK is still the most dangerous point of conflict in the world.
lol. "...rolling out words..."
Nothing like a typo when you are in the midst of criticizing Trump's linguistic recklessness.
"As I read this transcript, I imagine the Trump words being spoken by a Miss Universe contestant in one of those beauty-pageant blooper videos."
As I read Chuck's comments I imagine him typing naked from the waist down, with a Golden Retriever licking peanut butter off his balls.
Also: outside there is a Mexican gardener with a leaf blower.
It's funny how people picture things.
I am Laslo.
"Yeah, I misread your intent. Your blog responses are really great, the best, I've heard other people talking about how great they are."
LOL.
I'm putting up an LOL so we can all be friends and have great chemistry.
I sold machinery for 22 years and now sell myself as a consultant. I used to read a lot of books and listen to a lot of motivational tapes on how to be a better salesman. They really do work. They helped me a lot.
If I had to pick one thing that a successful salesperson does and that the moderately or un-successful person doesn't do, it's this: ASK FOR THE ORDER!!!!!
A lot of different ways to do this and phrase this but it is amazing how many times salespeople fail to do this and then can't understand why they didn't close the sale.
So something that jumped out at me from the interview was this:
AP: Can you tell me a little bit about how that came about?
TRUMP: No, just — you know, I asked the government to let her out. …
TRUMP: You know Obama worked on it for three years, got zippo, zero.
AP: How did you hear about this story?
TRUMP: Many people, human rights people, are talking about it. It’s an incredible thing, especially when you meet her. You realize — I mean, she was in a rough place.
AP: Did you have to strike a deal with (Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah) el-Sissi over this?
TRUMP: No. No deal. He was here. He — I said, “I really would appreciate it if you would look into this and let her out.” And as you know, she went through a trial. And anyway, she was let go. And not only she, it was a total of eight people.
And there was this with the Italian Primo:
TRUMP: He’s going to end up paying. But you know, nobody ever asked the question. Nobody asked. Nobody ever asked him to pay up. So it’s a different kind of a presidency.
President Trump has been a salesman all his life. You may or may not like what he is selling but he has been a master of it. He knows that the most important part of the sales process is knowing to ask for the order. Knowing how and when is important but the most important is asking.
We saw that in his campaigning style. He went out among the people and asked for the order (their vote) Loser-loser Hillary couln't be bothered. She could have had Wisconsin for the asking, probably. She didn't ask.
Ya don't ask, ya don't get.
John Henry
surfed said...
"Fire Spicer and hire O'Reilly. It would be the most fun ever."
I said that very thing just a few days ago. So great minds think alike. A least I've heard they do. I don't know. Maybe great minds don't think alike. But I've heard it. From great scholars. The greatest. So I'm pleased either way.
Blogger EDH said...
sojerofgod said...
Here's what I propose: Trump hires Bill O'Reilly. They set up a fake "old school" cathode ray tube TV cabinet in the Oval Office. Bill O'Reilly then does The O'Reilly Factor show live in person from inside the hollowed-out TV cabinet while Trump watches the program.
You mean like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhNPSJvtZn4
"Nothing like a typo when you are in the midst of criticizing Trump's linguistic recklessness."
There Chuck goes again — normalizing Trump.
"As I read this transcript, I imagine the Trump words being spoken by a Miss Universe contestant in one of those beauty-pageant blooper videos. With a beautiful blonde, with deer-in-the-headlights eyes, rolling our words that are barely sensible."
I have worked with people who truly have the gift of gab and can speak at length in very florid and convincing terms, yet cannot back up those words with anything resembling competence once it's time to actually do the work. Those people are usually the ones promoted.
surfed said...
"Fire Spicer and hire O'Reilly. It would be the most fun ever."
"Reporters, the word of the day is 'moronic.' Do not be moronic when addressing the Press Secretary."
"Oh, Jesus Christ. It's as though a child has become President. Or do all President's think such things, but only Trump lets the thoughts flow right through to the open air?"
Yes, all Presidents think about the people who might be killed from their order of military action. Some even use those thoughts as the reason to not launch the military action, even when inaction ultimately kills more people.
Fire Spicer and hire O'Reilly. It would be the most fun ever.
I think O'Reilly and Ailes will buy Fox News out of bankruptcy court.
That would be fun.
This a great post Professor. And hilarious.
You deserve a Coke.
"Oh, Jesus Christ. It's as though a child has become President. Or do all President's think such things, but only Trump lets the thoughts flow right through to the open air?"
Not reassuring.
BTW, I just saw that not only did Trump bail on the Correspondents' Dinner, he scheduled a rally in PA at the same time.
That made me laugh.
I think John Henry is right- those salesmanlike words he highlighted are likely the most salient in the interview.
I don't get Trump's claims of good chemistry with Market, unless he's trolling.
The offer of a Coke was hilarious. Playing the gracious host is one of the disarming techniques that Trump uses to full effect- undoubtedly that's why he's planning so many meetings at Mar a Lago.
Trump has this amazing gift -- which may actually be a disorder -- of not fully recognizing negative energy. Julie Pace did a fair interview but I could read snark and disdain in several questions. Trump rolled right past that. He may pick up on it but he has this ability just to steamroll past it. Sean Spicer seems to have the same talent.
As a classroom teacher of many years I could sense negative energy instantly though my conscious mind didn't always know immediately the source. I know Trump is intuitive and also in some respects thin-skinned so maybe I'm wrong in thinking he doesn't recognize this negative energy. Maybe his true gift is knowing when to steamroll, when to strike. At any rate, he's good at dealing with it, much better than I ever got standing in front of 25 students.
"BTW, I just saw that not only did Trump bail on the Correspondents' Dinner, he scheduled a rally in PA at the same time.
That made me laugh."
Trump is so much smarter than the dumb liberal media.
"This is involving death and life and so many things.... So it’s far more responsibility. (unintelligible)... The financial cost of everything is so massive, every agency. This is thousands of times bigger, the United States, than the biggest company in the world. Uh, yeah... Now, I'm picturing the man wandering around amazed — This President of the United States thing, it's a big deal."
No one knew being President was so hard.
Personally I don't find this interview very reassuring. Trump looks like he is floundering to me and I wonder if it is going to go on like this forever. Are we going to get real trade and immigration reform or not. Right now it looks like he is going to waste all his time on tax reform and Obamacare reform, two lose-lose issues if ever there were any.
Your analyses are spot-on, Ann. Great job!
Blogger M Jordan said...
Trump has this amazing gift -- which may actually be a disorder -- of not fully recognizing negative energy. Julie Pace did a fair interview but I could read snark and disdain in several questions. Trump rolled right past that. He may pick up on it but he has this ability just to steamroll past it.
I suspect that he does recognize it and ignores it. Also something a good salesman does.
"He was a heartless businessman, and the press loved him, loved his heartlessness. Then, he found his heart. As President... of the United States. And the press... hated him. Heartless, they loved him. When his heart was overflowing with love... they hated him.... So that was one thing that a little bit of a surprise to me. That's your story line, biopic moviemakers. He's handing it to you."
I don't think he was much loved before his Presidency either, but in his narcissistic way, he thought he was. A man people find easy to hate, that hasn't changed.
Laslo Spatula said...
Also: outside there is a Mexican gardener with a leaf blower.
I am Laslo.
4/24/17, 9:12 AM
What make is the leaf blower?
Why put Spicey down. He tries hard, and he communicates the message that Trump wants out.
Sweet Old Bill O'Reilly would take over the message to promote himself, and throw out Trump's messsage while mentioning his new book, all the while hitting on the newbie, slinky Cable TV Babes. If they want to get a recoqnized for a question , then Bill gets some too.
Inga has never read anything positive about Trump.
I don't think he was much loved before his Presidency either, but in his narcissistic way, he thought he was.
This was on the last thread.
Blogger Jersey Fled said...
I had a young lady in one of my classes who worked as a mid level manager at one of his golf courses. She said that every time Trump visited he would greet her by name and took a minute to ask how she was doing. She absolutely loved him, as did every member of the staff. He was always kind and respectful to even the most humble worker.
This was several years before anyone thought he might run for President. I was struck by this because it seemed out of character from his brash public persona.
But Inga knows better from her extensive experience with Trump.
"Why have a wall construction when you have a constructive wall?"
Because it will be his legacy. A 21 billion dollar legacy to the greatness of Trump.
"A 21 billion dollar legacy to the greatness of Trump. "
Worth every penny.
Wow, Professor Atlhouse; you sure glossed over the Elijah Cummings debacle.
Does a-n-y-b-o-d-y believe that Elijah Cummings declared/predicted that Donald J. Trump might be the greatest president in U.S. history? Wait I need to rephrase that: Anybody besides Donald Trump?
Let's be clear; Julie Pace was being exceedingly polite to the President of the United States in the middle of an extended interview. There are two ways to approach that problem. One is you bear down and cite the repeated stories in which Elijah Cummings has explained very credibly what he really said, which is not what Donald Trump thinks. The other is to gently get the interview subject to restate his answer so that there is no mistaking what his position is, and leave the fact-checking to the world at large reading the transcript.
There are hundreds of these little examples, right? Elijah Cummings' statement. Trump being caught in a press conference, claiming his was the biggest electoral college victory since Reagan. And on and on.
Calling Trump a "salesman" may be right. Calling Trump a "liar," and more than anything, a "bullshitter" would be just as accurate.
"I'm putting up an LOL so we can all be friends and have great chemistry."
That's really great, such a great community here. It takes heart to care about chemistry in a blog this large, I mean it's really extensive, more posts on this blog than most people realize, so many comments, hard to believe it, easy to get caught up in all of it, would you like some cake?, and the amazing thing is all the commenters, all of them great, really great people like Chuck and mockturtle and traditionalguy, even though traditional he has some forward looking thoughts, and we have some disagreements with Chuck, we'll work those out, he's a really great guy and we get along great.
Inga said...
I don't think he was much loved before his Presidency either, but in his narcissistic way, he thought he was. A man people find easy to hate, that hasn't changed.
4/24/17, 9:41 AM
"How could he possibly have gotten elected? No one I know likes him!" amiright?
"Inga has never read anything positive about Trump."
Michael, I read this blog every day. I've heard all sorts of positive things from Trump praise to nearly Trump worship from you folks.
Here's the Trump with a British accent post (from February 2016).
"She absolutely loved him, as did every member of the staff. He was always kind and respectful to even the most humble worker."
Whereas highly lovable Hillary was famous for treating WH staffers like dirt. As Michael K. noted earlier, the lowly peasants were not even supposed to look at Queen Hillary.
But "it's OK when we do it!"
"TRUMP: I am not involved in that decision, but if Jeff Sessions wants to do it, it’s OK with me. I didn’t know about that decision, but if they want to do it, it’s OK with me."
"Wikileaks, I love Wikileaks!" Whoosh, under the bus goes Assange.
Thanks for this. It's a fair bit of work, but worth doing.
Does he have the right team?
1. One measure of whether he has the right team would be positive media/pundit coverage.
2. He has never had that, from the beginning of his campaign, even as his team(s) have changed quite a bit.
3. This points to the fact that some aspects of "the system," or the environment he finds himself in, is "rigged against him," or has built-in negatives for him.
4. Take the Electoral College--please! Before a single vote is cast, the media and pundits all report the Democrat is ahead, a winner, etc., whereas the Republican is a clown who can't possibly win New York, California, or Illinois.
5. Also there are hard-core people who hate not only Republicans, but Trump himself. Who knows why? It's a tough problem.
6. So: he can't possibly be blamed for having the so-called wrong team as long as these factors are in play. He will always say he has the most fantastic team ever, etc., even if the team changes every week.
Once you do the work, you realize this is not the work of a fool, but of an intelligent person who makes language work for him strategically. Calls a spade a ... er ... shovel.
Tim in Vermont lives in Florida half the year. Brought a smile to my face.
It's an old handle, maybe it's time to change it. That's the nice thing about being a commenter instead of a blogger, no responsibility to the brand.
"Would you like a Coke?"
"Do you have Pepsi?"
(that's how you regain control;)
Hillary, when Bill was president, had a rule that no one in the White House was allowed to look at her.
Which is reason number 1,000,998,023 why she should never have been nominated to run. And now there seems to be a serious push to promote Chelsea! But lets face it, when Vanity Fair takes exception to you as the "Next Big Thing" on the left, it ain't happening.
@Inga
I remember on the first couple of seasons of The Apprentice, one of Trumps assistants who criticized the contestants during the sessions when Trump decided who to fire was a slender blond. In one episode I recall Trump stating that she looked like Princess Diana. I can assure you, she liked him.
I guess I just flushed my fake authenticity down the toilet...
Since Assange was not working for Trump (despite the fervent declarations of delusional liberals), Trump is not "throwing him under the bus."
Assange is not an American and certainly is not a right-winger.
What is funny is how quickly the Left threw Assange, their former hero, under the bus when he leaked information that damaged their beloved Democratic Party.
Hey Ann, latest study in Intelligence magazine shows that on the average men have a higher IQ than women by 4 points. Women have just been Trumped.
Paddy O, thank you for that and you are doing a great job here and believe me, when I say you are doing a great job it is really one of the greatest jobs in American history. Your great work here is a big -- and I mean really, really big -- reason that my ratings are so huge. Huge ratings. Really huge. Everybody loves me here; it's why I get mentioned so much, probably more than anybody in the history of the internet. Professor Althouse -- and I'm sure that Professor Althouse and I have played golf together and I think I shot a 65 that day -- has said, in front of 6 or 7 people, that I am by far -- by far -- the greatest commenter in the history of her blog. We've got a great relationship and really look forward to announcing something very major next week. You're going to be amazed, and I think you will be very pleased with what we announce and it will be such a beautiful announcement. Incredible.
You want a Coke?
I was among those who really hated modern art for all the usual reasons modern art is hated. Then I took a seminary class on art and theology, taught by a professor with dual degrees in art history and theology. I'd taken art history before but not with someone who really knew how to communicate it. We're used to representational art, where the art matches something we know in the world, and we intellectually assess and respond to it. But a lot of modern art was intended to get past that rational analysis, to strike at a deeper place, our emotions which respond to all sorts of stimuli without our being consciously aware, and in this response steer our rational thinking in ways we're not necessarily controlling. That's why postmodern thinking rejects the idea of the wholly objective and rational, we're not so neatly separable.
Seeing Trump's speaking more like Modern art is very helpful for me. I've never liked the guy, was very vocal about it hereabouts before the election, but in reading this interview (and I read it early just after posting so got the full text), his approach really became more clear. Even when you realize its a bit silly and frantic, it has an effect, and I suspect even more so in person. He takes people off guard, and is really the quintessential friendly American that disarms and persuades through emotional connection.
It's also really hard to stop writing in a Trump style when you get into it. It's very enticing to lapse into the repetition. Really great approach, the best.
"Oh, Jesus Christ. It's as though a child has become President.
"And a little child shall lead them."
You have to go with what you'e got.
Mark this day. April 24, 2017. This is the very first day that Ann was able to write critically of Trump. It is funny though that it took all of this time for Ann to finally realize that Trump is a whackadoodle.
"Hey Ann, latest study in Intelligence magazine shows that on the average men have a higher IQ than women by 4 points. Women have just been Trumped."
Insignificant difference. It means men and women are essentially equal in the forms of intelligence measured by the test.
Maybe Trump's offering a Coke was a jab at Pepsi because of that commercial.
"Pace is letting him get away with being scarily disordered. She's acting as though he's answering her questions. She's playing along. Break through all what?"
So many people let him get away with being scarily disordered.
Thanks, Chuck, it's very great to be here, the best blog ever, really has kept blogger afloat, who would read a blog on blogger anymore if Althouse hadn't been around to keep us coming back, there's a problem with spammers and sometimes people post who aren't supposed to post, and we're looking at that, making sure this stays the best blog, really great posts and the commenters are the best, it's important to have different views on topics not to come at things the same way, that's what makes this blog so great, and I'm amazed by how great it is and the posts can be, even the people who critique Althouse and others, they're drawn in to by how dynamic it is around here, and Meade, isn't he great, just a guy in the trenches who marries Althouse, that's amazing, that's America, always looking forward, past all the differences and barriers, though sometimes we need barriers, and it won't be a problem, we'll get those working soon, keeping you and everyone else safe and help you contribute the best comments on the internet, which is huge, no idea how big the internet is until I started commenting.
Trump and the press is like the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote. They lay all of these ingenious snares and all they catch is an echo of "Meep! Meep!"
E.Cummings is like most politicians, two faced.
What Trump said was what he heard in private that which Cummings had to deny in public. Trump is saying he offered Cummings a deal, which in theory is fine, that Cummings on his own independent judgement would be dealing, but that Cummings cannot deal.
The entire thing is about money and power. People like Cummings keep their jobs, their status, and their current and future income by serving the interests of the people whose interests Trump threatens. So no deal. Cummings is not independent, he is just a hireling.
The only way to deal is to deal with the men pulling the strings of such as Cummings.
"Ugh. I hate seeing 9/11 randomly tossed into a boast like that — especially after the cheap joke "Deface the Nation." You don't follow lighthearted foolery like that with the World Trade Center. You don't use World Trade Center as a benchmark for high ratings!"
This is quintessential Trump.
Amazing comment, Paddy O. One of the greatest ever.
I always thought I didn't have the ability to skip over snarky negative comments like Inga's and Once written but then I found out I do have the ability. So it's amazing.
Chuck and PaddyO,
Now that's entertainment!
So many people let him get away with being scarily disordered
So many people project their anxieties on politicians. So many people are scared of people who think differently from them. It's almost as if actual diversity itself frightens them. So many people.
"Oh, jeez. It really does look like a movie script for a character who is losing his mind. Whatever. Whatever. In the meantime, I’m here and they’re not. Terrible. He's babbling about his pride and his hurt feelings on top of a terrorist attack. Hold the problem of terrorism in the forefront when you are talking about terrorism. Don't lapse into licking your own tiny wounds — media words that meant next to nothing."
It's because he now has "heart". His heart bleeds for himself.
Mark this day. April 24, 2017. This is the very first day that Ann was able to write critically of Trump
LOL. And by the way, Once, I am laughing at you, not with you.
"No one knew being President was so hard."
It's much easier once you decide to lead from behind.
Meade said...
I always thought I didn't have the ability to skip over snarky negative comments ... but then I found out I do have the ability. So it's amazing.
4/24/17, 10:27 AM
The ability to ignore is a strong power but like all power should be used carefully. I make use of "Blog Comment Killfile" (KF) extension for Google Chrome but try to only block extreme trolls. If you wall yourself off from too much "difference" you wind up in a bubble of your own making. If your ideas and assumptions are not under challenge, you can't confirm their value nor change them due to expanded knowledge or understanding.
To see the results of this type of knowledge isolation, see any antifa event. Don't be like antifa, knowledge IS power! The more you know!
Per David Baker: "Would you like a Coke?"
"Do you have Pepsi?"
(that's how you regain control;)
Excellent!
"Ya don't ask, ya don't get."
As Richard Feynman learned, and Trump has always known, "you just ask them?"
TRUMP: "I am not involved in that decision, but if Jeff Sessions wants to do it, it’s OK with me. I didn’t know about that decision, but if they want to do it, it’s OK with me."
If you want to know about Trump the businessman/president this says everything. His hirelings have full reign (at least until they screw up). I'm still not sure how this business plan will play out. It almost always worked out well for me in my small business. Almost always. Of course I wasn't dealing with nuclear weapons as the bad outcome.
PaddyO's 10:05 comment comparing Trump's communication style to modern art is brilliant.
"Do you have Pepsi?"
Ugh. Pepsi sucks. Trump knows this. More 3D chess.
TRUMP: "I am not involved in that decision, but if Jeff Sessions wants to do it, it’s OK with me. I didn’t know about that decision, but if they want to do it, it’s OK with me."
pacwest: If you want to know about Trump the businessman/president this says everything.
Exactly. This is called delegating. The executive leads, gives policy, sets goals, hires people who have certain skills in particular areas and then delegates those tasks to appropriate department heads.
Then the business executive will hold periodic meetings with the departments heads to check on the progress or lack of. If they screw up, then people are changed, demoted, moved out, fired. Generally all done without fanfare or drama. It is just business.
The worst kind of manager is the one who micromanages.
I make use of "Blog Comment Killfile" (KF) extension for Google Chrome but try to only block extreme trolls.
I couldn't make that work for some reason but I find skipping almost as good.
I have to overcome the "last word" temptation. That's all.
Pepsi is a Fake Cola. Coke is actually an American institution, So DGT will make Coke great again.
The Assange Problem is a difficult one. He practiced Journalism using Podesta's stuff when the Democrat Media refused to do the job. But he is still a front person for a Foreign Intelligence Agency...Ecuador,I believe.
Assange is not Trump's friend. And DJT has to avoid the trap that Joab warned King David about. He ordered him to quit crying for the enemy or your troops will desert you. (See, 2Samuel 19:6 where the mighty warrior rebuked David saying,"...by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you , you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you, for I know this day if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today you would be pleased."
I love Paddy O.
"The worst kind of manager is the one who micromanages."
Hackworth wrote about Lt Colonels who flew over battles in helicopters and tried to run the company level unit.
The choice between Coke and Pepsi is personal. I think that Pepsi may taste a little sweater. My mother preferred Pepsi, so that maybe why I do. Except that Diet Pepsi appears to have switched to Splenda, while Coke has stuck with Nutrisweet, which I don't handle as well. Except that here in AZ, "Mexican" Coke in bottles with real sugar (instead of corn syrup) is commonly available.
I've heard all sorts of positive things from Trump praise to nearly Trump worship from you folks.
I hear this bullshit all the time from Chuck too. Please quote just one thing that you believe exemplifies "Trump worship" from this blog. I don't believe you will do it. I don't believe you can do it. I know people who are ecstatic that Trump won and they never even veer close to "worship" at all.
For some reason you guys can't comment honestly. You have to try and paint the other people here as extremist -- as anyone who worships a politician would certainly be. Like the mediawhores on TV. They worshiped Obama and some were very... uh... reverent towards Hillary. But Trump? Never seen it.
As a lifelong cola drinker, I offer the following expert opinion:
As a fountain drink, Coke wins hands down.
But from the can or bottle, Pepsi has the edge.
Exception: On a really hot day, an ice-cold, 6.5 ounce bottle of Coke is hard to beat.
Exception to the exception: Fresh lemonade (made with Sunkist lemons).
Note: Here in South Florida, McDonald's Coke is nearly syrup-free (tasteless).
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