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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDavid Cay Johnston idea.
Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2019, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)
The opportunity is to mock Trump, which will goad him into ever more crazy behavior. In turn, that will eat away at the facade that got him into the White House.
What does he mean exactly? We need examples. Got any?
https://www.alternet.org/2019/08/david-cay-johnston-heres-how-to-beat-donald-trump-in-2020/
CatMor
(6,212 posts)call him mocking names, call out every stupid statement or tweet he makes. Fight him with his own tactics. Look how Moscow Mitch took off. Mitch sure doesn't like it. trump can be Dopey Don, Dumpy Don etc. He won't be able to take it.
SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)Link to tweet
?s=19
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)or people in large numbers. Like with Moscow Mitch. Has to trend on Twitter to get his attention.
Caliman73
(11,690 posts)If you get into a straight up name calling battle with Trump, that is where he is comfortable.
You have to really go in at Trump's major fears and hang ups. He needs to be adored because he was rejected by his parents and shipped off to military school because he was a "problem child" hurting animals, hitting his teacher, and generally being difficult. At military school he was berated and broken down, but found some comfort in competition and tests of "manhood" because he was a stronger young guy, usually bigger than other kids.
When he went back into the "upper crust" world that his family's money afforded him (hint, that is an area to mock him: He'd be nothing if he didn't start out with millions of dollars from daddy.). The sophisticated rich people did not accept him. He then went looking for acceptance among the celebrity circuit because those celebrities often come from working class, poor, or middle class backgrounds, were not super sophisticated, and just wanted to enjoy their new found wealth. Still, those people never fully accepted Trump either.
He's this rich guy that always seems on the outside looking in. He gravitates toward Putin, Kim, MBS, and Duterte because they seem to be very powerful men who rule their countries through force of will. They egg him on, but they don't really respect him either.
The fact that President Obama, a black man, who deep down Trump knows is smarter, and more beloved than him, tore him down; stripped him bare in front of an audience that totally got the joke...That stuck with Trump more than any name calling would. He could have rolled with it and laughed at himself, the very way that President Obama was laughing at jokes that had been made at his expense that night. That shows humanity, confidence, the ability to relate to people's vulnerabilities. Everything Trump, for all his money, does not have.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)but we are not dealing with a normal person. He doesnt have a sophisticated bone in his body so it would not bother him. We need to keep hammering away at how dumb he is in those very words. He is always spouting that he's smarter than anyone else so go after how dumb he really is. That will get to him. Also, how dishonest and crooked he is. Look what he did to Hillary. Give it right back to him. Look what Tricky Dick did for Nixon. Just hammer, hammer, hammer away.
Treasonous Trump
Dirty Donnie
trev
(1,480 posts)It seems to hit on all cylinders: his political machinations, his sexual proclivities, his money dealings.
#DirtyDonnie
lsewpershad
(2,620 posts)Maybe Putin's puppy
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Doodoo Don
Old Baby Fingers
Incompetent Individual 1
The Terrible Toadstool
Broke "Businessman" Don
Mr Chin Wattle
Mr Jowly Hamberder
Etc......
DavidCayJohnston
(17 posts)ProudLib72,
Please read my DCReport column as name-calling is not what I proposed:
https://www.dcreport.org/2019/07/31/how-to-beat-donald-trump/
Thank you.
jalan48
(13,797 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2019, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)
Probably better to say:
Moscow Mitch, Vlad the bad, and Donny Big Butt make for one ugly menage a trois. My eyes! My stomach! Yesterday 's lunch!
Caliman73
(11,690 posts)Johnston has covered Trump for over 30 years. He has written books that have really upset Trump and Trump has threatened to sue Johnston on more than one occasion but never has because Johnston does his research and never slanders or libels Trump even when tearing him down.
He gave the example of mocking Trump that President Obama made at the Correspondents Dinner where he poked fun at Trump "making big decisions" on the Celebrity Apprentice in relation to the birther nonsense. That still haunts Trump.
It isn't about mocking Trump with names, it is about poking fun at who he is and what he does. Like, "Hey Donald, I saw the way you were looking at Putin at the G-7, it reminded me of the way my puppy looked at me when I had bacon in my hand, but I guess a dog's loyalty is a good quality in a world leader? I just wish it was to the US..." Or conversely, "Hey Trump does Melania get jealous about the way you carry on with Kim Jon Un?" Nevermind, she probably appreciates that you are developing 'other interests".
Trump blusters and proclaims himself the "best" at everything. To some, it seems like he is super confident, but the reality is that he is really fragile. If we attack him for his MANY MANY failings, he would not be able to resist the bait to attack, and when he does, you just laugh it off, parry, and hit him again.
The other day on Facebook, my wife drove this Trumper absolutely nuts. She began trying to debate the points, which she did well, but he just kept coming back with "Trumper logic" which is none, just spewing invective. She finally just started going in on how angry he was getting like, "you mad bro?" but more formal like, "Oh my, are we okay? You seem to really be upset. I know hearing facts is difficult for Trump supporters but we'll get through it..." He would call names and rant, and she would just respond with, "It's okay... your anger is both sad and amusing..." type responses. The guy went away mad and stopped responding.
The thing is, the Trump can't not respond. He will take the bait every time.
Baltimike
(4,123 posts)DavidCayJohnston
(17 posts)Here is an example I tweeted last night of how to stop playing Trump's game by his rules and to get under his skin with a new political game:
*********
Make Fun of Donald -- my proposed game to mock humorless Trump to drive him crazy -- first move:
Trump just called @donlemon of @CNN "the dumbest man on television.
We can all say of the very smart Don Lemon: perhaps, now that Celebrity Apprentice is off the air.
*********
My piece proposing this, and with great photo illustration, is at DCReport.org where we cover what Trump does, not what he tweets.
FYI: My middle name is spelled Cay.
LuckyCharms
(17,286 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)I knew the spelling. Maybe a subliminal, sneaky way to draw you out. Thank you very much for the idea and the explanation. I saw it on alternet while excavating sites for good news and ideas.
I like my menage a trois idea even though it wont get traction. And it zings McConnell too. I gather your idea is a direct follow up to an ugly tweet.
This exercise reminds me of George Lakoff. I could never effectively do what he described. But I wont give up trying to succeed.
panader0
(25,816 posts)I hope to see many posts from you here. Welcome!
SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)Juvenile Delinquent.
"a minor who cannot be controlled by parental authority and commits antisocial or criminal acts, as vandalism or violence."
I think it insults his hyper toxic masculinity and fits to a T.
elocs
(22,474 posts)But what if he is mocked or goaded into doing something stupid that hurts people?
Even if it's not you who gets hurt, how would you feel?
SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)Link to tweet
?s=19
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)that says if you wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty and the pig likes it. Or, something like that. Not sure if it's Southern, but it sounds like it.