Trump's bungled stimulus stunt: A reminder that the self-described master negotiator is a dud

[marmar]

Trump's bungled stimulus stunt: A reminder that the self-described master negotiator is a dud
Mr. Art of the Deal strikes again: Trump's ham-fisted extortion effort blows up in his face

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
DECEMBER 28, 2020 5:54PM


(Salon) Donald Trump is clearly unhappy with having to sign the stimulus bill meant to relieve the massive economic pain from his bungled response to the coronavirus pandemic. Why else would he sign it abruptly, as he did late Sunday, to no fanfare? After all, this is a man who demands adulation at his every waking moment. Yet when it came to signing a bill that will send checks to millions of Americans, Trump was curiously camera-shy. Trump eschewing a camera is like a dog rejecting his favorite treat — clearly, the manbaby president isn't feeling so hot about how the stimulus standoff ended.

The reason is not particularly mysterious. Signing the bill, for Trump, was yet another massive failure in his long list of massive failures.

For six days, Trump has been threatening to tank this bill, possibly with a pocket veto. He was holding the economy hostage — and more specifically, holding hostage the chances of Republicans winning a Georgia Senate runoff or two — clearly hoping that doing so would be sufficient leverage to force Republican leadership on Capitol Hill into voiding his presidential election loss and illegally granting him a second term. But as often happens when Trump tries to live up to his own declarations of being a master negotiator, he face-planted— this time in a spectacularly humiliating style. So humiliating, that he approached signing the stimulus bill with the same attitude of a kid presenting himself for after school detention.

....(snip)....

No, as I argued last week, what Trump was up to was likely an extortion scheme, which is the only trick up his sleeve — and one he's not even particularly good at pulling. Trump believes, incorrectly, that McConnell and other Senate Republicans know how to steal the election, but are holding out on him. He hoped that by threatening McConnell's meager bill and therefore threatening the re-election of the two Georgia senators McConnell needs to hold onto his Senate majority Trump could shake the secrets to election theft out of McConnell. But, being bad at this, Trump didn't consider certain flaws in the plan, starting with the fact that McConnell simply has no way to steal the election for him and extortion will not change that fact. Nor did Trump consider that he would have to endure the humiliation of Democrats dunking on him non-stop. ...........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2020/12/28/trumps-bungled-stimulus-stunt-a-reminder-that-the-self-described-master-negotiator-is-a-dud/

[Turbineguy]

1. He was the center of attention for three days.

He only has to do this 7 or so more times.

Like a two-year old who walks into a room of adults and says "fuck you!"

[Cha]

2. "trump's ham-fisted extortion effort blows up in his face"

I like the sound of that! TY!

[Wounded Bear]

3. Trump doesn't negotiate. He extorts and takes hostages...

usually figuratively, of course.

[Cha]

4. Excellent Article! AMANDA MARCOTTE

has a Way with Words!

[Arne]

5. Art of the Deal author told everyone over a year ago.

Tony Swartz

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tony-schwartz-trump-inflicting-suffering-on-all-of-us_n_5fd29e0cc5b61d81b33d34cb

[subterranean]

8. That was actually just a few weeks ago.

But Tony Schwartz does know Trump's character very well. He predicted how Trump would react to losing back in 2016, and it was almost exactly what has happened in 2020.

[Dave Starsky]

10. Trump couldn't make a deal with a five-year-old over eating his peas.

He is the most incompetent deal maker I've ever seen. Ever.

[dhill926]

6. excellent read....

[Trenzalore]

7. He caused chaos

That is pretty much the only thing he does is cause chaos. I'm sure he is pleased with himself like a little kid that knocked over their older sister's block tower.

[Walleye]

9. I heard that he glued his brother's blocks together in the playroom

[Trenzalore]

11. He strikes me as someone who has always been an asshole

His wealth has probably prevented him from getting the ass kicking that sometimes changes people with that mentality.

[UTUSN]

12. K&R