'Trump betrays everyone': The president has a long record as an unpredictable ally

[DonViejo]

By Ashley Parker and Philip Rucker September 9 at 8:00 AM

President Trump prepared for the pivotal meeting with congressional leaders by huddling with his senior team — his chief of staff, his legislative director and the heads of Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget — to game out various scenarios on how to fund the government, raise the debt ceiling and provide Hurricane Harvey relief. But one option they never considered was the one the president ultimately chose: cutting a deal with Democratic lawmakers, to the shock and ire of his own party.

In agreeing to tie Harvey aid to a three-month extension of the debt ceiling and government funding, Trump burned the people who are ostensibly his allies. The president was an unpredictable — and, some would say, untrustworthy — negotiating partner with not only congressional Republicans but also with his Cabinet members and top aides. Trump saw a deal that he thought was good for him — and he seized it.

The move should come as no surprise to students of Trump’s long history of broken alliances and agreements. In business, his personal life, his campaign and now his presidency, Trump has sprung surprises on his allies with gusto. His dealings are frequently defined by freewheeling spontaneity, impulsive decisions and a desire to keep everyone guessing — especially those who assume they can control him.

He also repeatedly demonstrates that, while he demands absolute loyalty from others, he is ultimately loyal to no one but himself. “It makes all of their normalizing and ‘Trumpsplaining’ look silly and hollow,” said Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist sharply critical of Trump, referring to his party’s congressional leaders. “Trump betrays everyone: wives, business associates, contractors, bankers and now, the leaders of the House and Senate in his own party. They can’t explain this away as (a) 15-dimensional Trump chess game. It’s a dishonest person behaving according to his long-established pattern.”

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-betrays-everyone-the-president-has-a-long-record-as-an-unpredictable-ally/2017/09/08/9cf64768-94a8-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html

[Not Ruth]

1. I still do not understand the deal

Was Harvey aid not going to pass without the debt ceiling extension? I would think that Harvey aid would have made it, albeit with a ton of pork from all sides. And the debt ceiling extension is just a 3 month push. All the deal did was make the inevitable occur with less fuss.

[CousinIT]

2. Abusive personalities pride themselves on being unpredictable/unreliable

Keeps everyone walking on eggshells around them. This behavior isn't an acceptable trait in a President. We need a stable personality in that role, not an unstable one. We need a steady hand, not a small one that likes revenge and slapping people in the face just because he can and he wants his way.

Donald Trump is every sociopath and domestic abuser who has ever existed on this planet. He has no "independent streak" as four or more media outlets are now parroting. Having an "independent streak" would mean he has some sort of ideology and he has none. His ONLY "ideology" or interest is serving himself and his billionaire friends. What happens to rest of us is no concern to him or Republicans. Most of them are millionaires and billionaires. When they do "tax reform", who doesn't know they'll write it all to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else?

I'm sick of the media pushing false narratives and pretenses and I'm sick of them trying to normalize what his just goddamned abuse in any other context -- and in this one too.

[Ohiya]

3. Good Point

I felt like I was living in an absurd, surreal movie during the Reagan Years. But, this is worse.

[oppressedproletarian]

4. So true CousinIT! nt

[uponit7771]

5. THEN ... after the betraying is over acts as if nothing happened

[gratuitous]

6. And that is a decidedly one way street

"What, are you still sore about the debt ceiling thing? That was last week!"

"That was payback for that time back in early 2016 when you said I wasn't a serious candidate."

They never remember their own and never forget yours.