An excerpt from Wolff's new book encapsulates the entirety of the prior administration

[LanternWaste]

"An impatient Fabrizio was trying to talk him through it. But Trump was resisting, a combination of his not wanting to hear what he was being told, not being able to understand what he was being told, and not being interested enough to want to understand it..."

Wolff, Michael. Landslide (2021)



That second sentence seems the most accurate summation of both trump and his administration over the course of his four year term. I began the book only this afternoon, and though it's not yet offered any new objective information, Wolff's editorials in regards to what he's immediately writing about is very insightful (at least to me).

[thucythucy]

1. That sentence applies equally well to so many of his supporters.

I'm thinking of this one person I saw being interviewed who refused to believe that ballots could should and have always been counted aftet the polls close on election night. When challenged she just walked away, making some derogatory comment on the intelligence of those trying to convince her otherwise.

Ignorance and arrogance are such a deadly combination.

[LanternWaste]

3. I hear ya. I've a RW coworker who's said on more than one occasion...

"I don't need evidence... I know what I know!!!"

[smb]

2. In What Context?

But Trump was resisting, a combination of his not wanting to hear what he was being told, not being able to understand what he was being told, and not being interested enough to want to understand it...

What was the subject? The workings of umbrellas? The "I before E" rule? How a dime is worth twice as much even though a nickel is bigger?

[tblue37]

4. This:

But Fabrizio’s message was clear: the president was on the wrong side of COVID. No longer did the “China virus” rhetoric work; it had run out its shelf life.

Snip

The scowling president dug in harder. “I know my people. They won’t have it. They don’t believe it. No mask mandates!” He clenched his shoulders and lifted his hands to ward off the mask mandate, his whole body seeming to revolt at the very notion.

[Vinca]

5. I think Wolff encapsulated the administration in the introduction. When describing the scene

around Trump after the lost election he used the word "shitshow." I remember thinking when I read it that it pretty much sums up the whole of the Trump years.

[AZ8theist]

6. In other words..

Trump WAS an IMBECILE, IS an IMBECILE, and wanted TO BE an IMBECILE.

[BigmanPigman]

8. ...AND WILL ALWAYS BE AN IMBECILE.

[moondust]

7. TFG is not a listener or learner.

My guess is that he figured out at a young age that he was inheriting so much money he could have whatever he wanted--for life--and would never have to listen to anybody or learn anything because he would never need a job or have to know how to do anything. He'd just hire some poor schmucks to do whatever he needed done and maybe not pay them because they wouldn't have the money to hire the lawyers needed to sue him and his army of expensive lawyers.