'He Just Seemed to Go Crazy': Senior GOP Aides Stunned by Trump's Demented Behavior in Last 24 Hours

[herding cats]

Senior Republican aides confided this week that President Donald Trump’s puzzling statements over the last few days have left them confused.

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Politico reported that White House officials insisted there was “no broader strategy” for scheduling the interviews.

“They were not helpful to us,” a senior administration official explained. “There was no point to do all of them.”

Republicans on Capitol Hill, however, were dumbfounded.

“I have no idea what they view as a successful media hit,” one GOP consultant told Politico.

“He just seemed to go crazy today,” a GOP aide lamented.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/he-just-seemed-go-crazy-senior-gop-aides-stunned-trumps-demented-behavior-last-24

This is extremely embarrassing and more than just a little frightening.

[TNLib]

1. He's loosing it!

People with serious mental health issue will sometimes completely meltdown when they're in situations they can't deal with.

I think this is what is happening. His family should never had let him run for office.

[brooklynite]

14. ...that suggests he had it to begin with.

[Kentonio]

16. He's a sadistic control freak. His family had no chance of stopping him.

[MANative]

2. Sounds like Pence and the "Establishment" are setting up the case for...

employing the 25th amendment. This narrative has shown up in a good handful of places in the last couple of days, including Moaning Joe, as cited here on DU several times.

[LanternWaste]

5. I don't know if it's narrative so much as it's simply one of a small handful

I don't know if it's actual narrative so much as it's simply one of only a small, limited handful of rational responses to Trump's odd behavior, a response held by hundreds of professionals in the field of mental health.

There's no real question anymore that he's simply not playing with a full deck and is completely out of his league in terms of his new responsibilities and obligations, and I think one of the more valid responses to his strange reaction, regardless of agenda, is exploring all legal consequences of his current conduct.

[onenote]

7. Not likely.

The idea the 25th amendment will be invoked to remove Trump from the Presidency because he's mentally unstable is pure fantasy. It ultimately requires a vote of 2/3 of both the House and Senate to do that. In case you haven't noticed, Trump's base of supporters still love him and you're not going to find a republican majority house and Senate risk the ire of that group.

[Kaleva]

12. Many Repubs in Congress have already flipped the bird at Trump's base

Planned Parenthood is fully funded. There will be no outright repeal of Obamacare. The wall isn't being funded and so on. Freepers are outraged at what they call the GOPe and RINOS who they say contol Congress and are sabotaging Trump and his agenda.

[onenote]

17. There's a world of difference between voting for a continuing resolution and taking down a president

[delisen]

18. Trump is an actor.

His symptoms may have some basis in fact any possible resignation or removal will be part of a deal.

The question is who is trying to convince that he is demented. Who or what is he most afraid of?

Agnew resigned in a deal with Justice. Nixon possibly chose Ford as his VP because Ford would issue him a blanket pardon at the point Nixon would resign.

Supposedly top Republicans, including George H W Bush, told Nixon when the the votes for impeachment were there, and it was time for him to go.

Politicians are dealmakers and they know which way the wind is blowing before the rest of us even focus on the weather maps.

There has been a change in the last few weeks. White House Trumpers moving out, statements by Schumer and Pelosi signaling change, Trump"s dementia performances, absurd imitation journalists claiming the Trump "dementia is real and serious and we must all be afraid" chatter.

trump probably has his family gastroenterologist waiting in the wings to pronounce whatever words necessary if he decides his best option is to go the "incapacitation" route.

[loyalsister]

23. Low grade as he may be, he has had some training

He got a job he finds disatisfying. It's difficult and he's not loved and admired as he thought he would be. It would not be shocking if this was him paving his way out.

[Grammy23]

3. The aids might do themselves and the rest of us a huge favor.....

if they simply read up on Malignant Narcissism. Find out what happens to those with this disorder when they are thwarted in their efforts to have their way. Check out what happens when they are criticized or mocked or are the subject of public humiliation, such as being the target of late night comedians.

They've had ample time to familiarize themselves and if they haven't, shame on them. Professionals who know plenty about the disorder were giving warning long ago. His family surely knows him and how he reacts to pressure, criticism or being humiliated.

The job is getting to the man. It is starting to sink in that he is not the king, not the exalted ruler he envisioned the job would be. I think listening to mental health professionals is critical because I am not sure the lay people understand where this is going for tRump. But my worry is that he will snap at some point and assume the role of despot or dictator to get his way. It sure looks like it from where I sit. Malignant Narcissist do not take kindly to being thwarted.

[adigal]

15. This is why historian Timothy Snyder commented that a coup attempt is almost inevitable

http://www.salon.com/2017/05/01/historian-timothy-snyder-its-pretty-much-inevitable-that-trump-will-try-to-stage-a-coup-and-overthrow-democracy/

[Grammy23]

19. Haven't read this article but I will, Adigal.

Nothing tRump does surprises me any more. Disgusts me, but no surprises. He is a man driven by his Narcissistic demons and anything that gets in his way will be a target. If our Constitution is the problem for him , and apparently it is, he will do whatever he thinks he needs to do to succeed in having his way. Even a coup is not out of the question. Our best hope is that someone with the authority and power will stop him before it comes to that.

[smirkymonkey]

20. +1000

He has never had to deal with NOT being the one who runs the show - where everyone jumps to serve his every command, cater to his every whim. He doesn't know what it is like to deal with opposition, blatant disrespect and outright hostility. I think he is realizing for the first time that he cannot control everything and everybody no matter how much he wants to or how much power he has.

I agree, he's due for a major breakdown soon.

[JenniferJuniper]

4. I know what the Republicans are but

this situation will not be sustainable for them.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. And it does mirror

early on set of Dementia. Family member who is a Shrink,mentioned this diagnosis of Malignant Narcissism,yesterday stating similiar symptoms can be associated with Dementia,but,she thinks Trump is a Malignant case.

Another statement that truly scared us was,these people tend to act out with violence towards others he or she thinks are responsible for him not getting his way.

[Arazi]

8. If these folks were patriots, they'd get off this fucking crazy train and denounce him

David Frum for example is a patriot.

So is Gergen.

These other anonymous R aides and consultants are just disloyal fuckers. Go public and denounce the demented one

[Generic Brad]

9. Just recently?

Trump acting crazily is not a recent event. His recent behavior only validates the assumptions we had about him prior to the election.

[Leith]

11. Exactly

This sounds more like these aides being willing to say something now. They were probably afraid to be the first to speak up.

tRump has also been a loon.

[B2G]

10. Until people are ready to go on the record

and speak out, this is just noise that will be ignored.

[ailsagirl]

13. Loose cannon

[lindysalsagal]

21. His own people are feeding him this gibberish: Easier than staging a "car accident."

I think they're just done with the whole joke.

[Hekate]

22. Nice of them to finally notice. The damn fool is going to have N Korea lobbing missiles at Honolulu

...and the West Coast if he has his way, and it's even worse for Japan and S Korea being so much closer.