Foreign Policy of Trump

Trump Calisthenics; open mouth, put foot in mouth, remove foot by spitting out bizarre lies, repeat with other foot. On Tuesday, once again Trump found himself unprepared and caught in another self-spun web. On July 31st Trump was being interviewed by ABC News Anchor George Stephanopoulos, saying a lot and yet still nothing of consequence when the topic shifted to Trump's knowledge of Russia and the Ukraine. Trump was adamant that Russian President Putin, would not be going into Ukraine [sic]. When corrected about the fact that the annexation of The Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine by Russia had infact happened two years prior, Trump once again doubled down. Perhaps we have found the source of Trump's failed Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City. Donald seems unable to walk away from the tables, and infact doubles down on every bad investment, refusing to leave the table (or topic) until he comes out on top or another debacle takes it's place.

"He's not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He's not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want," Trump said in an interview on Sunday with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "This Week." Source: CNN Politics.

By Monday, August 1st Trump hammered away at the topic again by emitting several tweets obviously aimed at saving face. Now suddenly an expert on the Ukraine, he explained that what he 'meant' to say was that under a Trump Presidency 'it never would have happened'. He doesn't know what 'it' he is talking about, but at least he now knows he could have prevented it. He might actually have a group of imaginary advisors in his mind that could have done a better 'deal' than any other candidate in the history of forever.

By the time Tuesday came, Trump went on Fox "News" Show 'The O'Reilly Factor' with Bill O'Reilly, to clarify still further, now adding that "Obama is the worst president in the history of the United States", which is convenient since he has actively campaigned, supported, and/or run for office with at least three entirely different political parties over at least six different election seasons. I had not realized how rabid Trump's appetite was for studying the history of the US Presidency was. To suggesting that Obama is the 'worst' and 'weakest' ever would require extensive scholastic efforts. Trump then added, "I know more about foreign policy than [Obama]." [video below]

More about foreign policy or foreign tax loopholes? I think Donald may be confused. They are not the same thing Mr Trump. To suggest you know more about foreign policy and relations than a sitting Two-Term President that has travelled the world to international summits, met with heads of state, and had eight years of actual experience with foreign relations, is frankly absurd. Let us not forget to mention President Barack Obama is an Ivy League Educated Lawyer, widely respected, who can actually read and understand the language of policy documents.

Taking military steps to intervene at the time of the annexation of the Crimea by Russia would have destroyed decades of work from GOP and Democratic Presidents alike, but also may have led to actual war. Had Obama acted in a 'tough' not 'weak' way, as Donald puts it, we may well have seen an escalation in the conflict, being called upon by NATO agreements to send over, house, arm, clothe and feed thousands of military personnel, endanger the lives of servicemen and servicewomen, as well as innocent civilians, including women and children. Let's remember folks, Russia has a nuclear arsenal and would not hesitate to use it on us. But then, had we survived a potential Nuclear war, Trump would be listing all of the things Obama had done wrong by being 'too tough'. I'm not even sure that Trump could define what he means when he calls people 'weak' or 'tough', he has no ability to employ nuanced or quantifiable terms. He 'alone will fix', as he says so eloquently, I know those details will be released soon, right along with his tax-returns.

There has never be anyone so contradictory in his own interviews and speeches as Donald J. Trump. The thing is, I believe I may know more about foreign policy than Trump, and I am a Canadian and a Nurse by profession. I just want to have an idea about what is going on in the world. Quite simply, I read and research information when I have questions about world events, I have studied statistical interpretation of research and know that almost without exception every mainstream media outlet has it's own agenda and political ideology. It's almost a comedy routine whenever Trump starts to lash out at the media for being 'unfair', I can hardly keep track of which outlets are on his good list. This is a grown ass man, 70 years on this planet and he has yet to understand that the media is not your personal playground, The televisions news business is after all a business. It is there to inform and interpret daily events, sell lots of ads, pull in the ratings and go where the story is. There is no loyalty in the mainstream media, they are corporate owned entities that seek to turn a profit, and they don't care who they take down.

A sign of a mature adult is one that is not afraid to ask for help. Unlike Trump, I would want the best trained, most experienced, and most knowledgeable aides and advisors to help me become ready to take on such a tremendous responsibility. Being responsible for the safety of every US citizen, it's allies, and ultimately the planet, is not a joke, it's not a publicity stunt. The presidency is often frenetic and overwhelmed, sometimes isolated or maybe boring, repetitive, frustrating, and definitely a twenty-four hour responsibility. It is not so much Trump's lack of knowledge, he can hopefully learn anything he sets his mind to, if he is of sound mind. It is Donald's stubborn 'My Way or No Way" attitude that is sinking his ship. Mr. Trump, please just admit to America that you don't know it all but you are willing to learn it all because you take the office of POTUS very seriously. Unless of course you aren't willing to put in the work, and don't actually want the job, which would be fine by me.

Bad News for 'Disgusted' Donald

Most normal people have moments where they are generally offended by something gross or disgusting. Let's face it, life is messy. Most parents or pet owners have cleaned up snot and vomit, not to mention other bodily fluids, the whole deal. At some point you have to plug your nose, put on the latex gloves and get to work. While we all have something or other that absolutely sends us into the 'nope' zone, we generally mature past the point of making a public spectacle every time we are put off by an odor, sound, or sight.

After nearly a year of watching Donald Trump tweet, repeat the same speech over and over, and use his incredibly limited vocabulary of 'the best words', one word has come to symbolize everything that is immature, underdeveloped, and quite frankly alarming about this likely narcissistic sociopath. 'The Donald' uses the word 'disgusting' an awful lot when referring to almost any normal bodily functions, particularly as they relate to women's bodies. Here are some prime examples of 'disgusted Donald' being his rude, self-centered, and sexist self using his most favorite word.

In December of 2015, Trump referred to rival Hillary Clinton's seconds late return to the debate stage after an apparent restroom break 'disgusting'. To a group of adoring approximately 7,500 supporters he said in an almost sing-song voice, "I know where she went -- it's disgusting, I don't want to talk about it." Affecting a look of mock-horror, as the crowd laughed and cheered, Trump continued,  "no, it's too disgusting. Don't say it, it's disgusting."[1]  I am not sure most actual children would say something quite so childish about something as simple as a bathroom break. I defy Donald to try to rush in a restroom break while wearing a pair of Spanx, if you have never worn a pair, it is rather like trying to escape from a straitjacket while suspended over a water tank, as a clock ticks down. In this particular case, I am definitely 'with her'.

This is hardly his most noteworthy use of his favorite word. In 2011, Trump famously called a female lawyer 'disgusting' when she asked for a brief pre-approved break during his deposition. Trump's lawyers had objected to the request. It seems Trump was once again in court facing claims of defrauding investors, when opposing counsel, Elizabeth Beck asked the court for a medical break. Facing this objection, Beck, a breastfeeding mother of a 3-month old infant, took out her breast pump to show the urgency of the situation, one many women can well relate to, particularly in the workplace. Trump's reaction was off the charts, even for him. Beck recalled the incident for an interview on CNN this year, “[Trump] got up, his face got red, he shook his finger at me and he screamed, ‘You’re disgusting, you’re disgusting,’ and he ran out of there”. This from a man that continually asserts that in his organization, women are equally respected and valued for their contributions. Beck referred to Trump's behavior “an absolute meltdown.” Trump's lawyers have agreed with Beck's recollections of the event. [2]

Women aren't the only target of the 'disgusting' label, as Trump made glaringly clear when describing his Republican opponent, Ohio governor John Kasich, in the primaries. In April 2016, having been photographed and interviewed while at several eateries during his campaign stops, Kasich often was seen eating meal after meal. Trump must not have appreciated anyone else being in the spotlight when he opined to an encouraging crowd "I have never seen a human being eat in such a disgusting fashion." The Donald decided us simple folk needed context for his rather below-the-belt attack adding "This guy takes a pancake and he's shoving it in his mouth. It's disgusting. Do you want that for your president? I don't think so. I don't think so. Honestly, it's disgusting." [3]

This is apparently a catch-all term from the Trumpster, as he has painted everything from his media coverage [4], the fatal police shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling [5], and a protester at one of his rally stops [6] as disgusting. Trump seems incapable of nuanced descriptions, seemingly equating the way a man eats with the filmed aftermath of a tragic police shooting. It becomes utterly clear that Trump's language, behavior, and blatant bullying are not just signs of being a 'tell it like it is' straight-shooter, but rather a man incapable of weighing the relative gravity of events while being completely devoid of any sign of human empathy.

Far from an ideal parental role model, Trump's two eldest sons seem to be following right along in their father's inflammatory footprints. Donald Trump Jr. seems particularly disposed to using his father's most favorite of adjectives. In May of this year, Donnie Jr. was in downtown Vancouver, Canada while promoting the highly controversial 'Trump International Hotel and Tower'. Several politicians as well as local residents in the region have openly railed against Donald Trump, calling him a racist, and demanding his name be removed from the development. Donald the younger responded in the most Trump-like way possible, by suggesting the Mayor of the city and members of local city council "should be disgusted by themselves”. Trump Jr. did admit that his father's views are controversial, but doubled down on his wordsmithing by adding “to throw it out there like that, it’s a shame. And it’s disgusting.”[7]

If Donald J. Trump is disgusted by the mere idea of a woman having to use a restroom, he has another think coming. The joke's on Trump it seems, currently many of Trump's fellow Republicans are absolutely obsessed with the topic of public restrooms. Specifically, many GOP conservatives are hell bent on not allowing transgender citizens to freely choose the restroom that they feel most comfortable using. Cries of pedophilia and grown men throwing on a dress and being in bathrooms with little girls are preposterous and statistically non-existent. What we do know is that the GOP seems less concerned with actual facts about pedophilia or the abuse of minors, particularly among its own members, than it does for actually keeping children safe [8]. There is going to be a lot of 'potty talk' around Mr. Trump if he remains the Republican nominee for President. Somebody get that poor delicate turmeric-tinted man a few dozen boxes of latex gloves and a nose plug, and while you are at it, get me some ear plugs. 

Does Trump Have Any Real Friends?

For the last year, I have been waiting to hear from all of Donald's childhood friends, the ones he went to school with, the ones he grew up with, even those he has made in business and worked with over the years. Not his employees, not his progeny, not those that have been on the apprentice, those are not lifelong friends. What does it say about a man that has few, or possibly no, actually friends?

Since Trump has no political background or 'public' evidence of philanthropy, he has escaped a lot of the scrutiny that most running for office face. He eschews responsibility from any 'terrible' things he believes the US Government has done because he has never once participated in any form of public service. His unwillingness to release any tax returns also leaves a big question mark about his actual financial status. However, what most people do have, whether they are political actors or not, are friends that will speak kindly on their behalf.

The media and the GOP are not his friends. At best, the media presents him as a somewhat erratic but dedicated man of the people. At worst, Trump is called out on his lies and inaccuracies, his bizarre behavior, and his highly inflammatory statements. The GOP seems to be getting in line behind a man that they hope will allow them to continue business as unsual in Washington. As of today, only one registered Republican member of Congress, Rep. Richard Hanna of New York, has said he will vote for Clinton. While a handful of other Republicans have distanced themselves from Trump by saying that his views do not represent their own, few have actually taken the next logical step of rejecting him as their Candidate. 

So does Donald have an 'inner circle' of close friends developed in his 70 years on this planet? If he does, I have managed to miss the interviews or statements of each and every one of them. If you can name one that I have somehow overlooked, I would appreciate a link to the appropriate source. I cannot find evidence of any close friend speaking on Trump's behalf, nor has he presented a name of any single person that can vouch for his character over many years. He often alludes to what 'people are saying' or 'I have heard', but there are never any names attached to these assertions.

Why does it matter that Trump may have no real friends? It matters because normal people can and do maintain relationships over a sustained period of time. Most people have someone, even just one friend, that will vouch for their character. Many journalist and psychologists have put forth the very plausible suggestion that Trump has a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. As a nurse, I can honestly say that most people running for the leadership of a country have a healthy degree of narcissism, but the disorder is a very different from a merely inflated degree of self-importance, it walks right along side of being a psychopath. 

The Mayo Clinic, DSM-5 Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Trump's constant cries of being treated unfairly by the media, of being "the only one who can fix" the world's problems are not only childish, but incredibly dangerous. A true psychopath has no understanding of relationships, and no ability to empathize with other human beings. Not every psychopath (or sociopath as it is also known) is a danger to society, they usually are functioning people who simply lack the ability to fully empathize with others. Psychopathy only becomes dangerous when an individual has no ability to empathize or even sympathize with other human beings and acts in a manner that is dangerous or criminal. Again, these represent a very small percentage of those diagnosed with any degree of Psychopathy, but in the case of Donald J. Trump he is nailing every possible symptom of both Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Psychopathy. He is dangerous. He is dangerous for America, and he is dangerous for the planet.

Without friends, and without empathy for others, he simply can't make decisions when American lives are on the line. Trump displayed this spectacularly in the past few days as he first insulted a Gold Star family, the Khan family, then went on to suggest his business achievements are tantamount to giving one's life in service of country. What is shocking to me is the number of people in powerful government positions, almost entirely GOP, that have refused to speak up and denounce his outright bigotry, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and disregard for even a modicum of sensitivity. That is the real story here. Why are generally sane Republican politicians not speaking out against this very dangerous man who is entirely bereft of any statesmanlike qualities?