Tag: Tump

NOT ALL TWEETS ARE EQUAL

Trump’s Newspeak Man: Jay Sekulow

In the brilliant classic 1984, a book by George Orwell, the term “newspeak” was introduced. This noun is defined as ambiguous euphemistic language used chiefly in political propaganda. The Wikipedia page on it says: Newspeak is a controlled language, of restricted grammar and limited vocabulary, a linguistic design meant to limit the freedom of thought—personal identity, self-expression, free will—that ideologically threatens the régime of Big Brother.

While there are those in the Trump administration who hold a belief in some “deep state” that is controlling everything, there are those Americans who believe that if our President was given more power he would become Big Brother.

It is a fact that Steve Bannon, Trump’s right brain, declared his desire to destroy the “Administrative State”, whatever that is. But now we have a new dance partner in this affair. His name is Jay Sekulow and his job is that of personal lawyer for Donald Trump. Good luck, Jay.

While the multiple personalities in Trump’s head appear then disappear, it will be Sekulow’s responsibility to explain and defend the Donald. His role is already off to a rocky start with the tweet that was heard around the world.

Jay Sekulow went on all the Sunday morning talk shows to say to make it “crystal clear” that the President is not, and has never been, under investigation. And the attorney attempted to dismiss the tweet in which the President actually says he is under investigation. Jay also said that the tweet was only acknowledging the Washington Post article. Huh?

In the tweet, Trump didn’t use a question mark.  He used an exclamation mark, which meant he wasn’t questioning the Washington Post story.  He was saying exactly what he wrote. The lame claim by Sekulow that his client was limited by 140 characters is complete BS. Anyone familiar with how Twitter works, including Trump, can create a short string of words to add more meaning. In fact, the candidate and President has many times done precisely that.

If Trump doesn’t know the facts then why are his lawyers saying he does know. How can he not be under investigation? You can’t declare a known when you’ve never been told what it is either way. I could say Donald Trump is a woman, but I have no proof he’s a man or a woman. I just know that he says he’s a man.

The best question on the issue came from Chris Cuomo on CNN (6-19-2017) when he confronted Sekulow with the simple question: You are his attorney of record, why not just pick up the phone and ask Robert Mueller if your client is under investigation? Chris, who has a law degree from Fordham University, asked the right question, a question that all those talking heads on TV who would preface their comments with, “I’m not an attorney but…” but never knew to ask.

Trump and his legal team have a right to ask that question and no prosecutor has to tell a citizen if they are under investigation, but it would be proper for an attorney to, at least, ask the question.

One of my friends over the weekend claimed I was being “hysterical” about all of this political stuff, which seems to be the new go-to word when trying to explain why people forcefully disagree with something. I told my friend, I just want to make sure when the smoke clears, and we really understand all this, that I can be counted with those who spoke out against a President who is wasting time, acting guilty and becoming so untrusted in the world.  Surely our country will suffer.

Newspeak, with its linguistic design meant to limit the freedom of thought, is what Donald Trump is all about. His lawyers will try to bend the meaning of his words by saying things like, “Oh, he is very good at using social media.” Perhaps, but he’s an abysmal writer. If someone else has to explain what his Tweets mean, then he didn’t write them very well.

When a surrogate then says, “The Tweets stand on their own,” then we must take them at face value. But you cannot Newspeak your way around this. The worst thing Trump does is using Twitter as his psychological vomiting tool. He should invest in a shrink who can come by at 3:30 AM to help him over these emotional mole hills.

If I was his shrink, my first question would be, “Why do you obsess about whether or not you are under investigation?” That comes with the job description. Now you know, Mr. Trump, how Obama felt when every action he made was questioned with a law suit or an investigation of congressional blockade. You wanted the job and you go it. Now, do your job and stop bitching!


Presidential Apprentice

More divots than pivots

I remember a time in the 70’s when the mega-rock band The Eagles were reaching saturation in the press, on the radio and video music channels. Rather than pour on more, their cunning-larger than real life manager, Irv Azoff decided to hide his prize property for more than eight months. This ingenious idea created a demand for information and music from the band and when they returned, propelled them even further. It also gave them time to prepare more brilliant songs. The limelight sometimes bakes creativity out of an artist.

We have just had a super blast of Trump and I have noticed people on social media saying that they are tired of hearing his name and news focused on him every time they turn on the powerful “fake news” outlets. I’m sure his fans love it, but there will be a point of enough.

Clearly the shock of losing the election has mobilized the majority of non-right wing people in America. Those who didn’t vote for Trump and those Bernie people who may not have voted at all. Yeah, YOU!

Trump is accused of being smart by the over analysis that takes place on the cable news channels. Trump needs a villain in his life, so he has decided to beat up the media. This amateur wanna-be dictator doesn’t realize he’s attacking the 1st Amendment, therefore undermining the Constitution itself. Great way to endear yourself to the Judiciary, Mr. President. Donald Trump is the apprentice now, trying to learn the ropes, while massaging his ego. Why not take some time to understand his political power and his need to lead the WHOLE country? Too busy tweeting?

Quoting Thomas Jefferson as a justification for his rants on the press was, as he would say at the end of a tweet, Sad! Trump loyalists keep saying, ‘Hey, give him a chance” or “why is everyone in such a panic?” First of all, we are giving him a chance, we have no choice. Next, people who are undocumented are alarmed and anxiety ridden. Like when the news showed what was really happening in Vietnam, we woke up. As the “dishonest” news shows America crying children watching their parents taken away in plastic handcuffs, maybe that place called compassion will stir.

If only your core fans buy your next album, your fan base doesn’t grow.  If the Pew Study is correct and Donnie “boy-president” has only has 39% of us approving of what he does, then he has a lot of work to do to impress the boss. He really may not realize it, but he is NOT the boss, we are! He says it, but does he really believe it? No one seems to know what he believes. Clarity has never been his strong suit.

He talks more about himself than the country and its people. He has to impress us, not just dominate TV. He hasn’t pivoted to president at all. The long-sweaty speech in Melbourne, Florida served up more cold mash potatoes with stale gravy. Don’t talk about what you are going to do, just do it.