3 ms·

Can't speak for others, only myself. To me he's an obvious off the charts narcissist... so much so that his narcissism actually seems extreme against the backd

by api 10y ago

Can't speak for others, only myself. To me he's an obvious off the charts narcissist... so much so that his narcissism actually seems extreme against the backdrop of Washington politics and the media. That's kind of amazing. IMHO that disqualifies him from the presidency regardless of his policies. It's analogous to why you can't get a pilot's license with bad eyesight. A narcissist is a person with a dangerous addiction to domination, attention, and approval, and giving such a person the power to start wars is just irresponsible. (Of course IMHO the president should have less power to act unilaterally with the military, but that's another matter.) I am not much of a fan of his politics either, but he has said some good things. He is the only politician in the lineup who has made an issue out of the collapse of the American interior. That wins points with me and many other people. If he were constitutionally fit to be president I might consider it. I also wonder if Thiel, being from Cleveland, is perhaps also affected by this last issue. I am also from Ohio and I can relate. You coastal types have no idea. I am not being hyperbolic with "collapse." Huge swaths of the American heartland are essentially de-developing. Maybe Thiel just wants to make some kind of point. He's rich and that's not a lot of money for him. Might just be a costly f-u.

douche 10y ago
I think your last point holds a lotof the key. I'm technically coastal, but where I come from is more Rust Belt in character. Things used to be good, maybe not great, but a lot of people made a living doing honest work and supported strong communities a generation ago. People in those areas today look around and see a gutted, graying, opiod-dependent third-world wasteland where they used to thrive. Things are not better for them.
- Tempest1981 10y ago
  Has Trump provided a credible plan to help these people?
  - douche 10y ago
    I'm not sure whether what he has proposed would actually be beneficial. But he's one of the few that hasn't told these people to go pound sand, and taken positions on issues that they see as impacting their livelihoods, like immigration, outsourcing, free trade, and tariffs that might possibly help them, rather than exacerbate their problems.
  - api 10y ago
    No, which is also why I would not vote for him. It's a tough complex issue and Trump just has populist drool. That never works. See: Chavez, Hugo. (Populism tends to work out the same regardless of whether it's left or right. This is also why I got cold feet about Bernie pretty early.)
Pilfer 10y ago
RE: your point on narcissism. My perspective is that if he becomes president, his excessive narcissism might actually be good thing for the country. As a narcissist Trump wants his legacy to be remembered as positive. He doesn't want future historians to see him as a failure or some no name president. Trump's campaign is built on the promise of "Making America Great Again", and if he fails on that promise then history will see him as a failure, a real threat to his identity. Because of this, Trump does not want to be remembered as the president that caused WW3 or exploded the national debt. In my opinion, I think Trump will push for positive changes to the country as a way to protect his identity (and existence).
- api 10y ago
  An alcoholic might seem like the life of the party, but only if you leave before they transform into bad drunk. Same goes for narcissism in leadership. Superficially it can seem effective until you hit an issue that makes the narcissist choose between their duties and their fragile ego. Then the life of the party throws up on your shoes.
- yfkar 10y ago
  You're assuming a narcissist behaves rationally and thinks long term. Trump's overinflated ego causes him to vastly overestimate his abilities (eg. "I know ISIS more than the generals do") and makes him unable to admit blame or failure (eg. if I lose the election, it'll be because it was rigged), which is a terrible combination. If he was rational and wanted his legacy to be good he would improve on constructive criticism, but based on his campaign he seems unable of taking any kind of criticism. Trump is already remembered as the candidate for president who had a habit of starting unnecessary twitter feuds whenever he felt insulted. If Trump could do whatever he wanted as president, he would ban everyone from criticizing him. If he has to choose between a long-term benefit for the country and a short-term personal benefit, he will choose the personal benefit. As for not causing unnecessary military conflicts: "And, by the way, with Iran, when they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats, and they make gestures at our people, that they shouldn't be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water."
selimthegrim 10y ago
I too, am from Cleveland, and I can't say I've ever heard Thiel mention Ohio or the heartland/rust belt specifically.
- api 10y ago
  Find Thiel's RNC speech on YouTube.

by api 10y ago

douche 10y ago

I think your last point holds a lotof the key. I'm technically coastal, but where I come from is more Rust Belt in character. Things used to be good, maybe not great, but a lot of people made a living doing honest work and supported strong communities a generation ago. People in those areas today look around and see a gutted, graying, opiod-dependent third-world wasteland where they used to thrive. Things are not better for them.

Tempest1981 10y ago
Has Trump provided a credible plan to help these people?
- douche 10y ago
  I'm not sure whether what he has proposed would actually be beneficial. But he's one of the few that hasn't told these people to go pound sand, and taken positions on issues that they see as impacting their livelihoods, like immigration, outsourcing, free trade, and tariffs that might possibly help them, rather than exacerbate their problems.
- api 10y ago
  No, which is also why I would not vote for him. It's a tough complex issue and Trump just has populist drool. That never works. See: Chavez, Hugo. (Populism tends to work out the same regardless of whether it's left or right. This is also why I got cold feet about Bernie pretty early.)

Pilfer 10y ago

RE: your point on narcissism. My perspective is that if he becomes president, his excessive narcissism might actually be good thing for the country. As a narcissist Trump wants his legacy to be remembered as positive. He doesn't want future historians to see him as a failure or some no name president. Trump's campaign is built on the promise of "Making America Great Again", and if he fails on that promise then history will see him as a failure, a real threat to his identity. Because of this, Trump does not want to be remembered as the president that caused WW3 or exploded the national debt. In my opinion, I think Trump will push for positive changes to the country as a way to protect his identity (and existence).

api 10y ago
An alcoholic might seem like the life of the party, but only if you leave before they transform into bad drunk. Same goes for narcissism in leadership. Superficially it can seem effective until you hit an issue that makes the narcissist choose between their duties and their fragile ego. Then the life of the party throws up on your shoes.
yfkar 10y ago
You're assuming a narcissist behaves rationally and thinks long term. Trump's overinflated ego causes him to vastly overestimate his abilities (eg. "I know ISIS more than the generals do") and makes him unable to admit blame or failure (eg. if I lose the election, it'll be because it was rigged), which is a terrible combination. If he was rational and wanted his legacy to be good he would improve on constructive criticism, but based on his campaign he seems unable of taking any kind of criticism. Trump is already remembered as the candidate for president who had a habit of starting unnecessary twitter feuds whenever he felt insulted. If Trump could do whatever he wanted as president, he would ban everyone from criticizing him. If he has to choose between a long-term benefit for the country and a short-term personal benefit, he will choose the personal benefit. As for not causing unnecessary military conflicts: "And, by the way, with Iran, when they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats, and they make gestures at our people, that they shouldn't be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water."

selimthegrim 10y ago

I too, am from Cleveland, and I can't say I've ever heard Thiel mention Ohio or the heartland/rust belt specifically.

api 10y ago
Find Thiel's RNC speech on YouTube.