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The respectable Republicans distanced themselves from Trump But that shouldn't really matter, as both sides know it was all about posturing and publicity. Just

The respectable Republicans distanced themselves from Trump But that shouldn't really matter, as both sides know it was all about posturing and publicity. Just like Trump is (hopefully?) going to be a much more reasonable president than his campaign antics would lead you to believe, so he can work with the respectable Republicans in a much better way than their campaign behaviour would you lead to believe. Twenty-three days ago [..] And one year ago Trump suggested the plurality vote should determine the presidency, in which case he would have lost. Neither he nor his supporters will agree to that now, nor will he acknowledge he was wrong. And there will be no consequences. Most people only have eye for short term problems, don't have a good memory or good associative capabilities and don't think beyond the outcome they hope for. Even if you are aware of longer term problems, consequences and have a good memory, you may still choose to pursue short term goals in your opinion-making, because those listening to you want you to address their immediate concerns. You don't need to worry about contradicting yourself or causing new problems: they won't notice. So congratulations on remembering that an action/proposal/opinion of 23 days ago opposes one now. Did you also realize back then what the consequences in face of an adverse outcome would be? That would be an extreme ability of foresight. And unfortunately it doesn't make a lick of difference.

dlss 10y ago
> Just like Trump is (hopefully?) going to be a much more reasonable president than his campaign antics would lead you to believe Hmm. I'm not sure what you mean by reasonable here. I have to admit I'm rather worried that Trump is actually an outsider / non-politician, and that this will result in some rather awful power struggles for the foreseeable future as the government undergoes the bureaucratic equivalent of (hopefully) chemotherapy, or (more pessimistically) leprosy. "Reasonable" to me basically means an exceedingly boring and predictable government. > Did you also realize back then what the consequences in face of an adverse outcome would be? Not in detail but in character, yes. I did what I could to calm and reason with the mob. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12734428 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12734428 for example. My basic position was and is that shunning, as a tactic, is net negative. Or at least is net negative when done to sophisticated opponents. If the person's wrong, kicking them out will just cause them to continue being wrong only this time with different people and without you around to correct them. If the person's right, kicking them out will just keep you wrong only this time without anyone to help you find the truth. > And unfortunately it doesn't make a lick of difference. hah, agree. If commenting on HN isn't its own reward, it's a waste of time :p
tptacek 10y ago
When he is in fact not a more reasonable President than his campaign antics led us to believe, when he staffs the most important roles in the government with clowns and charlatans --- the most craven and discredited insiders of the Bush administration and the 90s GOP --- how are you going to feel about this conversation?
- Confusion 10y ago
  I was not disagreeing that it was a rational strategy to pull as much respectable support as possible away from Trump. It's defensible, but it has to be acknowledged that its downside was worsening the worst case: a president with no respectable support and without the opportunity to choose respectable advisers. It would be best if Trump would choose respectable Republicans as advisers. I hope they are offering their services and he considers them without malice. All we can do at this moment is try to make the best of it. That means giving him a chance to do things right. If he doesn't, we'll see soon enough. This is hope speaking, not rational prediction.
- infinite8s 10y ago
  At that point, who cares about this conversation. I'd be more worried about the future of this planet.

dlss 10y ago

> Just like Trump is (hopefully?) going to be a much more reasonable president than his campaign antics would lead you to believe Hmm. I'm not sure what you mean by reasonable here. I have to admit I'm rather worried that Trump is actually an outsider / non-politician, and that this will result in some rather awful power struggles for the foreseeable future as the government undergoes the bureaucratic equivalent of (hopefully) chemotherapy, or (more pessimistically) leprosy. "Reasonable" to me basically means an exceedingly boring and predictable government. > Did you also realize back then what the consequences in face of an adverse outcome would be? Not in detail but in character, yes. I did what I could to calm and reason with the mob. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12734428 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12734428 for example. My basic position was and is that shunning, as a tactic, is net negative. Or at least is net negative when done to sophisticated opponents. If the person's wrong, kicking them out will just cause them to continue being wrong only this time with different people and without you around to correct them. If the person's right, kicking them out will just keep you wrong only this time without anyone to help you find the truth. > And unfortunately it doesn't make a lick of difference. hah, agree. If commenting on HN isn't its own reward, it's a waste of time :p

tptacek 10y ago

When he is in fact not a more reasonable President than his campaign antics led us to believe, when he staffs the most important roles in the government with clowns and charlatans --- the most craven and discredited insiders of the Bush administration and the 90s GOP --- how are you going to feel about this conversation?

Confusion 10y ago
I was not disagreeing that it was a rational strategy to pull as much respectable support as possible away from Trump. It's defensible, but it has to be acknowledged that its downside was worsening the worst case: a president with no respectable support and without the opportunity to choose respectable advisers. It would be best if Trump would choose respectable Republicans as advisers. I hope they are offering their services and he considers them without malice. All we can do at this moment is try to make the best of it. That means giving him a chance to do things right. If he doesn't, we'll see soon enough. This is hope speaking, not rational prediction.
infinite8s 10y ago
At that point, who cares about this conversation. I'd be more worried about the future of this planet.