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By all reports, Trump can't stay focused on any one thing more than a few minutes, whether it was 20 years ago talking to reporters, people working for him, wha

By all reports, Trump can't stay focused on any one thing more than a few minutes, whether it was 20 years ago talking to reporters, people working for him, whatever. So he's not likely to be the person who will care about a long term, non-immediate risk. I still can't believe someone like him can be president. If Jeb Bush had won, I would have been a little disappointed, but I would have gone to sleep and not worried that much about it. But he's terrifying. Maybe he'll just be unable to accomplish anything, so he will self-block, doing as much as obama with republican congress. More likely is he won't be in touch and pence can do whatever he wants.

Al-Khwarizmi 10y ago
Honest question: do you think a person like you describe could have his record in business management? Reportedly he was almost bankrupt in the 90's and recovered a quite large fortune afterwards. While I'm not a big believer in the capitalist mythology that people get rich by their effort and skills, and I'm aware that luck plays a huge factor, I do suppose that there is a bare minimum of cleverness and focus needed to pull off that kind of thing. I have a hard time imagining how someone that "can't stay focused on any one thing more than a few minutes" could do it. And hey, he did become president elect with the opposition of most of his own party and the media, which is quite an achievement as well. Maybe I'm wrong (also not an American, so I haven't been as exposed to Trump as most Americans have) but my impression is that he's not dumb, he plays dumb.
- ticviking 10y ago
  This observation is basically the root of my entire hope that he isn't going to ruin the nation.
- ams6110 10y ago
  Playing dumb is a basic negotiating tactic. As is making outrageous demands and statements.
- pas 10y ago
  Or he's the lucky man. What's more likely? Being lucky enough times to keep his business going, or being veery veery cunningly business-savage deep inside, yet do the stupidest things (start businesses with no expertise, no secret niche, no partner - vodka, flight, university). He's a salesman, a snake charmer, like Reagan, the guy who keeps on going, persistent, strong, never defeated, because it's not how many times you fall, it's that you get up that many plus one times, and sell, sell, sell, do the talk, push, make deals, don't worry, there's always a next door where you can try a new pitch and dump that vacuum cleaner.

Al-Khwarizmi 10y ago

Honest question: do you think a person like you describe could have his record in business management? Reportedly he was almost bankrupt in the 90's and recovered a quite large fortune afterwards. While I'm not a big believer in the capitalist mythology that people get rich by their effort and skills, and I'm aware that luck plays a huge factor, I do suppose that there is a bare minimum of cleverness and focus needed to pull off that kind of thing. I have a hard time imagining how someone that "can't stay focused on any one thing more than a few minutes" could do it. And hey, he did become president elect with the opposition of most of his own party and the media, which is quite an achievement as well. Maybe I'm wrong (also not an American, so I haven't been as exposed to Trump as most Americans have) but my impression is that he's not dumb, he plays dumb.

ticviking 10y ago
This observation is basically the root of my entire hope that he isn't going to ruin the nation.
ams6110 10y ago
Playing dumb is a basic negotiating tactic. As is making outrageous demands and statements.
pas 10y ago
Or he's the lucky man. What's more likely? Being lucky enough times to keep his business going, or being veery veery cunningly business-savage deep inside, yet do the stupidest things (start businesses with no expertise, no secret niche, no partner - vodka, flight, university). He's a salesman, a snake charmer, like Reagan, the guy who keeps on going, persistent, strong, never defeated, because it's not how many times you fall, it's that you get up that many plus one times, and sell, sell, sell, do the talk, push, make deals, don't worry, there's always a next door where you can try a new pitch and dump that vacuum cleaner.