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And keep in mind that our President has appeared on Alex Jones's (infowar) show, showers him with praise, and talks to him with some frequency [1]. [1] http://

And keep in mind that our President has appeared on Alex Jones's (infowar) show, showers him with praise, and talks to him with some frequency [1]. [1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-alex-jones-calls-phone-advice-infowars-conspiracy-theorist-far-right-sandy-hook-a7595136.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trum...

mirimir 10y ago
Our President made his name in Reality TV! That's no worse than The Gipper, I know. But somehow "Death Valley Days" doesn't seem so bad.
- justaman 10y ago
  This isnt true. He was very popular before reality tv was a thing.
- tzs 10y ago
  Reagan was governor of California for eight years between his acting career and becoming President. That gives considerable relevant experience for the Presidency. Trump's got nothing like that in his background.
  - giardini 10y ago
    So his years as a business executive count for nothing?
    - tptacek 10y ago
      They count for experience in business.
    - tzs 10y ago
      Being governor of a state, especially a state with a very large economy that spans most sectors, a large and diverse population, and a very diverse geography gives direct experience in a large fraction of what a President does. All that is really missing is commanding a military and making agreements with foreign governments. Being a businessman doesn't give anywhere near that level of relevant experience.
      - dragonwriter 10y ago
        > Being governor of a state, especially a state with a very large economy that spans most sectors, a large and diverse population, and a very diverse geography gives direct experience in a large fraction of what a President does. All that is really missing is commanding a military and making agreements with foreign governments. Well, except that governors make agreements with foreign governments [0] and command militaries [1]. [0] http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-climate-change-agreement-mexico-california-jerry-brown-signs-20140728-story.html http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-climate-chan... [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Military_Department https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Military_Departme...
      - giardini 10y ago
        So is there no businessman whom you would consider suitable for President of the USA? And would _any_ past governor of California be a good candidate for President of the USA? What states would you consider suitable training-grounds for governors who wish to transition to POTUS? Is there _any_ job, civilian or military, other than state governor, that you would consider as suitable preparation for POTUS? As a reference point: "I would rather be governed by the first two thousand people in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand people on the faculty of Harvard University." - William F. Buckley, Jr.
        tzs 10y ago
        > So is there no businessman whom you would consider suitable for President of the USA? I did not say or imply that. I think you are inferring a bidirectional implication where none was intended or implied. A businessman can be a fine President, but the job of businessman (generally) does not provide more Presidential preparation than other jobs. A former stat governor can be a lousy President, but at least being governor will have put them in a job that is very similar to President.
    - dragonwriter 10y ago
      They are highly relevant (positively or negatively) in assessing his suitability to lead a business with similar salient features to those common to the ones he's led in the past. Beyond that, they are of only modest relevance at best.
    - seppin 10y ago
      yes exactly. as an "executive" he never even had to answer to a board, he ran things like a dictator (and was as corrupt as one)
    - colemickens 10y ago
      Wait, who's years as a business execute? Trump's? He's more or less a complete failure as a business executive in any measurable or perceivable way other than promoting the Trump brand to gullible people. None of his businesses are a success in any quantifiable way whatsoever. Meanwhile numerous have folded or paid out settlements stemming from fraud or ineptitude. Further, put aside any of that, he's a complete failure in his current position. Absolutely no leadership skills to speak of. Any policy efforts have been abject failures - Muslim bans defeated twice, gave up on making Mexico pay for the wall, or even building most of it at all... not to mention the AHCA was an embarrassment far beyond what I could've ever imagined (I mean, come on, we all thought the ACA would be repealed two months ago, given the GOP control of all the decision making bodies). I hope I misunderstood and you were referring to Reagan, otherwise, I'm pretty confused as to why you think any of Trump's past work has been admirable or would've hinted at him being an effective President (which he certainly isn't).
  - mirimir 10y ago
    Well, Reagan was borderline senile when elected, and clearly had Alzheimer's by the end. I don't know much about his work in California, but as President he was arguably a figurehead. Trump speaks his mind, and may be wacky sometimes, but he doesn't seem senile, or a figurehead.
    - colemickens 10y ago
      Er, Trump has repeatedly walked out of conferences without doing the thing that he called the conference for. Aka, literally yesterday when he called a conference to sign an XO and then walked out without having done so. Pence had to pick it up and bring it to him later...

mirimir 10y ago

Our President made his name in Reality TV! That's no worse than The Gipper, I know. But somehow "Death Valley Days" doesn't seem so bad.

justaman 10y ago
This isnt true. He was very popular before reality tv was a thing.
tzs 10y ago
Reagan was governor of California for eight years between his acting career and becoming President. That gives considerable relevant experience for the Presidency. Trump's got nothing like that in his background.
- giardini 10y ago
  So his years as a business executive count for nothing?
  - tptacek 10y ago
    They count for experience in business.
  - tzs 10y ago
    Being governor of a state, especially a state with a very large economy that spans most sectors, a large and diverse population, and a very diverse geography gives direct experience in a large fraction of what a President does. All that is really missing is commanding a military and making agreements with foreign governments. Being a businessman doesn't give anywhere near that level of relevant experience.
    - dragonwriter 10y ago
      > Being governor of a state, especially a state with a very large economy that spans most sectors, a large and diverse population, and a very diverse geography gives direct experience in a large fraction of what a President does. All that is really missing is commanding a military and making agreements with foreign governments. Well, except that governors make agreements with foreign governments [0] and command militaries [1]. [0] http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-climate-change-agreement-mexico-california-jerry-brown-signs-20140728-story.html http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-climate-chan... [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Military_Department https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Military_Departme...
    - giardini 10y ago
      So is there no businessman whom you would consider suitable for President of the USA? And would _any_ past governor of California be a good candidate for President of the USA? What states would you consider suitable training-grounds for governors who wish to transition to POTUS? Is there _any_ job, civilian or military, other than state governor, that you would consider as suitable preparation for POTUS? As a reference point: "I would rather be governed by the first two thousand people in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand people on the faculty of Harvard University." - William F. Buckley, Jr.
      - tzs 10y ago
        > So is there no businessman whom you would consider suitable for President of the USA? I did not say or imply that. I think you are inferring a bidirectional implication where none was intended or implied. A businessman can be a fine President, but the job of businessman (generally) does not provide more Presidential preparation than other jobs. A former stat governor can be a lousy President, but at least being governor will have put them in a job that is very similar to President.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    They are highly relevant (positively or negatively) in assessing his suitability to lead a business with similar salient features to those common to the ones he's led in the past. Beyond that, they are of only modest relevance at best.
  - seppin 10y ago
    yes exactly. as an "executive" he never even had to answer to a board, he ran things like a dictator (and was as corrupt as one)
  - colemickens 10y ago
    Wait, who's years as a business execute? Trump's? He's more or less a complete failure as a business executive in any measurable or perceivable way other than promoting the Trump brand to gullible people. None of his businesses are a success in any quantifiable way whatsoever. Meanwhile numerous have folded or paid out settlements stemming from fraud or ineptitude. Further, put aside any of that, he's a complete failure in his current position. Absolutely no leadership skills to speak of. Any policy efforts have been abject failures - Muslim bans defeated twice, gave up on making Mexico pay for the wall, or even building most of it at all... not to mention the AHCA was an embarrassment far beyond what I could've ever imagined (I mean, come on, we all thought the ACA would be repealed two months ago, given the GOP control of all the decision making bodies). I hope I misunderstood and you were referring to Reagan, otherwise, I'm pretty confused as to why you think any of Trump's past work has been admirable or would've hinted at him being an effective President (which he certainly isn't).
- mirimir 10y ago
  Well, Reagan was borderline senile when elected, and clearly had Alzheimer's by the end. I don't know much about his work in California, but as President he was arguably a figurehead. Trump speaks his mind, and may be wacky sometimes, but he doesn't seem senile, or a figurehead.
  - colemickens 10y ago
    Er, Trump has repeatedly walked out of conferences without doing the thing that he called the conference for. Aka, literally yesterday when he called a conference to sign an XO and then walked out without having done so. Pence had to pick it up and bring it to him later...